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Got an unusual call yesterday...

Date: Wed, 06/22/2011 - 15:11
Submitted by jjones2207 on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 15:11
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So there I was... 42 days into a new job after being out of work for almost 2 years. The caller was transferred to me from (as he put it) my payroll department. This was a debt collector from CTI calling to let me know that I have an outstanding balance on my student loan in the amount of around 6K. I was terrified.

This collector continued to tell me that they were starting actions to garnish my wages unless I got set up on one of their payment plans right away. He needed a credit card or debit card number right away or he would not be able to stop the wage garnishment action that his company was starting. Luckily (maybe) I didn't have a debit card with me to give the numbers over the phone.

The strange thing is I just started this job a month ago. I haven't been contacted in years regarding a debt. Now, I do have a balance on said loan of which I haven't made a payment on in a while due to being out of work. My intention was to contact the Dept of Edu to inform them of my situation and get set up to make payments as soon as I got my feet back under me. So as you could imagine getting this phone call out of the blue at work (on a number that I haven't even had a chance to set my voicemail up on yet) got me to thinking later in the on whether this is legit or just another collection company's attempt at using scare tatics to make a debtor pay?


Hi!
Welcome to the Forums!

It may be a scare tactic. If you know the address of the collection agency, then you should make a written request to them to validate the debt. If they send you a proper validation letter within a few days, then it is better to repay the debt. No one can garnish your wages without securing a judgment against you. They can't possibly garnish your wage just like that.

If it is a federal student loan, then it better to contact Department of Education asap and make a payment arrangement with them.

Never give any confidential information to anyone via phone.


Submitted by Good Nelly on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 21:31

Good Nelly

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Please dont start multiple threads on the same topic...

http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/forums/showthread.php?p=879827#post879827

And yes, a federal student loan can and WILL garnish you without a court order...administrative wage garnishment is authorized by congress.

Do not DV a student loan...it will only show that you are being difficult. You can verify easily that the collection agency is holding the loan by calling your guarantor. You can look your guarantor up by logging into NSLDS or calling 1-800-4fedaid. If this is a FFELP loan, calling the DOE wont help you as the loan is not with them.


Submitted by SOAPLADY on Thu, 06/23/2011 - 20:23

SOAPLADY

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