Consumer complaint received 2018-11-07
Company: NEW YORK STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION (HESC)—
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Federal student loan debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX XXXX XXXX has just acquired my defaulted federal student loan debt from the previous company, XXXX, and on behalf of the New York State Higher Education Service Corporation. XXXX sends a letter, stating that my total current balance is {$6800.00}. This has been broken down on the back of the letter as follows : {$5600.00} Principal Balance, {$1.00} Interest ( which is the daily amount of interest that accrues on my principal balance ), and {$1200.00} in Collection charges. The collection charges are astronomical. Added all together, we get a total of {$6800.00}. So far, so good. 

XX/XX/XXXX - I receive another letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX, informing me that an " adjustment '' of {$1300.00} has been made to my account ( this is my garnished XX/XX/XXXX New York State tax refund ). However, in this letter, my " Previous Balance '' is stated as {$8200.00}. This is a difference of {$1300.00}. My interest accrues at a rate of {$1.00} a day. The difference in time between the first letter and the second letter is 26 days, meaning that the interest accrued should have amounted to {$27.00}, making my balance at that time {$6800.00}, which would still include the ridiculous collection charge. No where on the letter is there an explanation of where this {$8200.00} number comes from. They claim on this letter that I now owe {$6900.00}, after the garnished tax refund is applied to my account. This balance is higher than it was a month ago, before they took {$1300.00} from my New York State tax refund. Clearly this is wrong. 

I called and submitted a dispute on or about XX/XX/XXXX regarding this amount, but have received no communication from XXXX except receiving another statement in the mail a week later with the incorrect balance owed. In a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, they claim that I owe {$7100.00}. 

I am trying my best to settle my debt, but after faxing over 40 pages of requested statements, detailed letters of explanation, and itemized expense documentation to XXXX and also scanning and emailing all requested information both to HESC and XXXX XXXX XXXX, I have no word from either of them as to whether or not I can settle my debt. I went to great pains to get a bank loan ( a friend with good credit agreed to co-sign to help me get out of debt ), and am ready and willing to pay WHAT I OWE. NOT what I DO NOT OWE!!! 

Ironically, I have recently settled a debt with the US Dept of Education ( another defaulted student loan ), who referred my account to XXXX XXXX. The settlement process took one phone call and an hour of waiting before XXXX accepted my offer and processed my payment over the phone. XXXX XXXX is a collection company that I can actually trust. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX, however, is clearly run by criminals. I get no straight answers from them, their accounting is totally opaque ( they have yet to provide me with any explanation as to why I was overcharged, though I have asked them repeatedly to send me a detailed accounting history ), and they continue to insist that I owe more than I do, despite my informing them by phone, email, and fax that they have overcharged me, and demanding that they agree to my very fair and reasonable settlement offer of principal balance plus accrued interest, minus the {$1300.00} I have already paid toward my debt. It boggles my mind how difficult and exhausting this process has proven to be. 

In addition, XXXX XXXX XXXX has made a habit out of calling me multiple times a day, from numerous phone numbers, as well as calling my friends and family, to harass and intimidate me. The phone calls are especially disruptive during work and late at night. 

Their criminal activity has caused me undue emotional distress, and cost me countless hours of precious time as I struggle to fight their unjust practices and demand a fair settlement to get this debt taken care of once and for all.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation