Im a newbie with a quick question. Can you still ask for a validation letter from a CA after you send them a few payments. I sent some payments before I knew all this information about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I am a recent college graduate and would like to clear this balance up with my school so I can go on to graduate school. I cant access my transcripts before paying off the debt. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Have you contacted your school, and asked them what is owed? Does it agree with what the CA is trying to collect?
Thanks for responding. And sorry for the questions but Im only now learning of all these options. I just purchased the book "good credit is sexy" so hopefully after it arrives in a few days I will be a bit more knowledgeable. What the school told me I owed and what the CA is trying to collect doesnt match. Would that mean the CA is including its fees in my balance?? Would I be able to get that money back or sent to my OC?
The CA may, or may not have added fees. They may, or may not be entitled to them, depending on any agreement you may have with the school. Don't just guess. Ask the CA to validate the debt and show how they arrived at the amount they are claiming you owe. How much does the school say you owe? How much does the CA say you owe? What do your records say you owe? How much have you paid the CA? In other words, how far apart are you? Can you pay the school directly? What was the origin of the debt? Did you drop out, and if so are a portion of the fees not due based on the date you dropped out? Some state laws require complete or partial refund of fees if you drop out before a certain number of days.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond ontrack. I certainly going to request validation, tomorrow first thing in the morning Im mailing the letter. I graduated in dec 04. but didnt finish paying my tuition off for that semester. I tried to pay the school but they said I couldnt because all my payments would appear as credits to my account, since they have sent my balance to a CA. The school said I owed about 3700 The CA said I owed them about 4400 I have only paid the CA 600.
