I have a collection that has been on my report for 17 years. I tried to call yesterday and the collection agency that now has the collection was very nasty. The money owed was $742.00 dollars now they are saying because of late fees and interest the debt is now $1500.00. It was a debt to a Pell Grant. I have never received any letters or telephone calls, my parents have lived in the same house and had the same telephone number for over 20 years. Actually, I didn't even know I owned the money until I got an updated credit report and there it was. Any advice on how I can get this deleted or at least make an arrangement with the collection agency to pay the original money owed as opposed to paying late fees and interest. I did ask for a negotiation and the gentleman laughed and said to me "Let me respeat myself you owe us $1500.00". So I got upset and just hung up on him. Any advice would be helpful. Success
Hi....Welcome to the Board.. ;-) You Don't need to call them.... Send them a Validation letter with a Cease and Desist letter allowing them only to contact you in writing. Make sure you send these together and certified return receipt. Also... Make sure you keep copies for your records..!! Good luck and keep us posted!
That does not makes sense, if what your are saying is true. Grants or similar to scholarhisps and do not need to be re-paid. A little background info, Pell grants replaced the old BEOG grants (Basic Educational Opportunity Grant) when Carter left office and Regan came in. They DO NOT have to be re-paid. If it was a loan, then it has to be re-paid or a balance from the school your grant did not cover. Have you been able to obtain your transscripts over the years? I would obtain valdation of the debt. Annie Just trying to keep "THE MAN'S FOOT" off my neck.
Somethings fishey here ! A grant is bascially a gift . You don't pay back gifts. Even if it could be considered a debt why is it being reported for 17 years when the limit is 7 Yrs? Just what's going on with this?
Can't money borrowed through the U.S. Dept. of Education technically stay in your credit report forever? I could be wrong...just wondering.
