Nightmare in BC

This is a long story, as I'm sure is everyone's. I just joined today - desparately hopeless and at the end of my rope - I searched the net for some help when I stumbled on this site.  I'll try to be brief in sharing my "realistic example".  I'll use point form.

- Graduated in 1996 with a Bach of Social Work.  Single mom with lots of debt, but qualified for loan remission and sure I'd get a good job.

- Submitted application to Remission Program along with transcripts from Malaspina College and UVIC.  Was told it would be a few months to process, so be patient. After 3 months, I started calling them and inquiring about the status. 5 months after application, I get a letter stating my transcripts were invalid because I hand-delivered them to the Remission Office. Told me to arrange for the institutions to send them "direct", so I did, which took 5 weeks to arrive.  I called Remissions and they said they'd recieved everything they needed to proceed and I should just wait for a call, which may be a few months down the road.  10 months after application, I get letter stating I'm missing a transcript (which had nothing to do with my degree and was from 18 years earlier). Was told to submitt transcript for a 3 month Nurse-Aid Certificate done in 1978 at Camosun College. Went to the college and got laughed out of the building, but was told most of the records were lost in a fire at their records dept. I asked them to write a letter to that fact and send to Remissions office.  Amazingly, I found a copy of that transcript in my own records and submitted to Remissions with a letter outlining the fire at Camosun and the letter they agreed to send.  Was told that would be sufficient documentation and I should wait for a phone call or letter. Then I got a letter saying Application Denied due to not having the application completed prior to the one year time-limit and there is no process for appeal or review.

- while all this is going on, I'm making $600.00 per month payments to Scotiabank.  They aren't happy though, and want at least $900.00.  I said I couldn't do it and still provide for my home and daughter and they said they had no choice but to send the account to collections.  After my next payment was returned to me by Scotiabank,  I asked the name of the collection agencies and was told they did not know who they contracted with and I should wait for a phone call from them to arrange repayment.

- over a year later, and after several calls to Scotiabank, I get a call from a collection person demanding full payment, threatening to take me to court, treating me like a criminal, and calling me a liar for saying that Scotiabank couldn't tell me who to contact.  Then the other calls began. turns out I have 4 different loans at 4 different agencies and all want full payment.  By now, I managed to get a job and offered to pay $150.00 per loan for a total of $600.00 per month.

- many horror stories. for example: one guy called my job and told several of the desk clerks that I was a terrible social worker and I was putting children in danger because of my student loan debt. (how that is, I just don't know). When I talked to him (Mr. Glen Campbell-not the country star), he told me he had been through college and never had to use student loans. He got a job and worked, never collected welfare or took hand-outs, etc.  If he could do it, why couldn't I?  Many more calls to my workplace despite me asking him not to, and he had dished so much dirt to my colleagues that I was the talk of the building...tsk..tsk..tsk.  I became isolated and depressed at work. eventually went on stress leave and entered therapy for 5 months over it.

- 9 years later, I'm still being called at work. threats to take me to court, to talk to my employer, to put garnishment on my wage.  They refuse to negotiate a payment...it's either borrow from your family and friends, get a consolidation loan from the bank, etc. One guy told me to sell my crappy little car(1980 Chev Tracker) even though I told him it's a condition of employment to have a vehicle and I'd be let-go if I didn't have one. He said I'd have to do it and find a job that didn't require a vehicle. 

- I'm on anti-depressants now. I'm anxious all the time. Afraid to answer the phone...quite paranoid. My self-esteem is in my boots-convinced I'm a complete failure and a low-life because I can't pay my debt to the government.  They call me at work, tell my child horrible things about me when she answers the phone, leave nasty and threatening messages with anybody who answers the phone or on the answering machine.

- I've moved in with a man who owns a home. Just yesterday remortgaged and put my name on things. We hoped to get some money from the remortgage, but only managed a small amount of equity - which needs to purchase a hot water tank.  Otherwise, the entire value of this 30 year old house is tied up in mortgage.

Sorry to carry on, but the burden is fast becoming unbearable.  I need help and don't know how to get it. These people do not understand...I'm living in poverty and going paycheque to paycheque....which I don't mind as long as I'm paying my bills. But they aren't happy with that and want more, which will only happen if I win a lottery or die and leave the insurance to them......and....don't think I haven't given good thought to the latter.

- after reading through this site today, I realize I'm not the only one that is being crippled financially and emotionally by this debt.  I don't know many of the terms used on this forum....I guess I just don't have the experience with this stuff that others do.  I don't know what it means to be status barred, or what RBC means, etc.  But, I'm trying to understand because I can't keep on this way.