- Report: #812063
Complaint Review: Educational Credit Management Corporation - Internet
Reported By:
JR -
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Educational Credit Management Corporation
PO Box 64909 St. Paul, MN 55164-0909 55164-0909 Internet, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
www.ecmc.org
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Educational Credit Management Corporation ECMC sent threatening letter stating I defaulted on student loan even though I paid it off completely 20 years ago Internet
Last February I received a threatening letter from a company (on generic letterhead; thin, white paper, black ink only; no logo, just letters "ECMC" and a P.O box) stating that I had defaulted on my "student loan(s)" from college in 1990 and that if I didn't repay immediately, ECMC would "continue debt collection efforts" and my credit score would not improve until I "established an affordable and reasonable payment plan" with them. The letter stated that I owed $200; no explanation as to why or from what company this false information was generated, if at all.
I was nonplussed by the letter. I paid off my two, small student loans in 1993. The two financial entities that I paid are long since defunct, and I don't have any papers to prove that I did, but I have some credit reports that indicate the loans were repaid. I just ignored tthe letter, thinking it was a scam. However, I continued to get letters from ECMC every month or two, with the amount owed creeping up each time.
Today I received a letter stating that I owe $614.53.
I have had it with these con artists. To what agency would I report their activity? The first letter the company sent stated that it was acting on behalf of the federal government to crack down on delinquent debtors, so would I need to contact a federal agency about them, and is this fraud?
I was nonplussed by the letter. I paid off my two, small student loans in 1993. The two financial entities that I paid are long since defunct, and I don't have any papers to prove that I did, but I have some credit reports that indicate the loans were repaid. I just ignored tthe letter, thinking it was a scam. However, I continued to get letters from ECMC every month or two, with the amount owed creeping up each time.
Today I received a letter stating that I owe $614.53.
I have had it with these con artists. To what agency would I report their activity? The first letter the company sent stated that it was acting on behalf of the federal government to crack down on delinquent debtors, so would I need to contact a federal agency about them, and is this fraud?
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Tagurit
Greenwood Village,Colorado,
USA
Here is what you need to do
#2Consumer Comment
Sat, February 18, 2012
Before I can provide you with any real adivce I need to know if the original student loans were Federal loans. If not, the debt is past the statute of limitations. If they were Federal loans it's a different story. I would not ignore this but they are required by law so validate the debt and do a number of other things. Send the letter below to them and record any calls and keep all emails and letters - you may need them later. If recording the call tell them in advance you are doing this since I do not know if you live in a dual consent state.
Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is being sent to you in response to a notice (or insert phone call or letter date and time) sent to me on (insert date and/or copy their collection letter).
Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.
This is NOT a request for verification or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.
Please provide me with the following:
What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable and identify the original creditor;
Prove the statute of limitations has not expired on this account
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state and;
Provide me with your license numbers and registered agents;
At this time, I will also inform you that if your offices have reported erroneous information to any of themajor credit bureaus, this action might constitute fraud under both federal and state laws.
Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent, I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:
Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Defamation of character for contacting any other person than myself regarding this alleged debt.
If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the preceding, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time, all collection activity must cease and desist.
Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel. This includes any listing any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.
If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of this certified mail letter, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.
I would also request that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls and calls or correspondence sent to or with any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS.
It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action. This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.
Best Regards,
Your Name
NEVER SIGN YOUR NAME only type it
(WHY: because these bottom feeders will scan your signature and fraudulently attach it to documents as an attempt to validate a debt or an agreement with them.)
Be SURE to send it certified or registered...above all, keep the receipt, attach it to a copy of the letter you sent and all their correspondence.
If they call, write down the time, date and whom you spoke with. This is invaluable if they do this after receipt of certified letter.
