West Asset Management problem
Date: Wed, 03/21/2007 - 06:42
I just need some real advice and I keep getting the run – around. Here’s my situation and I’m sorry it’s going to be a long one. Thankfully all this has happened recently so memory is still fresh.
About 2 ½ years ago, I went to school but had to leave after a year because I was having a baby. I was never told about a Forbearance upon leaving and being pregnant (the women can vouch for this) you forget a lot of things. After my son was born, we moved twice in a year (short term leases). Now, we are at our third place in the last two years and I started to think about going back to school when it hit me about my student loan out there. I called the DOE who referred me to the default department, who then referred me to west asset management. I ended up speaking with a Kevin (I have his last name but will keep in hidden until the moment hits). He kind of went into some detail about what he needed from me to “settle†the loan. He told asked for all my information including my expenses, work info (is this legal?) and husband’s income (again Legal?). He kept saying that he was with the DOE which is federal and I need to abide by these rules. He then gave me the option of putting down a grand and then paying $130/month for 6 months. I told him that a grand was too high, so he brought it down to $800 and still was too high. So, then he said for final offer to split the $800 in two months. I told him I needed to speak with my husband as we all do (with our spouses) and he told me he would be there until 7. He said that with what I make and my husband makes after all our expenses, we would still have a grand left a month. Let me first of all make a correction – no we still have to think about miscellaneous items and childcare and insurance and taxes taken out of the paycheck. I spoke with my husband and we decided to sleep on it. At exactly 7 that same night, Mr. Kevin called my husband’s phone. How on Earth did he get this number? It’s unlisted.
The next day I called to speak with Kevin to see about doing some other options as the $400 split was still high. He was not there and so I called back the next day which was a Friday. He was not there again and so I stayed on the line and got redirected with a lady to who told me that he had left for the day. It was only noon! She said he wasn’t there and I’d have to wait until Monday. I told her that was unacceptable and demanded to speak with a “supervisor.†My mistake really because when Touric came on the line he said I was misinformed by Kevin about making payments for 6 consecutive months. Touric told me nine months and then he said he would bring payment to $250 per month no down payment. I told him I still needed to talk to my husband. He said he would give me two hours and then he would put in his notes – “Refusal to pay.†I called my husband and he told me it was a scare tactic and we could wait on it. Monday rolled around and I received a voicemail at work mind you – I told them not to call me at work on our first conversation. This was from a lady (mean lady) named Ms. Banks. She said my “account†had reached the wage garnishment department. She said that if I didn’t make an arrangement to pay that day, she would send a letter to my work to do a wage garnishment. I live in the state of Texas and I don’t believe they can do that but not sure about student loans. The next few days she kept calling my work asking to speak with my “supervisor†to get my work address to send this whatever thing it was – a threat? I know they want their money – more likely they want their commission check. So, the other day I sent a certified cease and desist letter and got a call on my caller ID as being them. I didn’t answer it though. By now they surely have gotten the letter. It was received and signed as of March 18th 2007 in GA. So, my next step is what? What will happen now? It will go back to the DOE and I will make arrangements with them? That’s what I would like to do. Can they do a wage garnishment? I know they can take my tax refund. That’s fine with me even though it’s a shame. I need to know more of my rights. Please help me. Did I do the right thing? I know basic laws of the Fair Debt Collections Act but need to know more. Thanks so much!
About 2 ½ years ago, I went to school but had to leave after a year because I was having a baby. I was never told about a Forbearance upon leaving and being pregnant (the women can vouch for this) you forget a lot of things. After my son was born, we moved twice in a year (short term leases). Now, we are at our third place in the last two years and I started to think about going back to school when it hit me about my student loan out there. I called the DOE who referred me to the default department, who then referred me to west asset management. I ended up speaking with a Kevin (I have his last name but will keep in hidden until the moment hits). He kind of went into some detail about what he needed from me to “settle†the loan. He told asked for all my information including my expenses, work info (is this legal?) and husband’s income (again Legal?). He kept saying that he was with the DOE which is federal and I need to abide by these rules. He then gave me the option of putting down a grand and then paying $130/month for 6 months. I told him that a grand was too high, so he brought it down to $800 and still was too high. So, then he said for final offer to split the $800 in two months. I told him I needed to speak with my husband as we all do (with our spouses) and he told me he would be there until 7. He said that with what I make and my husband makes after all our expenses, we would still have a grand left a month. Let me first of all make a correction – no we still have to think about miscellaneous items and childcare and insurance and taxes taken out of the paycheck. I spoke with my husband and we decided to sleep on it. At exactly 7 that same night, Mr. Kevin called my husband’s phone. How on Earth did he get this number? It’s unlisted.
The next day I called to speak with Kevin to see about doing some other options as the $400 split was still high. He was not there and so I called back the next day which was a Friday. He was not there again and so I stayed on the line and got redirected with a lady to who told me that he had left for the day. It was only noon! She said he wasn’t there and I’d have to wait until Monday. I told her that was unacceptable and demanded to speak with a “supervisor.†My mistake really because when Touric came on the line he said I was misinformed by Kevin about making payments for 6 consecutive months. Touric told me nine months and then he said he would bring payment to $250 per month no down payment. I told him I still needed to talk to my husband. He said he would give me two hours and then he would put in his notes – “Refusal to pay.†I called my husband and he told me it was a scare tactic and we could wait on it. Monday rolled around and I received a voicemail at work mind you – I told them not to call me at work on our first conversation. This was from a lady (mean lady) named Ms. Banks. She said my “account†had reached the wage garnishment department. She said that if I didn’t make an arrangement to pay that day, she would send a letter to my work to do a wage garnishment. I live in the state of Texas and I don’t believe they can do that but not sure about student loans. The next few days she kept calling my work asking to speak with my “supervisor†to get my work address to send this whatever thing it was – a threat? I know they want their money – more likely they want their commission check. So, the other day I sent a certified cease and desist letter and got a call on my caller ID as being them. I didn’t answer it though. By now they surely have gotten the letter. It was received and signed as of March 18th 2007 in GA. So, my next step is what? What will happen now? It will go back to the DOE and I will make arrangements with them? That’s what I would like to do. Can they do a wage garnishment? I know they can take my tax refund. That’s fine with me even though it’s a shame. I need to know more of my rights. Please help me. Did I do the right thing? I know basic laws of the Fair Debt Collections Act but need to know more. Thanks so much!
Topic Locked since it was duplicated in student loan forum.
Topic Locked since it was duplicated in student loan forum.
