Consumer complaint received 2017-05-14
Company: GREAT LAKES
State: IL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Private student loan debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: Frequent or repeated calls

Complaint:
I was contacted twice by Great Lakes  Student L oans in   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX    . I can not remember the dates and times, but have contacted my company 's phone provider to provide these to me, along with the duration of the calls. I was told I would have this information soon, but have yet to receive it.     On these events, I was asked to be identified by the caller, and they requested my social security number.     On  one  phone call, I did provide my personal information, even though I told the woman on the phone that I do not provide personal information to non-solicited calls. I calmly and politely asked for her business 's mailing address. She refused to provide that information. I asked her repeatedly in a calm, patient manner, " what is the mailing address for your company? '' She instead began to berate me by telling me that I owed money to her company and she insinuated that she would deface me by contacting the references I provided on the loan. She refused to provide me her mailing address. After several minutes of her asking questions, and my insistence, she started to state her employer 's address. Then, as I was struggling to grab a writing utensil and piece of paper, she mistook the noise of the headset on my landline telephone to be noise or interference. This was a landline phone, of which there is extremely little noise or interference. At that point, she told me that she would no longer provide the address and promptly hung up the phone. She told me that if I would not take her seriously, she would hang up. I did not use profanity or attempt to upset the woman that called me. I simply asked for the mailing address. She refused to provide it.     It is my understanding that any debt collector who is attempting to contact a customer by phone is required to provide a mailing address, if requested. I requested the mailing address, and the woman on the phone did not provide it. In fact, she took every possible measure in her power to not disclose it. She first evaded the request and also suggested to humiliate me and expose my financial issues to my references. Then she begrudgingly attempted to provide the information and found an excuse to end the conversation before providing it by telling my that the connection was not strong and took that excuse to end the conversation.     On a another phone call from the same company, I answered the call, the woman greeted me and asked for personal information. I told her I could not provide my social security number or date of birth over the phone from unsolicited calls. I asked her for a call back number and she obliged. When I called the number and provided the extension she provided, I was connected and she asked for my name, and I provided it. She then asked for my personal information and then I asked her if I could record our conversation. She told me that she did not know if that would be allowed. I asked her if our conversation was already being recorded by her company. She informed me that it was. I asked her if those recordings were public record or could be requested, if asked. She told me she did not know if they could be requested and then put me on hold to speak with he  r manager. Once we reconnected, she asked me to " have a nice day, sir '' and hung up the phone.
I have made two attempts for information on the debt that I owe and still have no mailing address to send letters requesting more information. I ha  ve attempted to record these conversations and was denied. I do not understand what I have done wrong. What should be my next step?

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation