[runningtobefree]

My student loan with SallieMae defaulted and I had to deal NES collection agency (what a traumatic experience).

Anyway, after harrassing me for months, I finally agreed to a settlement in 2 pmts. After the pmts were set up through me debit card, I demanded a settlement letter or would stop the pmts through my bank. I was faxed the settlement letter immediately. The settlement pmts went through and I thought the nightmare was finally over.

A couple months down the road and they are trying to collect on the loan again and are now about to send it to another collection agency!! :furious:

What do I do? Do I send them of a copy of the settlement offer? Anything else I should send to them? Also, I have logged into my SallieMae account online and those two settlements payments have showed up with them. Does it still mean the account is with them?

Help! What do I do? I thought this would be over. What do I need to do with the settlement letter to make this stop?:smhelp:

 

[frugalwarrior2]

ok. You got a settlement offer. You paid it in full. You got a reciept from them that it's paid in full right?? If so I would contact the first company for status and see if they would send a PIF statement and i would contact the second company and send it to a specific person there.
The second sounds like a company that buys bad debt in bulk.

 

[Contrary Housewife]

Who is trying to collect again, Sallie Mae, or a collection agency?

If it is SM and their online records show that you have paid, you need to call them and tell them to check their own records and get their files straightened out.

If it is a collection agency, send a certified return receipt letter saying you dispute the amount owed and ask them to verify the debt. Look up "zombie debt collectors" on Google for more advice.

 

[runningtobefree]

My heart is pounding so hard. I just got off the phone with SallieMae (first) then called NES. SallieMae acknowledged they received the payments as indicated but have charged off the account completely.

(honestly, i cannot tell you how stressed out this whole thing has made me...you all, reading about your victories and your advice this afternoon gave me the courage to finally face them)

They advised me to speak with NES. Then I called NES, what do they do? The first thing they say after the mini miranda is that this account is about to be pursue in lawsuit!!! OH I was SOO mad!! Calmly I stated that was he breaking federal law (FDCPA), that I had just spoken with the original creditor and that I had documentation stating that the account is resolved in full by his own collection agency! :deal:

Well, then of course he backed down and transferred me.

Then spoke with a manager in different dept. I e-faxed the settlement letter to the manager while she was on the phone so she would have to acknowledge she received it. She then stated that this should be enough to close the 2nd account (the amount they were trying to illegally collect on!) and that they should be able to send a receipt and written document stating it is resolved completely with NES and SallieMae.

I'm supposed to follow up and call her tomorrow afternoon to find out when they will be following through, once having reviewed the settlement letter.

Honestly, I am on the brink of tears right now and there is a knot in my stomach...this has been such a nightmare. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will let you know how it goes and might still need your help if something comes up.

 

[Contrary Housewife]

I'm so glad you got it resolved successfully. Yes, it's stressful but you handled it right and if it ever happens again (fingers crossed that it doesn't) you won't have to get panicked about it. Relax tonight and congratulate yourself for dealing with it like an adult.

 

[MaryCarney]

Never, EVER discard all the paperwork from this nightmare. You never know if it will pop up again years from now.

 

[runningtobefree]

Good advice, MaryCarney. I will definitely keep EVERYTHING.

Well, I am at the office and will be following up with NES during my lunch break today to get the word on what they are going to do about it. Trying to be assertive and not be run over. :fight:

A bit anxious but ready to have an answer on it. Will keep you guys posted!

 

[mek42]

Scan and archive these documents in some form of off-site storage just in-case.

Doesn't need to be cloud, could just burn to CD and store with trusted friend / family or even at desk at work if appropriate.

Good luck with everything!

 

[runningtobefree]

UPDATE! :cheer4:

I spoke with the same manager in the claim office and made it clear that if I did not get what I required, I would pursue it with an attorney. They had reviewed the settlement letter, agreed they had "accidently" (yeah right) made a duplicate account and that is why they had been still collecting on it (and falsely threatening legal action...of course she didnt say THAT).

As I required, they are sending me a $0 letter on the original account and the "new" account, showing that this debt is completely resolved. Should receive the letters by next Friday by mail. Finally!

Okay, now I have another question:

NES did not report to the credit bureaus, but SallieMae has. Once I receive the letters, can I contact SallieMae and ask them to update their credit reporting to show the account was resolved on the last payment date? The settlement payments were made nearly a year ago! Doesnt SallieMae have to show that pmt has been made, resolved in full? What do I do? After all this effort, I want it to reflect on my credit report. :smhelp:

 

[Contrary Housewife]

SallieMae will report the account as "settled". That will stay on your credit report for 7 years from the date it was paid. They will not remove it and give you a "clean" record.