Complaint Review: Premiere Credit of North America LLC

Yes, we all know that for whatever reason, we are behind on our student loan payments and need to get back on track.  This is not in dispute.  Whether it's from disorganization or financial hardship, we have procrastinated contacting our lenders to prevent collection status.

Compainies like Premeire Credit are contracted by the Department of Education to collect on the debt.  But the collection agency does, indeed, have to work with you.  And you have to work with them.  But this particular agency lies and intimidates in an effort to collect more money than is actually necessary to be compliant with repayment.  They more they collect, the more they make, and they'll say anything to make it.

I also had to push back on them with the checking account thing.  I had a horrendous experience ACH and learned, in a very harsh way, that there was no way to stop this particular ruthless company from withdrawing funds from my account, even with a stop payment.  And they could take out more than agreed.  In my case, this merchant took thousands from my account for a $50 credit card processing machine, for which I'd already paid $36.40/month for four years.  So the merchant couldn't withdraw $36.40, but they could withdraw $36.41 or $4,036.41 or whatever.  I digress, but this is why I will never use ACH again, especially with companies like Premiere Credit.

I had to politely argue this point about ACH.  Surely there was some other way.  I could mail checks.  They shut down every possible option.  I told them I had to look into it and call them back.  Sure enough, a little research revealed that there is a web site run by the DOE where payments can be made.  Armed with that info, I called back and they had to agree to let me make my payments that way. 

I entered into the loan rehab program with them.  On the phone, I was told that in order to pay the monthly amount I could handle, I would have to make a sizable down payment along with my SECOND month's regular payment.  It was very important that it was one lump sum payment.  As I was just about to start my second, summer job again, I crossed my fingers and hoped that I'd make it.  I asked them to fax me the agreeement, read it, signed it and faxed it back.  I then made my first payment.  I began to make a plan to put the money I needed aside for the second month.  I thought about how many hours I could work on how little sleep.  Then I looked at the agreement again.  NO mention of the down payment.  I called.

Premeire Credit told me that the reason the down payment was not in our written agreement was because their software's limitations.  I told them I understood (though I smell B/S) but that I had to have the terms spelled out on paper for my own protection.  They said it was not possible.  I guess nobody knows how to use a word processor there.  They also said that if I failed to make the non-documented down payment, my monthly payments would increase significantly.

I emailed the DOE about this.  Their response was fast.  They said that I only had to pay what was in my agreement and any other payments were volunatary.  I faxed this to Premeire Credit with a note that I would be paying the monthly amount only.  They tried to call me once, I didn't answer and that was that.  I am compliant and I narrowly escaped letting Premiere Credit take advantage of me.

The rehab program stipulates that you make 9 monthly payments, at the same time each month.  You are given one month's grace, so 9 out of 10 months.  No early payments and no late payments (except for the one.)  I have one more to go - no missed months - and after next month, my loan is supposed to go back to the DOE and to a regular loan service company instead of collections.  I dread the lies Premiere will tell me when that time comes and know I'll have some homework to do so they don't try to take advantage of me somehow.

They recently called to offer me the "opportunity" to make next month's payment this month, so my loan could immediately go back to the DOE.  I said that sounded fine and I would happily do it.  All they had to do was fax me a document that assured me that extra money paid this month would, indeed, apply to my agreement rather than be treated as voluntary.  Once again, it was impossible for their computers to do this.  So I told them that, regretfully, it was impossible for me to take advantage of this "opportunity."

I understand that they would want to encourage people to pay more money.  And it's within their rights to say anything that's true.  But their lies should be illegal, if they're not already.  They're taking advantage of people, some who are struggling through no fault of their own. 

When they take your account, you are nowhere near wage garnishment and losing your tax returns.  There are other options first and these threats, right off the bat, are misleading, at best.  Suspend your license?  Seriously doubt that.  Scare tactics to make you sell a kidney.

Be careful about what you say and double-check absolutely everything before you agree to anything or send a payment.  Contact the DOE for the real story.

 For those complaining about Premiere Credit, I offer the following advice:

Pay your student loan!

If Premiere Credit has contacted you that means you have been asked, multiple times (probably by multiple companies), to pay the full amount of your loan immediately. That means you have not made payments on your loan in YEARS. Premiere Credit does not have to offer any type of repayment plan.

You state that the company is "impossible to work with." Guess what? They don't need to work with you. They are offering you a chance to avoid wage garnishment; you better bend over backwards to accommodate THEIR needs.

I did exactly as I was told by Premiere Credit, and am now again eligible for future student loans. My account is back in good standing, thanks to PCNA.

The title speaks for itself . It sounds like people just refuse to pay there debt and when they decide to pay they want to do it there way . My parents alway taught me if you borrow money you must pay it back . Nothing in life is free people . I've read up of defaulted students loans ... It read if the student falls into default payment is do IN FULL , so for them the offer you a repayment plan sound great !! It's funny how people will set up automatic payments for everything else but when it come down to repaying on a loan people are all or a sudden scared . It's 2013 what company doesn't offer that option ?? And hey they possible told you that so that you won't skip out on your responsibility in repaying your debt . It's not like you willing said ok I want to pay or you would have never falling into default ..so in the future when the federal government runs on of educational loans for your kids and grandkids and there kids ,,, we will have something else to compliant about !!! Pay your studeby loan!!!!  Hey maybe the government should just stop lending money for school and let family figure out them selves how they are goin to pay 5 k plus a class . Or maybe they should starre requiring credit scores of 750 and up !! This is truthfully stupid to get mad at an agency for requiring I you to repay your debt !! 

My social security disability, yes that’s right federal disability that I've been on for 15 years was garnished!!!!! If you have ever been told that a company can't do this, they are wrong! Even my social workers have always told me that. Clearly, if I am getting social security, I am on a fixed income and, further, I am disabled. They knew all of my information, including that I am a single mother of 2 who can't work. They had no desire to work with me, but I will admit, after the way I was treated, I had no desire to work with them. There was no way I was giving them any of my bank information or credit card information. And if someone EVER EVER asks you fo this, don't give it out, please!!!!! Do it the old fashion way, not over the phone. Especially when a company is 

so unprofessional. The only thing I can do (after talking to the Department of Education) is to fill-out a total and complete permanent disability form, by my doctor and me. Obviously my doctor had no problem filling them out.  So today I called them to notify them of the paperwork, and to STOP garnishing my social security. The response I got was, we don't do any garnishing. Only the Department of Education and Department of Treasury can garnish social security. I have not gotten that far into looking into that matter. I wanted to look up to see if there was anything available on the web on the company, and sure enough!!!!!

Also for those out there that do not know this, you can file a hardship request. I am not sure how long it lasts or what exactly happens.  The best thing to do is somehow get it back into the hands of the Department of Education. At least there, you can talk to someone reasonable. 

Okay so I am a former employee of (PCNA) and yes they will call people at their places of employment.  This is after they have tried numerous times to get a hold of a person at other numbers, left messages for the person they are trying to contact, being hung up on by the person they have tried to get a hold of.  They don't just right away call a persons place of employment for fun.  The employees in the New York location are understanding and empathetic.  They uderstand they are calling your place of employment and are okay if you ask them to no longer call you there. 

If you provided them with a good contact number and time to discuss things with you they will contact you as you have requested.  Keep in mind that a lot of people give either a fake number or state to call them and they never pick up nor do they return the call.  This is not fair as the collector was trying to work with the person.  Also keep in mind that when they call you at your place of eployment that should be a heads up that your employment was verfied and time is of the essence because the next step is probably garnishment. 

Lastly remember that just beacuse you asked them not to call you at your place of employment does not mean they can't call your job anymore.  They can still call and speak to Human Resources, Payroll, or anyone else for that matter because they are not calling for "you".  Another thing is that people get so upset when the fact of the matter is they knew they borrowed the money and they signed that prommissary note stating they understood they had to pay the money back so it should not be a surprise to them.  It's not a free handout. 

If people just took the time to listen when they get a call from the debt collector they will see that there really is an opportunity for closure and there was never a need to keep putting it off.  The student loans will never go away.  The only way out of a student loan is basically not to be so blunt "die".  they can still go after your social security disability, wages, and taxes.  People think that claiming disability like it's the new fad in 2013 or filing bankruptcy will stop or discharge the loan. 

The reality is that a bankruptcy only haults the collection process attempts will still be made through your attorney and once the bankruptcy discharges you still owe the loan.  The disability process takes forever meanwhile interest and collection fees will still be added daily and the final say will be the department of educations.  If the proper paperwork is not submitted it's automatically denied and if they do not conclude that you are truly unable to repay the loan your stuck still owing the debt.  People can move their financials around for other things and the same can be done with the student loan debt. 

All it takes is 9 months to make payments to get out of default.  After that you can begin working directly with the lender again.  This prevents disability or wage garnishment, tax offset, helps your credit report and a bunch of other benefits.  They will take a financial to see what your options are and work a payment out with you.  All you have to do is be honest, stop trying to avoid them, and don't be nasty just listen.  A lot of this headache could have been avoided if people just paid attention and stopped trying to avoid paying the loan back. 

I answered the company phone at work during a very busy rush. The rep from this company didn't way who he was and preceded to ask me all kinds of questions and my phone number at work. I told him I was at work and I couldn't talk at this time. I was so upset because I had customers listening to me trying to get off the phone. So I gave him my number. He then kept talking and I said I have to get off the phone, I'm at work! I had to hang up. He called me the next day and then preceded to tell me the reason for the phone call. I was floored! Because I was under the impression that all my taxes that were taken over the span of 5 years were put to good use towards my student loans? NOT! Then he said that my job has already been notified and agreed to garnish my wages. Mind you, My hours at work have dropped from 30 hours a week to 11, yes I said ELEVEN! So he suggested that my best course of action would be to volunteer payments and with 4 payments in, (its now Feb, 2013) I can file taxes and get my refund. 4 payments would put me in JUNE. I said if I did the volunteer payments now, which are due this February, I may not have the payment. I said I can do just 10.00 a month, Well he then said We Will Garnish Your Wages, the same wages I need to eat, pay to keep the lights on and the heat. that is all I have. (for now because I am trusting God for what I have now). So in so many words they want me to sell my Firstborn to pay them. I'm not mad at him, he is just doing what he is told to to. However, taking is not helping. What is a 50 year old, single, and having a job that is barely keeping me, supposed to do. There must be something? I told him that I'm going to have to as for some kind of HARDSHIP  HELP,    No there is none available. Jesus you are my Only Hope.  

I totally aggree. This company is almost IMPOSSIBLE to work with. Yes they wanted my bank account information as well. I gave them my bank acct info because they kept on saying that i would be charged like $5.00 to make a payment using my credit card. I also find that very unfair. they want the payments and they charge $5 for us to pay them and also $1.50 if you use bank draft

They have a very rude attitude. They are also liars. they do not like to give you anything in writing. I've asked a few times to have my Student Loan Rehab info to be put in writing and they said they could not do it. I find it very unfair. I will be contacting the BBB, FTC/Attorney Generals office thats for sure. These people are crooks. I will also write the senator because these are unfair business practices.

they will see that you are paying them and they will call you and ask for a payment. Then if you need to speak to a supervisor or manager they act like they don't want to transfer you. The people here are illiterate and sound like they are low class and do not know how to speak to people. I am going to pay off the small amount that I owe but demand that it be sent back to original creditor. I do not want these people to make a dime off of me.

They did the same thing to me! I called them today, just to change my payment schedule around with them and they threw an actual  fit and threatened to garnish my wages. I wasnt calling them to say i couldn't pay. The women wasn't educated enough to understand what i wanted to do and threw a fit and had her manager get on the phone. She started to get nasty with me and I asked to speak to a supervisor and she responded by saying she is the supervisor. My response was " there is i am sure some one hire then you.. Do you own premier credit! she did not like that response and actually hung up the phone on me. I called back and was able to speak to someone who seemed normal.. but i am so sick of dealing with these people its Not Acceptable!!