Owe College Money: Deal with THEM or Collection Agency??

[DeeShi26]

This is my first posting here, so I hope I am doing things right.

 

I graduated from college in Dec 2003.

 

Anyway, I owe them something around the tune of $2700. Luckily I was able to obtain a copy of my official transcript through a professor of mine who pulled some strings. I wanted to attend graduate school this Jan of 2005, they want transcripts sent directly from the school.

 

The account was sent to a collection agency called RMA/National Revenue. Anyone have any words about them?

 

I want to pay the whole thing off, I keep reading that you should only deal with the original creditor, but I'm wondering if I settle with RMA/National Revenue would this be a better thing for me to do? RMA/National Revenue has not sent me anything.

 

Actually, thinking back, I owed this very school money, and in order for me to attend classes again, I settled with a CA and still had to pay the balance to the school to attend classes again. So I'm thinking the same will occur if I want to obtain my paper diploma and official transcripts sent somewhere.

 

I'm very confused on what to do. I contacted the school previously about setting up some payment plan, where I can pay half and work out the balance monthly, but they wanted the balance in full.

 

The only thing I can do now is to pay them monthly, it won't be much though.. I'd just have to be dismayed and postpone graduate school again until the summer of 05.

 

 

Thanks,

Dee

[FCK_THE_CA]

Not sure what gave them the right to double collect but someone owes you some money most likely the CA. Write your college a letter asking the college to help you get it back. S/B illegal for them to take your money on a debt that was never owned to them. Sue them if you have to. Also contact your state's Attorney General.

[SassyinAz]

Not sure what gave them the right to double collect but someone owes you some money most likely the CA. Write your college a letter asking the college to help you get it back. S/B illegal for them to take your money on a debt that was never owned to them. Sue them if you have to. Also contact your state's Attorney General.

How in the world did you determine from the post that there is double-collecting going on? Especially when Dee said she owes (owed) the school $2,700 bucks?

 

If RMA is reporting, you can send them a validation letter. There are sample letters requesting verification from the OC as well.

 

Moving your thread to the student loans forum (leaving a link here to for maximum exposure and input for you) so fla-tan can help you further with reliable and accurate advice you can count on and confirm.

 

FCK, you need a new username as no one can even respond to you directly without a TOS violation.

 

Sassy

[Cheech]

DeeShi -

 

Sorry, been out of town all weekend. So any new updates on this situation?

 

If you owe the money directly to the university, then I would absolutely work directly with them instead of the CA. Sassy gave you good advice about the validation letter to the CA.

 

When dealing with the university, could you perhaps ask your professor friend to help you mediate this situation? I had a similar situation before and the Dean of my department called up a supervisor and was able to help me set up a payment plan. Universities are small, cliquish communities and trust me - people know people. I would also talk to the university and keep trying to set up a payment plan with them and keeping asking for a supervisor until you get someone who can help you.

 

Keep us updated and don't give up on those grad school plans.