need facts - butting heads with collectio

Hi, I have two tiny outstanding student loan debts,

one is probably paid down to $1400 or less with the canada student loan department, and the other is 800-1000 with the bc student loan department.  I've been having problems with bcsl for some time, and just ran into some trouble with csl as well.

Storytime, in the case of both loans, I had become unemployed and did not seek further interest relief or other means of help at the time.

Last year I received calls from CSL's collections and by then had moved and just barely become employed again at a wage that could pay 'something'.  Contact time was the only issue, they were easy enough to deal with and I began payment of the debt (at the time somewhere between $1400 and $1700) with 6 postdated checks at $50 a peice which their agent considered acceptable without question or request of documentation of income or expenses.

Now suddenly, I received a letter a few days ago dated january 13th from SDC Collection Services in quebec saying it's about the canada student loan program, meanwhile I've had no further contact from the reps in ontario I was previously speaking with.  The letter provides a number (1-888-819-2516) that will not allow you to get to an operator, only to book a time for them to call you back, and of course, that's not during any time I'm home from work.

I'm concerned here because I've been slipped to collections without contact from an agency I was had a payment agreement with.  They have not called me to say I fell behind on my agreement or that anything is wrong, I'm just 'suddenly' receiving this letter.  I did receive a message from SDC Collections, however they just left a time I could call them back, at which time of course, .... I'm at work.

They're out of Hull Quebec. (and they've got the most annoying and aggrevating voice answering service I've ever heard)

 

BCSL is another story, I didn't have much money, and left negotiations with them a fair bit longer.  They also had no idea where I was and I wasn't hearing from their collections.  Eventually I had an increase with a job promotion and figured it was time to get on things and I'd screwed my credit enough already.  I contacted their collections and ended up talking to a beaurocrat in victoria, someone apparantly higher up .. 'maybe'.  Even though they have the smaller of my 2 student loan debts, less than $1000, they were not willing to begin at $50/month.  They sent me a form that requested proof of my income, and bills, including rent, food, insurance/other, transportation, utilities, etc.  "and I'm supposed to have all that paperwork?"  And I don't have all that paperwork, paying room and board where there is no receipt for such things.  I argued against providing the information and told them I need legal proof of their requirement of this information before I would fill anything out... they've done nothing but ignore me and repeat their request for this document that they sent me.

I told them to stuff it, and sent them 6 postdated checks at $50 a peice, it was a sacrifice to do it, but I wanted to get started paying this.  They claim I signed an agreement, when I signed up for my student loan saying that I would provide them with any financial information they requested when they needed it..  I've asked them 5 or 6 times in my correspondence with them to send me a copy of this information or this document that they STILL continue to refer to, but can't seem to bother digging up.  They claimed they sent it to me as well... more than 3 weeks ago.  I have not seen it arrive in the mail as of yet.  I verified they have my correct address.

Meanwhile, they're still not satisfied with a paying customer who they didn't have a handle on, who called them up 'checks in hand' ready to start paying.. and I've had nothing but sh*t from them about having to provide them with a complete financial breakdown with proof from copies of receipts that in my case, don't exist.  I would be unable to prove my expenses, or most of them.

I'm not sure what I'm asking about the canada student loan.. and sdc collections.  Any heads up or info would be appreciated.

As for the bc student loan, does anyone know about this 'proof of income and expenses' request and their claim that they need to assess for themselves based on my income what "I SHOULD" be paying, rather than saying, that is adequate or inadequate payment in proportion to the debt you have with us... (less than $1000)

Can they legally request the information they're requesting?  Can I sue somebody cause I'm getting real sick of this?

What can I watch for that may legally nullify my debt if they make a mistake?

 

Any info or direct links to similar info would be great.

I'm not at all clear on what you need. You are free to fill out their forms and free to tell them to stuff it. You decide. It seems to me that the collectors haven't yet been particularly unreasonable. If you send them PDCs and they cash them, they won't sue, no matter what they threaten on the phone. Pay as much as you can; the debts are relatively small and the best way to get rid of these guys is to discharge the debts. keep meticulous records and tape calls in case they cross the line.

You sound like another Edulinx (NSLC) victim.  Unfortunately my personal experience predates that fiasco. 

First you might want to seek Johnny's help, (or do some footwork) to see if you are in collections hell by mistake. 

Either way He may be able to help.  As for the financial forms I personally am remiss about them.  Can they legally request that info . . yep.  Oh, well. . . tough.

As for Minbari pikes, I'm more partial to 50 megatonne nukes like the new edition Cylons use for planetary bombardment.  Talk about "Tsar Bomba"!  At least there was some real physincs shown on B5.