Product: Debt collection

I had a XXXX XXXX card from XXXX while in the XXXX from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX. I obtained the credit cards for furniture and retail in XX/XX/XXXX. I paid all my bills on time and if I wasn't able to, there are several programs in place to help, and I used all of them. When I departed the service in XX/XX/XXXX, I asked that my cards be " shut off '' and my accounts " closed. '' I believe it was in writing as they asked me to for my protection. I didn't have work, and no where to go when I got out with my wife and XXXX kids, so I took my family and went to school. I ignored my bills for about three months while I moved, filed XXXX claims, started school, got a part time job, etc. I was also on public benefits and unemployment. I lived like that for the next two years of automotive school. I pulled my own credit report and found that I was in terrible shape. I made a list, called all of my creditors, made my case, and started paying them off, higher interest, smaller amounts first. I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to figure out a way to pay down my debt. When I left the service, I owed {$7800.00} between two lines of credit. I spoke with their collections department and they wanted me to pay $ XXXX. I worked for $ XXXX part time at XXXX 's XXXX parts, and was on EBT ( public aid ). I asked about other options and they said I could make 6 minimum due payments which started at 3 months worth of overdue payments at penalty APR OF 20 %, then five more minimum payments and they would drop the penalty APR and accept a smaller payment. The original contract allows them to charge a penalty APR indefinitely, compounded over time. I just couldn't come up with that kind of money. We tried combining those payments together and dividing it by six, and it was still something like {$500.00} / month. Still too much, I told them I would just pay what I could when I could. Next I get a notification that my tax return would be garnished. And so it was, XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX they took my tax return. XX/XX/XXXX they received {$3600.00}. Then I don't remember what happened, but I didn't hear anything for several months. I don't see anything due on my XXXX statement. I ignored that account and focused on others. Then I went through my credit report again in XXXX. My debt had climbed to {$10000.00}. They attempted to take my tax return again, but instead my return went to California child support for my wife 's child support bill- and that's an even crazier story. Then I was was offered a job I couldn't refuse and quit school in XX/XX/XXXX. A couple months of moving and the family mayhem, and it's XXXX. Again. I made contact with XXXX, and they had sold the debt to someone else. I got I touch with them. I started paying off all my smaller debts and now have no derogatory marks. I guess XXXX gave my account to TSI. By now, in spite of taking all my tax returns, my bill was {$19000.00}. I paid all but {$4000.00} before I got out, and now owed almost {$20000.00} on an original debt of {$7800.00}. I made contact with TSI and started paying {$300.00} / month for the last ten months. So now I've paid more than the original debt- less interest and collection fees, and owe a remainder of {$17000.00} of interest that is compounding monthly at my original penalty interest rate of 20 %. I recognize my fault in all of this. As a oung XXXX with a huge family I screwed up badly trying to survive. I have paid off debts non-stop for the last 7 years since getting out of the XXXX in the amount of roughly {$40000.00}. I have {$38000.00} in student loan debt that is on an income based repayment plan. I have asked to have that interest rate lowered to my original contract amount, and have not even gotten a response. I'm angry at this point. I'm doing my best to pay this debt, but the amount of interest they are charging is criminal. TSI is keeping both of my accounts open, one for each credit card, and billing me for two accounts. I asked why they wouldn't let me pay off one for {$2000.00} and get it off my credit report, and they said they can allocate my payments between each account as they see fit. That's great. I have to pay a CRIMINAL AMOUNT OF INTEREST on a debt to someone who did nothing to earn the money ( no services rendered to me ), and I get to pay their {$45.00} fee to XXXX twice per monthly payment. I feel this is unfair, but have not found any real legal cause to take up arms. I've read my original contract, my current credit reports from FTC.gov, and the US code regarding fair credit reporting and debt collection. My original contract States that a penalty APR can be imposed indefinitely, or until 6 consecutive " minimum payments due '' are paid, then the penalty APR reverts to the original app of 6.99 %. I feel like I've paid enough to warrant a lower rate. I don't know what else to do. Hire a lawyer? More debt? I'm just being exploited, robbed, outright stolen from. It can't be right.