Hello, I go to community college and took 1 class. I don’t get financial aid and work part time. I made 3 payment to the school until I was able to pay in full. I have called up the school bursar office 4 times with no one picking up. So I left a message with my name and number and school ID so they can find me on the system about making a payment plan and to speak about paying. I was currently saving up to pay it off. When I finally had enough money to pay the full balance I go online and it won’t let me make a payment anymore. It said it was sent to collection. So I called the school up and find out they never pick up the phone on the “make a payment plan option” so I press the number to “speak to a person” and they finally picked up. They said once it’s in collection they can’t do anything.
When I check with collection they are charging me more for some fee. Over $100+ extra they asking. I already saved up to pay the balance and know I am finding I have to repay more. What can be done here I clearly called them many times and left a message letting them know who called. I have phone records as proof I called. I am on welfare and working part time this $100+ is putting my plans back. Is there a way to reverse this or let the collection know I am not willing to pay the fee with my financial issue.
You can call the consumer advocate in your state (usually found in the attorney general’s office). They don’t have to work with you, but they usually will if you get someone else like the advocacy group.
I really don’t think there is anything you can do. Leaving messages is not the same and having an agreement for a payment plan so that ship has sailed. They have written off the debt and sold it at a discount to a collection agency and they do not own that debt any longer. No one cares how many times you called any longer. Water under the bridge. Move on.
Now you have to deal with the collection agency.Sure they are allowed to put fees on. But usually they don’t expect to get all their money, so you have some room to try to negotiate with them. You can say that you are willing to pay X amount and no more. You can let them know you are on welfare so there is no source of additional funds. I would suggest you don’t even pay part until they give you an agreement that X amount will discharge the full debt You might spend some time googling on how to negotiate and settle with collection agencies.
It appears that the school is not willing to pull the balance from the collection agency at this point. Once a past due balance is sent to a collection agency, it does accrue additional fees. You are best off making a payment plan with the collection agency to get it paid off and put behind you.