For the past 8 years I have been making payments on a CSL to one credit company. Two weeks ago I received a phone call from a BC company called ARC. This company first started their conversation stating that the scotiabank lost my file and this showed up on their desk after 8 years. Then the woman wanted me to make a good faith payment to secure my file. She then proceeded to ask how I would pay back my CSL. I told her I am making payment on my CSL and I am not sure what she is talking about. She explained to me that she is collecting the unsecured portion of the student loan. I didn't even know there was a difference between secured and unsecured. Tonight, I was speaking to her again and she did not like the fact that I was questionning why her principal and the principal I am paying on my current CSL does not add up to the original principal I borrowed. She passed me along to her manager who asked how I would pay. His tone of voice was raised, and quite harsh. I told him I did not like the way he was speaking to me and I requested all further communication be via mail. (tips i learned on this site) Well, he got very angry and demanded that I pay the full amount by Monday 2PM or have my lawyer contact him. He said that he was going to call my employment to confirm my employment status and a whole bunch of other things that I can hardly remember. I am very upset and I don't know what to do. Does anybody know my options from here? Does anybody out there actually understand how one file can end up in two different credit company? My most confused aspect of this, is how can borrowing nearly 19 thousand in principal end up nearly 30 thousand in principal then interest on top of that? Any help and suggestion would be appreciated!

Linnief:  tell them you will only respond to queries in writing.  Tell them you want some proof of what they are claiming you owe.  Be careful, don't acknowledge owing anything --- somebody just calls you up and you're supposed to hand over some cash?

Regarding the "pay in two days or have your lawyer call me" .... a very common tactic used by collectors.  Don't give that another thought.

If/when they do send you something in writing, your best option is to call John LeBlanc at Canadian Financial Wellness Group.  He will get it sorted out for you --- whether it's stats barred, how much you owe, how much you can afford to pay, etc.

Also, keep hunting around on this site!  Lots of good advice and commiseration going on here ....