Tuition Assistance Collections

[Tjourney11]

To summarize this without drawing it out too much.

• Used tuition assistance at previous employer back in 2014.
• Family issues caused attendance issues,  Terminated early 2015.
• While out of job, denied unemployment, appealed, and lost.
• Tuition account sent to Law firm or just a high end collection agency for repayment of over $4k.
• Tried to negotiate for a lower amount that I could pay immediately.  Denied.
• They initially wanted to have a payment plan that would pay it off in 2yrs.
• Could not afford it, settled for $20/month for 6 months.  New terms are due since June is approaching.
• They harass me with letters and calls if not received by the 1st.  But I paid 2 months in advance last month.

Question is:  What's the worse that can happen if I choose not to pay them anymore?  I already feel like I shouldn't be liable since I was fired but the company policy says otherwise.

It's not listed on my credit report at all and I thought it would of been when I was summoned to court in December 2015.  I didn't go.  I was for certain it would be another public judgment on my report (had a previous satisfied judgment (2009) removed last week from a CC from when I was in college ).

So again, what's the worse that can happen?  I also want to note that I'm in the beginning phases of prepping to list my house to sell and to buy my forever home.

Thanks!

[Revelate]

They file suit in court and another judgement is against you, potentially a lien against your house (maybe) which would make the sale far more complicated.

$20/month doesn't sound like a lot of money, what exactly is the cash out lay post-settlement just to pay it off out of proceeds from the house?  I wouldn't let it burn frankly but that's me, and I'm no lawyer but you need to talk to one if you believe you don't owe the money as I think the fact you've been making payments on it may argue otherwise legally but I'm not anywhere close to an expert on such matters.

[RonM21]

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@Revelate wrote:

They file suit in court and another judgement is against you, potentially a lien against your house (maybe) which would make the sale far more complicated.

$20/month doesn't sound like a lot of money, what exactly is the cash out lay post-settlement just to pay it off out of proceeds from the house?  I wouldn't let it burn frankly but that's me, and I'm no lawyer but you need to talk to one if you believe you don't owe the money as I think the fact you've been making payments on it may argue otherwise legally but I'm not anywhere close to an expert on such matters.

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That sounds worse off!

[Pway]

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@Revelate wrote:

They file suit in court and another judgement is against you, potentially a lien against your house (maybe) which would make the sale far more complicated.

$20/month doesn't sound like a lot of money, what exactly is the cash out lay post-settlement just to pay it off out of proceeds from the house?  I wouldn't let it burn frankly but that's me, and I'm no lawyer but you need to talk to one if you believe you don't owe the money as I think the fact you've been making payments on it may argue otherwise legally but I'm not anywhere close to an expert on such matters.

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I agree with this.  You have begin making payments which mean that you recognize that the debt is valid and it's your responsibility to pay it.  I would of disputed this until I could not any longer if you believed the debt is not yours to pay.  However, since you begin to make payments on the debt you recognize that this debt is valild.  I would get it taken care of.  Worst thing is them filing suit and getting a judgment placed on your report which could make iti literally impossible to purchase a new home.

[Tjourney11]

Me paying wasn't admitting to the debt being valid.  It was more the threats they made towards me.  $20/month was my way of saying, take this and leave me alone.  How can they go back to court and decide to put it on my report after the fact?  I didn't even show for the first appearance.  I can see it happening then but not months after.  And I was the one that got in contact with them after I realize the court date passed and wanted to see what I could do with settling for a pay out.  They didn't want to take it so here we are.

[Appleman]

Legally, yes you validated the debt by entering a payment agreement. That may not have been your intent but the legal system will see it differently.

Walking down the street and giving a homeless person $20 to leave you alone is a way of saying take this and leave me alone.