How do I deal with a debt collector when I honestly do not owe anything?

Question

Okay here's the deal

Background: I'm a college student who registered for a summer class in my home town (different from where I regularly attend). However, I changed my mind about it and called the college (I was out of town with no access to the internet), and told the person I was talking to the situation. She said okay and that she will withdraw me from the class. After this I was good.... I thought.

So about 10 months after this I received a call from a debt collector saying I owe about $600 to the college. The issue is out of the college's hands and I have to talk to the debt collectors. I told them what happened... they didn't care. They keep calling me trying to collect the money. I don't know what to do. They threatened me with damaging my credit score and placing a hold on my records in my current college.

I really have had enough of them. All they want is the $600 from me, they really dont care about anything else.

I'm currently in Missouri.... The debt originated in Arkansas.... The debt collection agency is in Tennessee

Answer 1

Start by contacting the College.. if you remember the name of the person you talked to even better.... You need something from them stating that you never actually attended the class... this can come from any records they have.. if your not showing up on the professor's list of students.. and grades.. well how could you have been there....

If you were living in another state... then you must have rent reciepts.. again.. how could have been going to class in one state while living in another??

Make copies of everything.. the next time the collection agency calls.. tell them you are disputing the charge.. get an address and a name of ONE person to contact.. also at that time tell them the next time they call had better be to tell you this problem has been corrected... They are harrassing you... yes they are attempting to collect a debt.. .. Tell them from this point forward.. they mail EVERYTHING to you... and if any more calls come in.. they will be recorded.. and logged.. and that you WILL get the phone company involved to tap your line..... and that this warning serves as any future warning for such purposes...

Then... make copies of everything you have showing that you did not attend that class and send it.. preferebly certified mail with return receipt so they have to sign for it....

This could take 6 months or more to correct.. Also let the college know that you feel they need to send you a letter explaining that none of this is your fault.. and keep a copy of that letter also.. you may need it in the future of credit reasons...

hope that helps.

Answer 2

Something similar happened to me once over a vet bill. My dog was ill, I took him to the vet, he was treated and I paid the entire vet bill with a check which cleared. I never heard from the vet or anything until a collection agency called me.

I told the collection agency that I had a copy of the cancelled check and they didn't care. They said they bought the debt, so I owed the money to them now. I figured there would be a way that the vet, upon seeing my canceled check, could call off the collection agency, but he said the debt was bought from him and even though it was a mistake, too bad.

I ended up having to pay the collection agency and taking the vet to small claims court to get my money back.

I would call the college and see if you can get someone to understand what happened, maybe they can still correct it, if not, work on some sort of small payment schedule with the collection agency. $600 is not worth damaging your credit or not being able to obtain your college records.

Answer 3

Hard to answer this question accurately not knowing where you are. Laws on this topic differ a lot by area.

I'm in Missouri also. As I understand it, you're right the school now has no say in this whatsoever. The collection agency essentially bought your debt from them for a percentage of the total, betting that they could get it out of you. They have no right to withhold records of any kind, nor can they have you arrested, place any warrants on you, or repossess or take anything from you. They may be able to place something on your credit report, I'm not sure. You should consult with a financial attorney on that issue. But do you owe the money? Absolutely not.

Answer 4

Same thing happend to me, if you didn't goto to the college and fill out the paper work and make sure it gets processed, and made sure the classes were dropped, than you owe them the money for the classes. It cost me over $600. Writing a letter won't help, nor will trying to fight the college, its written in their "refund policy" and its legal for them to collect the debt and there nothing you can do about it but pay. If you don't pay you'll be put on a statewide/county debt collectors list that will hurt you credit and let allot of institutions know about you debt and not paying the college. I'd pay it quick before more damage is done. It sucks I know.

Answer 5

If you're telling the truth and they told you over the phone that you were withdrawn from the class and that you don't owe them money, then you should cause them problems day and night until they fix this mess. Keep pestering them by sending emails, calling, go there in person demanding to talk to the administrator.

Answer 6

you need to contact the college get them to state in writing you don't owe the money then you can tell the debt collector to kiss your *** in writing with a copy of the letter from the college.

Answer 7

All you have to do is tell them NOT to call you anymore and by law, they cannot call you. That is HARRASSMENT. If they continue to call you, get all their information, name, company, address, etc. and report it to the better business bureau. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Tell them take it to court, and if they call anymore, you will charge them with harassment.
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Answer 9

if you do not owe them, then let them take it all the way to court.

They will not wish to do it if you are correct.