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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:04 pm Subject: A Student Loan Question...

I have a question for the one and only Soaplady, and of course for all the other wonderful people here as well, but I know the Soaplady is an expert on all of this subject.

Soaplady

Have you heard of a Law Firm called Fitzgerald from the state of Georgia? I have been getting my student loan information together but it is hard because it is about 25 years worth for a 2,500 dollar student loan that I have paid off over all this time. I have the check, money order stubs here somewhere. Now it seems that this Law Firm (at least that is what the voice mail message today said) now wants their so called piece also.

Have you heard of these guys Soaplady, and if so, are they for real and what am I dealing with here.

Thank you so very much in advance,

Luke

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:24 pm Subject:

I have never heard of them but quite frankly that doesnt mean much. Each guarantor or loan holder can hire whichever law firm they choose. Sorry...cant be much more help than that.

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:48 pm Subject:

Thank you SoapLady. They are the aka or a branch of Endevaour which is a collection agency. I just want to get in touch with DOE very soon and see what or who I should start paying and hopefuly work out some sort of plan. 25 years and I am so tired of this. It was/is a student loan that I got from my home town bank in 1986 for 2,500. I paid this loan off throgh IDAP, and then through a law office in Chicago, it is paid and somewhere here I have the reciepts. I believe it was a guarentee student loan. Your help is invaulable.

thank you,
luke

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:03 pm Subject:

Unfortunately a lot of interest and penalties can accrue over a 22 year period. At this point in time, you will have to work thru the law office assigned to the account....I am assuming that the DOE now holds the account. They will simply refer you to the assigned CA/law office to do the legwork.

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:23 pm Subject:

Thank you Soaplady.

I just went to the NSLDS Federal Student Aid website to access my old account by using my pin: The Stafford Subsidized loan that I got in 1985 shows a $0 balance with a loan status of Pm and RP the RP being 1986 a year after the loan and the PM is in 1998. I remeber paying on this loan for years and for some reason all the hungry collection agencies got it.

Any advise on how I should handle these collection agencys?

thanks again,
Luke

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:30 pm Subject:

I have no clue what those codes mean.

Keep in mind, your lender assigns these accounts to the CA's and law offices...they are simply doing the job they are hired to do.

Is it possible that you had a judgement filed against you?? This might account for the status change.

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:34 pm Subject:

Thank You.

At the very least, if the stuff hits the fan and I ask the DOE for help, since it is a Stafford loan, will I qualify for a reasonable payment plan that will be mutualy benifical?

I know you must be tired Soaplady, this is my last question today to you. I hope you have a good night.

luke

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:37 pm Subject:

Hello Everyone,

Just adding more to my original question:

As you can see I had/have a Stafford Subsidized $2,500 student loan that I recieved in 1985. Over the last 25 years I know that I paid this off through the bank, IDAP, and a Laywer in Chicago. Now for the last year some other collection agencie/ Fitzgerald Law Firm from Georgia wants a cut also for some reason. The Federal Student Aid (NSLDS) website site says I owe a $0.00 balance. Somewhere in this mess here I have the reciepts, etc. to prove that it is paid.

My question today is if the crap hits the fan for whatever reason I need to know can this loan be accepted in a goverment repayment plan that will not make me homless and hungry?

Thank You,
Luke

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:50 pm Subject:

Luke, if the NSLDS website shows a zero balance, can't you just print that off and send a copy to the Fizgerald Law Firm as proof that you don't owe the debt?

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 4:38 pm Subject:

A print out may or may not help. If this is a judgement account, NSLDS should no longer reflect as balance as it is no longer deemed a student loan but a judgement. yes it is complicated. The law office has to follow what the guarantor is telling them, not the borrower.

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:05 pm Subject:

Sounds like you better start digging up those receipts, Luke! Confused

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:13 pm Subject:

There has never been a judgment against me of any kind at any time. The reciepts are not far away. When I do get an address from Fitzgerald, as for now it is just one weak meassage on my machine, I will send them copies from NSLDS. They call themselves a Law office, but I am finding out that they are a very weak collection agency. Thanks everyone.

luke

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:17 pm Subject:

Talked to a friend of mine. Your loan might pre-date the NSLDS data base and thus might not be accurate. She had one loan last year that was similiar to yours.

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:19 pm Subject:

Very interesting Soaplady, thank you. I never thought about that. The infomation they have seems to be accurate. All the dates, amounts, my name, ssn, Stafford subsidized loan, etc. is correct. Not sure what to do now. If all my efforts with this fails for whatever reason, and I have to pay something back, do you think I will qualify for a repayment plan of some sort? I am not a rich man, just single, no kids and trying to make it on my own. I know that would not make a difference to them but alot can happen in 25 years. If I owe something then so be it, but I am not going to spend the second half of my life with this without help from someone.

thank you,