housebound72 Tracker

Re: Need advice on old tuition bill please!!!

housebound72 — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:57:31 GMT

Thanks 203bravo for your response. Not the one I wanted to hear!! However, in your opinion, if I try and settle this again, do you have any idea what percentage of my bill that they will most likely settle for?? The bill is over 20 years old. Might they have written it off already as a loss? Thank you in advance.

Re: Need advice on old tuition bill please!!!

housebound72 — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:03:56 GMT

llecs---

Thank you so much for reformatting, I wasn't sure what had happened there.

Thank you for your reply, yes you are correct, it was Tuition not a Student Loan. There was a defaulted SL but I consolidated that already.

The SOL in Maine is 7 years from what I understand. The outstanding debt is from 1991. The original lawyer's letter/communication was from May 2002 in the form of court papers delivered to my house. Following that was a Motion for Summary Judgement sent to me in Nov. 2002, which was followed by the court hearing in Jan. 2003. I went to court and made a payment agreement w/ them for the Perkins loan amount. I became unemployed and couldn't make the payments any longer. I did notifiy them of this. I talked to a family member to borrow $4,000 to finally settle the tuition with them, and they said no, but they would apply money to the loan to pay it off, then apply the remaining to the tuition, but fully expecting the tuition payment in full (which at this time was $24k). This was now 2006 and when I got my lawyer, who shortly thereafter was nowhere to be found.

At this point, I just really want to settle this, get it out of my head, and move on. It's all I think about because, of course, their letters are so mean and sometimes threatening! I'm not applying to go back to school there, thank goodness, I'm hoping to go elsewhere. But I'm just looking for "the right thing to do" right now since I don't want to receive collection letters anymore. I don't just want to ignore the last letter I received last week. Just not sure what to do. What's the best way to go about this so I can finally move on with my life!? I'm a little worried about being sued again, but how many times can they take me to court, spending all that $$$, knowing they won't get it?

Thank you for your advice, what is my next step?

Need advice on old tuition bill please!!!

housebound72 — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:24:28 GMT

Hello everyone! I'm looking for your advice please as I need to solve my situation with an old tuition bill.

Long story as short as possible:

I attended a private university from 1990-1991. I withdrew in 1991 due to the fact that my parents divorced and couldn't afford the tuition any longer. The bill was in my father's name for several years, then he claimed bankruptcy. Several years later, I began receiving tuition bills from the university. When my father went into bankruptcy, the bill came to my name and SS#, the student. I didn't know what to do.

I was enrolled at a community college at the time and had a low paying part time job living with my mother who also did not have a great income. I spoke to the university over the phone several times, but the billing office was mean and not understanding. They left me alone for awhile, years passed. I then started receiving letters and bills from the university collection lawyer's office. They took me to court over this past tuition bill that I had no means to pay. I went to court on my own since I couldn't afford a lawyer. The judgement also contained a defaulted Perkins Loan which was about $1,500. The past tuition bill at the time was about $12,000.

After the court hearing I spoke w/ the university's attorney and told her I had no means to pay. She was somewhat sympathetic. I stayed in touch w/ her but still had no means to pay. They couldn't collect blood from a stone so they left me alone for a couple years. In 2006 I met w/ a lawyer to see if I could have him help me settle this bill with the school. I offered to pay $4,000 to settle the tuition. They accepted the $4,000 and they said I needed to pay the defaulted loan also, in payments. I wrote to my lawyer asking him how to make the payments, who to write the checks to as I was going to do 2x $2,000 as that's the only way I could afford to do it. I left him multiple voicemails and and emails and only heard back from him once awhile after telling me to stop worrying about the debt, as it was such a small amount of $ to a private school that they won't proceed any further. I thought this odd as they had accepted my offer but I never settled it since my lawyer fell off the face of the planet and had told me that. I was concerned but wasn't sure what else to do.

This year, 2012, I wanted to go back to school, having been laid off from my full time job this past May. I applied for Financial Aid and I was declined due to the defaulted Perkins loan which I honestly forgot all about. I still have current student loans that I'm paying on time, so I decided to make good on the Perkins and I consolidated it into my current student loans, bringing it to a postive status. Since the university was the OC, they were contacted to consolidate the loan, now at a price tag of over $6,000, due to all the collection and interest fees!!!! This triggered the university to contact their lawyer about my old tuition bill, which I had a feeling would happen. Their lawyer wrote me a letter with a copy of a ReWrite of execution on the tuition, whatever that is. I wrote back to the lawyer with another offer, a payment arrangement, all in a professional and business-like signed letter that was certified and sent to them. She wrote me back-the university did not accept my offer of $3,000. The tuition had been billed with an interest rate of 15% for all these years. The tuition bill including all fees is now up in the $33,000 range. I almost had a heart attack. They asked me to fill out a financial statement, along w/ send in the past 3 years of tax returns. I am now stuck because I don't feel they have the right to view all my tax returns, plus, my past 2 years of tax returns were with my husband, who has nothing to do w/ this debt and the lawyer has no right to his financial information. I have not written back to the lawyer yet as I need to figure out how to reply, given that they are asking for financial info. I told them I got laid off and was living off savings, not sure what they think I have stashed away to pay them, other than the $3,000 that I do have and am willing to pay them. I have not contacted a lawyer on my own because of not being able to afford one, but I feel I may need to.

Sorry this has been a longgg explanation but I could really and sincerely use any advice from all you professionals!!!!!!
I would be most grateful!!!! Thank you!

Anyone have luck with PFD to Affiliated Collections, Inc?? Please help!

housebound72 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:11:53 GMT

I am about to write my 3rd PFD letter to Affiliated Collections, Inc. in Maine.

Just wondering if anyone's had any luck with them? Need some advice!

Re: Need help asap with 3rd attempt PFD, what do i say??

housebound72 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:33:01 GMT

Wow, ok. So be persistent with the regular PFD letter I've been sending.

I've used a form letter (changed a bit) from these forums. So just keep

sending the same letter? Do I need to keep sending them CM-RRR also?

I've done this for the first 2 PFDs, just wondering if it matters? Can i just

send normal mail? Or just RRR? Thanks again!!!

Re: Need help asap with 3rd attempt PFD, what do i say??

housebound72 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:31:17 GMT

Thanks so much RobertEG. I appreciate your explanation... Now I'm wondering, is

it ok to do a 3rd PFD?? Since they are looking for a 'specific reason', is it wise to

write a semi-GW letter combined with a PFD—they would get an explanation of

my hardships at the time of the collection, as well as another appeal to get the

accounts deleted. Also, is there a limit to the # of PFDs you can send? Or is

persistence the key? I've recently sent out 3 PFDs—one to RJM who accepted

my offer (less than 25% of the balance!!!) and a medical collection. This one would

be the last and I am determined to have success with it as well!

Any help is again appreciated,

Thank you.

Need help asap with 3rd attempt PFD, what do i say??

housebound72 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:13:15 GMT

(I've learned so much through these forums, thank you!)

I've happily already had success with 2 PFD's! However,

this one with Affiliated Collections Inc. is stubborn.

Long story short—

1) Sent first PFD asking for a % of balance owed and delete.

They said they don't settle, need to pay full amount.

2) Sent second PFD saying i would pay full amount of $640

for their deletion. They wrote back saying they are governed

by State and Fed. Laws and once an account is listed, unless

there is a specific reason, they can not remove it from the file

only update the account for change in status.

I'm trying really hard to clean up my CR in order to qualify

for a first home mortgage. Is this a valid reason in which they

might accept my PFD? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you...

Help! Paid Car Loan on CR with lots of lates.....GW??????

housebound72 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:16:58 GMT

Rebuilding CR and need advice on what to do for

a Car Loan on my CR with 7 lates, 4 of them are 60 days.

yikes!

The loan was opened in 1999 and paid in full as of 2005.

The loan on my CR shows a $0 balance but all these lates.

What is the best way to contact the creditor to get

the lates removed or account adjusted to positive

status? Is a GW letter my best option? Also, who

does the GW letter get addressed to at the company?

The President? Upper management?

Thanks for all your help!!!!

Please help! Cap. One CO on CR, with current Cap. One TL, GW?

housebound72 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:50:40 GMT

I'm fairly new to these forums but they have helped alot.

I'm working on building up my score, and have come across

another baddie.

I have a Cap. One CO last reported 2007. It shows as

a paid CO. In 2006 I opened another Cap. One TL

that is current with no lates. How likely is it to GW the

CO?

Also, can someone please offer some advice

on collections, as far as GW letters, who to

address them to at the CA when I have DV?

President of company? other?

And, when sending a PFD to a CA, how do you

negotiate the % of debt owed? I currently have

a settlement letter from RJM for 40% of the

original amount. Can I PFD for less?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice,

much appreciated...

Re: Recent Collections letter from account in 2001? Please help!

housebound72 — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:34:14 GMT

Thank you RobertRG, that's super helpful. I was sure of the process of

CA especially after the SOL has run out. I thought it was funny that I

received this 'new' collection notice after so many years, just wasn't

sure how to handle it.

I do have one other collection on my account from RJM Acquisitions,

who I've been reading alot about on these forums, how they purchase

bad debt too and are not nice to deal with. This acount is on my CR

with a bal. of $2,292. They still send me letters to settle for 60% of

the bal, which a credit counselor told me was a 'good' offer. However,

still not sure what to do with that one either as I've read they're scammers too.

Any suggestions? This act. is also from a long time ago, but they seemed to

have purchased it just before the SOL was up. How clever. Would a PFD

work in this situation?

Thanks again...

Recent Collections letter from account in 2001? Please help!

housebound72 — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:56:46 GMT

I'm really confused as to why I received a collections letter last week from a collection account that I last received a letter

from in April 2001. That is the last time I had heard about this account. It currently does not show up on my credit report,

but I do not want it to get there either, as I've been working really hard to work towards a mortgage by clearing up other

old collections.

My question is, can this collections company send me a letter 9 years after I've last heard about this account?

The account numbers are the same, as I have the last collection letter that I found in old files, however the balances

are different. The old letter says I owe $2,533.82, the new one says $1,991.21, and this is not a settlement offer,

it's the balance listed on the account.

I'm really confused and not sure what to do, can someone offer advice?

I'd be happy to answer any questions that may help get a resolution to this,

Thank you.