GC Services: Customer feedback and tips to deal with collection calls

Well...i worked for Gc Services and i can say i actually liked it, there was a lot of drama between co-workers, but in training at gc you ARE taught ALLL about fdcpa and FCRA...its all on the employee whether they follow the right guidelines or not. The phone calls are pulled and monitored weekly to see if they follow the guidlines, if u dont and cant correct it, ur fired..employees come and go there quickly..And for u all who complain for how many times they call and leave no message...collectors can call 15 times a day between 8 am and 9pm until they speak to the debt ower, correctly id them, and obtain some information other then them hanging up, otherwise you may recieve another call..it is an automated dialer that gives us or makes the calls. Some of the companies under gc ask by law for you not to leave a msg due to privacy and not knowing if its a work phone or phone shared by others, etc. Some require you to be so many months late before thay leave messages. There are tons of papers on every cubicle regarding the state laws for every state. Collectors do a thing called "skip tracing" which is where they do all kinds of searches to find numbers linking to their customers..if someone calls you and you dont owe anything, then tell them they have the wrong number! After 3 times they have to remove the number off, that again would be another employee mistake if u tell them and still recieve calls. i owe a lot of debts myself, and i guess working in collections gives you a better understanding of what guidlines collectors have to follow, its not gc..its the employees. Quit whining and pay up...otherwise they wouldnt be calling u!!

i have read a lot of different things on this thread and it all says the same thing.this is a bottomfeeder CA.if it was legit,there wouldn't be trolls on it.there probably is a lot of turnover because people are getting wise to you and other CA'S like you,and the employees can't make there quotas.i noticed the trolls are out in force today.

I would love help with any complaints.

Mark Schordock
Senior Vice President GC Services
7623 Shannondale Dr
Sugarland, TX 77479-6432

It is illegal to call people at work. How can I make them stop?

They finally did it! This company threatened on my answering machine, to "send a package" to my place of work. I will be and working with the original creditor, who continues to take my payments, and adjust my balance downward.

I owe the debt, but give me a break! My husband was diagnosed with Stage III multiple myeloma-terminal, in May. Every other creditor has worked with us to soften the already tremendous blow to our family, except American Express and GC Services.

Please be sure to send cease and desist letters, to avoid future contact with this company. Send it certified and registered.

I was placed on their rehabilitation program and it turns out that it's just B.S. And on top of that the loan company is calling me every other day to get some payment plan on file... I was fooled by G.C. services and they got Approximately, $900 of my hard earned money.
I will be contacting my attorney for guidance! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

I am sick of being harassed by this company that is calling from one number and gviing me another one to call. They want to collect debt from someone who has none!!! I have no idea what to do but they need to be stopped!

They have been fighting my claim for a year. I have had them send my mail to the wrong adress and still said, "OH well, sorry your still at fault." I have supplied them with all the necessary documents to prove my innocence and still they manage to deny my disability. MY doctor was shocked when I showed him the information, and could not believe that they can get away with this type of harrassment. They told me that they would place me in a "hardship" program, and it was a program to consolidate my loans. I can't believe that they are doing this to me. They hired a woman named Precious Johnson in their Columbus, Ohio office and she was stealing socials from clients from another collection office, has bad credit and a bad atttitude. Be careful of giving her your social security number.




















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Most of the folks at GC Services are either poorly trained or are instructed to misinform you regarding your student loan. I could go on and on about some spectacularly illogical conversations I have had with them.
I STRONGLY suggest you read up on your rights and their responsibilities regarding their business with you BEFORE, BEFORE, and BEFORE YOU ENTER INTO ANY AGREEMENT WITH THEM. If you have to, just string them along while you do your research - "gotta pick up the kids from band practice, call me tomorrow", "I'm at Disneyworld and don't have access to any of that information right now". Just a day or two so you can read up on what they can and cannot do. For example: you do not have to give them a down payment, your monthly payments must be 'reasonable' for your income not their 'minimum', you do not have to give them perpetual check submission priveliges, and many other tactics they may employ.
It may take several hours on the phone to get them to admit to somthing. Also, recording your phone calls with them is not a bad idea. They serve you with notice that they are recording the call for "quality control purposes". When I asked in a particularly heated conversation if they would like me to play back their previous response to my question, the demeanor quickly changed (it was a bluff, but it worked).
Your first order of business is to contact Sallie Mae or whomever your original student loan was or is with (if not a student loan then the original creditor) to see if you can get the account recalled from GC Services. You do not want to have to deal with these people if it is at all possible.
If the account cannot be recalled, below are some links to valuable information and please don't forget to visit the forum in the third link.

I cannot post links, but if you Google these phrases you'll get to the right place:
"HEA Section 674.39 Loan Rehabilitation carreonandassociates"

For information on FFELP rehabilitation:
"Your loan holder may tell you that you have to pay an amount beyond what you can afford. This is wrong."

Thread with great insider information with postings from a (former?) debt collector:
"Preparing to call to set up Student Loan Rehab on Monday"

I have finally finished..... all eleven pages. Let me beging by saying, I worked for GC Services for two and a half years. I left for a better paying job, I was not fired, so this is not a disgruntled rant laced with profanity or bad spelling errors. I am an educated man in my 30's, who saw the good and the bad while working for this company. First and foremost, the company is legitimate. It was started by Gerald Katz in Houston, Texas in the 50's. GC originally stood for Gulf Coast. This may ruffle a few feathers, but let's be honest, if you paid your bills, GC would have no business with you. GC generally gets these accounts 90 days after they go delinquient. That means that your original creditor has tried unsuccessfully for 3 months to try and contact you to pay what you agreed to, according to the contract you signed when you borrowed their money/bought their oven etc..... Neither here nor there, the point is you fell behind and failed to maintain contact with the people that loaned you money. You are now in default, that means they have the legal right to demand the balance in full on the remainder of your contract. I seen a couple of postings from people that are mad, in one case if I may paraphrase 'they are trying to collect from my 82 year old mother, ridiculous' Let me provide and examle that may make it a little clearer. If you were selling a Cadillac for a $1,000.00 and posted a for sale sign on it, say a nice 82 year old woman stopped by and wrote you a check for it. You give her the car, the next day you take the check to the bank and she has put a stop payment on it. So.... now you're out a grand and a car, ask yourself this would you try to recover the car or the money??? Of course you would. The bottom line is take responsibiltiy for your debts, if you owe it, pay it. Unfortunately, we live in a world where few people take responsibility for their actions ie the Twinkie Defense. Those of you who are old enough will get the reference. Often times I would call a debtor at their place of residnence and they would either ignore the calls or say they were n't the person I was looking for, so the unpleasant task of asking a neighbor to pass them a message would be undertaken. Wouldn't you know it? within five minutes I would receive a call from the person with whom I had just spoken to ready to admit who they were and would be angry with me for calling their neighbor. I personally didn't like to call neighbors, unless the debtor was rude and profane. I find it an ugly but useful tool in the neccesitiy that is debt collection. Let me touch breifly on this as well, if you would answer the phone at home and speak to me about your issue, I wouldn't have to call you at work. I see the word harrassment thorwn around alot, but..... you took something that didn't belong to you and failed to give it back in a timely fashion. If you owed me a grand for a Caddilac you can beleive I would be relentless in my pursuit. Also, be aware that most collectors are hard working decent individuals that have an unpleasant job. Management pushes them hard for results and they are rewarded for it. By the same token, less aggresive collectors are relegated to the dialer or placed on written warning prior to being terminated for lackluster results. I know there are collectors that violate the fdcpa. But, as has been prevoiusly stated, this is not customer service and we are way beyond "If it's not too much trouble, can you repay this debt, pretty please with sugar on top?" GC was my only collections job, the place that empploys me now has nothing to do with debt collections. I have often seen collectors go from one shop to another for a few more bucks. Let me end this by giving you a few simple tips:
1) Own up to your debt, pay your bills, most agencies will work with you.
2)If you do not want them to contact you anymore, send a certified cease and desist letter. That does not abolish the debt.
3)Avoiding the phone calls makes it worse, don't drag your family and your neighbors into your issues, and just for the record, calling the neighbors is only illegal in two states, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
4)I can't speak for everyone, but in most of the cases that I've dealt with, your original creditor will no longer work with you.
5)It is only legal to threaten someone with legal action, when they have the intention to do so.

In closing, I say this, paying your bills on time is the best line of defense against GC Services, I heard of the class action lawsuit for years, but nothing ever materializes. Wonder why? When on the phone be polite, I know it can be frustrating but rudness begets rudeness and usually more phone calls. I can tell you from experience, if you were a rude, insolent dolt when I called you during the week, I would put your file number on a list on my cubicle and you could count on a call first thing Saturday morning at 8am.

just because it's articulate and well spoken doesn't make it less of a TROLL POST.you had your say now run along.

Since when has it been illegal to call nearby's in Minnesota? News to me and I live here!y

Thomas...you still dont get it. Most people want to pay their bills on time....but due to various life events (hurricanes, the economy, 9/11, medical issues) they can't. Many events happen that are out of their control. Sometimes keeping the lights on and feeding the kids are more important than paying that VISA bill. Too many collectors call with an attitude and most don't know how to listen. Instead of the collector demanding what they want, they need to listen to what the debtor CAN do. I spent 10 years collecting ....GC services was a competitor of ours for several clients. I would get accounts that GC services had screwed up and got payments out of the borrowers. I also helped my borrowers word intent to sue letters against GC services and other CA's for violations....then I would get paid out of the proceeds!!

Your example of the car is silly....what you describe it plain old fraud and theft. Debt collection is civil.

Responding to Thomas C's posts will only encourage him to continue posting useless information, JMO!

Is anyone have any up to date information about GCS? I am having some troubles with them. I wrote to them and informed the that I didn't want to hear from them again: they have disregarded that request.

Chipper...did you do a full C&D? Or how did you word it?

Keep in mind that GC services does a lot of 3rd party collections. The account may be returned and then placed with another agency and the cycle starts all over again.

What type of account are they collecting on?

I work for GC Services, in the sallie mae department. I'm not an executive, a manager or anything like that, I make less than 20k a year, probably less than you do. Ironically, I have a defaulted student loan that is in collections and I'm getting calls too - what do you have to say?

If the debt is legit, pay it. If you have, for example, a defaulted student loan, they have the right to submit you for a federal administrative wage garnishment as well as IRS tax offsets and even liens on property (it's a report that the client, such as Salie Maw, for example, will approve if you refuse. GC themselves do not do the garnishment, but the reps can submit you into one). You can always dispute, but you're responsible for what you don't dispute. This goes for the people who seriously are in debt or default and you are just avoiding your bills out of ignorance. You're not invincible, you can't fight what you legitimately owe, you have no real choice but to work with whom the client submitted you to (whether it be GC, Pioneer, FRS, etc).

I worked for GC Services in the 2007-08 year. I resigned due to medical issues with my son but miss the company and environment. Employees there have to go through a Federal background check with includes criminal, financial and educational. We had to be fingerprinted. My former employees were excellent. At anytime did I ever see drugs, improper conduct or any kind of harassment. All phone calls are monitored not just by management but also the fdcpa. If anyone crosses the line, you are escorted out of the building and FINED!! People who do not have outstanding debt and are being contacted need to understand the debtor had listed them as a reference or point of contact. It IS NOT harassment, we were given permission to do so. Also, you need to remember, anytime you contact someone with a defaulted loan or debt, it is not a happy phone call and automatically you are 'harassing' them. Just pay your bills and for you non-debtors who are being contacted, make sure you tell your family or friends NOT to give your phone number out or list you as a reference. :lol: :lol:

Quote:

Amber....the fdcpa does not monitor calls. FDCPA is federal law, not an agency. Management of course will monitor but no one else. And fining?? Who are you kidding??You dont get fined unless you are taken to court.

as phone call is not harassment nnor is stating the consequences of not paying your bill. we know the fdcpa laws and are far more educated and certified to them then you are. we know all of "the lines" very well and when nessecary we may lean over them and wave our arms but we know not to cross. also trying to stop communication is not going to get you out of a legitimate debt, it will just shorten your path to involuntary collections (aka debt purchase) and private debt owners are NOT subject to the fdcpa then it gets real ugly

There is a difference between leaning across the line and crossing the line....and I have helped people with GC services complaints for crossing the line too many times. A good collector has no reason to wave their arms....that is the sign of a collector out of control.

after moving to arizona i had to find a job right away and gc services was the 1st place that hired me. i just did customer service for credit cards. i left a few months later because they dont pay worth a crap. after ready this thread i am so glad i took it upon myself to leave that place.

I received a letter in the mail from GC Services claiming I owed Dishnetwork $56. I call dishnetwork direct and talked to service rep and they had no idea why GC would contact me since my account has been paid every month via auto-pay. Dishnetwork also confirmed my balance owing was $0. I think GC tries to scam people out of payments

Or they just used slip shod skip tracing (like there was anything else :twisted: )

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They have actually been calling neighbors inquiring if we still live in the neighborhood. Two employees refused to give me their address. One gave me a post office box and then wanted to verify my husband's birthdate. When I said that I do not give that information out over the phone they refused to give me any other info. After 3 calls I finally got a website so that I could get the address. I am going to file a compaint iwth the State of Maryland becasue they are bound by the rules of the state in whihc they are doing business. However, you will love this--I cannot reach any one in the state of Maryland because many offices are closed. Answering machines a full even the govs. Office has an answering machine. This might be due to the furlough of employees and the holiday season. What we really need is nation wide legislation to protect people from these idiots.

The CA is under no obligation to give a third party any address. All the information they are required to provide is their name and a phone number. If you will not identify yourself or your spouse, they are following the law by not releasing information. Call, find out what they want and deal with it from there.

For the woman who worked at GC, do you know if they collect on back taxes for the State of Illinois? I was paying a large tax bill monthly and I suddenly received a letter from GC saying that I was paying "too slowly" and in small amounts that were "too small" and therefore my outstanding tax bill was being sent to collections. I've never heard of this before. Is this legit?

I have been getting calls from this collection agency daily and I sent them a cease and desist letter asking them to cease and desist from calling and they told me that since I did not put my ss number on it that the calls could not be ceased. I called the FTC and they said that a ss# is not needed on a cease and desist letter and that if they continue to call after the letter is received, they are in violation and I could sue them. Just so you all know how these people operate. I called and told them what the FTC said and that I would report them for each and every call and that I would sue it they continue.

put yourselves on the other end of the phone line. yeah, somebody pestering your ass every waking minute. can't run from it, but as it is now, you could quit your thankless job and find something less stressful before you and the people you harrass every day have massive heart attacks. so if you choose to stay, suck it up and quit freakin ****in.

[color=Red]****Adult term removed - Jason[/color]

I have never been bullied, called a liar and unaccountable by anyone in my life before this raging loser. GC uses their job as a sorry platform of power and uses low-levels of antagonistic and bullying behavior to try and scare customers. When I told them I had nothing, they continued to try and scare me with the "unknown" of what could happen.
They have completely violated my privacy and gave me zero respect. How they feel their getting anywhere, I am not sure?

These people have been calling me to ask if I will tell my neighbor that they would like to talk to him. They say that my neighbor's phone isn't working and they cannot reach him themselves. Has anyone else experienced this?

yes that is common tactic of the bottomfeeder.next time hang up on them.chances are your neighbor's phone works fine.

Skiptracing is not just a bottom feeder tactic....all CA's do it. I worked DOE and state guaranty agency accounts and we were required to call nearbys to locate the debtor

I work for GC Services as a 3rd party collector for student loans. I deal with people everyday that as soon as I say my name or even before just start blasting away at me. I understand that they are probably frustrated or have dealt with collectors that are rude and probably are violating FDCPA law. I have also dealt with people that simply state that they have absolutely no intention of repaying a student loan that they took out. We have to go by federal and state law when contacting anyone, not just the person that owes the debt. A typical conversation would be, "Is this John Doe?" "Yeah." "I have to verify I am speaking with the correct person is the last 4 of your social security number xxxx?" People normally at this point know you are a debt collector and start either trying to avoid answering or just start cursing you. That gets frustrating, because I do believe in what I do. I am trying to actually help the person to get into a program that will get them out of federal default with the department of education. Yes, a lot of times the amount is probably more than what the person is able to pay. Unfortunately I cannot say, sure send in $5 a month to pay off your $150,000 loan. The department of education determines the minimum payment that they will accept for the program that will get you out of default. This does NOT mean that they will not take any payment! They are required to accept even a penny in payment. What it does mean is that if you do not get into the payment program that they require at the required amount, you will remain in default and will continue to be subject to calls and attempts to collect on it. Many times I have sent people to the consolidation department because they are not able to pay, or are out of work etc. What they fail to understand is that once you take the consolidation and do NOT return the paperwork to get into it, or you fail to make a payment you can't consolidate again. You just blew that option. Then they get sent back to collections and more fees are added onto the amount owed. These fees are charged to the account by the dept of education, not the collector. We do not get to say we would like x amount of dollars for collecting this.
We have a minimum amount that we have to get for the person to be in the program. Sure a lot of collectors ask for more or even demand more. This is to benefit their bonus and budget. Most however will work with you, it is a negotiation. Sure there are bad apples out there, and yes, I am sure a lot of people have legitimate complaints about violations. If that is the case, I would certainly encourage them to take proper steps to document and gather evidence to remove at least one bad apple from the barrel! Something else I find frustrating sometimes is, I will call someone that has had a loan in default for over 30 years, they are on social security now, and it is being garnished. Their attitude is one of despair. So is mine too. Because I have to try to help them when it is now probably too late for them to be able to ever get out of that hole. They are on a limited/fixed income and I can't stop the offset that the goverment, not a collector, has imposed on them. All I can do is try to help them figure out a way to make a payment for 9 to 12 months so they can get out of default. All this on TOP of the offset. My best advice is to not let it get that far. Just because you can't make the minimum payment for the program, at least send in what you can direct to the dept of education. Most people don't realize that if they do that, it prevents collectors from initiating a lot of involuntary steps against them. I expect to probably get a lot of hate comments, not because of what I have said, but just because of what I do. That is fine, I hear it every day it seems like.

I work for a settlement company.... Upon sucesfully negotiating a deal to settle a clients account, We received the SIF and accordingly sent them a 4000.00 check, (About 50% of the total due). after 30 days they tried to RECOLLECT on the full ballance saying in fact that our company had defaulted on the payment plan. (It was a LUMP SUM Settlement). they claim the never received the check. We have a signd check and THIER account number and deposit stanp on it, (yet they never received it). GC Services, has lied to our client threatening to take her to jail, they have called her realtives, work, CHURCH, and bad mouthed her to everyone they could contact. they have violated almost EVERY section of the FDCPA, and are going to seriously pay for it. I see the headlines now...."GC Services - Convicted of fraud, unfair collection practices, and practicing law without a license... You see under our direction our client haas recorded EVERY ONE of thier calls, as did her PASTOR at her church... where they told the pastor he was dunmb for having a liar and loser in his church. WAY TO GO GC SERVICES... Especially the "Manager"... NEAL

I received various calls from them. They said to me that I can pay only a few dollars monthly for the payment of my debt. I am very afraid that if I do the payments, they doesn't debit from my debt the money.= sebded. I never heard from them in my college. Please, help me in this matter.

I am glad to know who has this number. I have no debt and no reason for them to be calling me. I am on the do-not-call list, so they are in violation of the law. Sounds like a scam artist operation to me.

Sorry guest, but collection agencies are not covered under the the no calls list rule....so no violation of the law.

Where I can go for additional services - CG SErvices is calling EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE to harass me - I asked them to stop contacting my friends, neighbors, etc. and was told by the supervisor Mr. Pratt that I am a complete moron and an idiot. I want to pay this bill off but do not want to work for people that treat me in such a subhuman manner.

If they have your correct contact information, then calls to anyone else are only meant to harass and embarass and violate the FDCPA. What state do you live in? Is this debt still w/in your states SOL? You can send them a full cease communication letter but w/out more info, that might not be the best thing.

I just had my first dealings with GC. They had my neighbor from down the street, who I have never met, post a note on my door to call them. I have already told the account they are calling about that I am represented by an attorney. When I called GC to find out what the note was about and why in heck they would call my neighbor they said they have a right to. I feel it's a complete violation of privacy. They asked for my attorney's number but I couldn't give that to them because I was driving in my car, but the guy wouldn't shut up long enough for me to get the words out. He just kept yelling at me.

So for the person who commented that "We (GC) are nice if you are respectful" is completely wrong. These people where horrible on the phone, insulting me, when I'm sure they are just $5 an hour employees with no education. And for the other person who commented "Just pay your bills"...sometimes medical issues come up that you can't control. And since our country only takes care of illegals, with no help for it's own...you wind up with GC on your back while you wait for your medical bills to come in to file bankruptcy. After the neighbor stunt, I will also assume that it is GC who came pounding on my door last week and peeking in all my windows that scared my babysitter so much she is afraid to take my son for walk in the stroller now. She now sits in the house with all the blinds shut all day. What a way to live.

I have to wonder..are these people happy with themselves always having conflict in their lives? As I went to bed last night, after dealing with them, I wondered what it was like to fight all day long and try to hurt people any way you can. What do they see when they look in the mirror? At least my situation was taken care of...I called the original debtor and reminded them that I was represented by an attorney and they called GC for me and told them to stop. But for the GC employees...their turmoil is their job. That would really suck.

To those of you out there in trouble...just pay an attorney a retainer and they can't call you anymore. Peace!

GC is a bias and unprofessional organization...
I had to call GC Services to have my license reinstated after a fine was paid. I call after a yr of paying and I know they are contracted to reinstate your license when you paid!! The supervisor wouldn't let me speak she actually put me on hold...then got back on and try to convince me it was my FAULT that it never got reinstated... I tried to talk and then she again put me on hold!!! I got so fraustrated and asked her if our conversation is being recorded?? She said yes... If anyone is suing let me in on it...
Nobody knows why it didn't get reinstated??? They didn't even say "sorry"...I would have taken a sorry and leave it!!!
If I got a ticket and my car got towed...I KNOW they are liable to pay the fines, because that is in the Contract they have with the Supreme Courts of California!!! Stupid Idiots!!!

i got fired for no reason they didnt even give me a explanation. gc services is horrible people they dont care bout anybody. very selfish

i wish i could feel bad for you,but now you can find legit work.there are real CA'S not bottomfeeders that can use people.

They came to my work place!!!!!!!! and called my office.

Showing up to your work place? That suck...does this qualify as harrassment? Luckily i work behind about 20 locked doors >:)

They do not visit work places...they are collectors....not private investigators... :P

bottomfeeders can and do visit workplaces.got it humanoid. :P :P