Consumer complaint received 2018-06-06
Company: HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC
State: MS
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Private student loan debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive notice of right to dispute

Complaint:
After interviewing twice for a XXXX XXXX job at a local XXXXXXXX XXXX hospital, I was told to call back if I ever decided to go to XXXX school. Upon acceptance into XXXX school, I was awarded an " assistanceship '' to cover my $ XXXX tuition and help further my career in XXXX. I considered this opportunity to be a blessing as I was told that all I had to do was work for the organization where there was an open position. Unfortunately, there was no verbal or contractual mention of a time frame for a job offer to be made, a less than competitive salary or a bi-weekly undisclosed fee that would be taken as repayment. 

While in XXXX school, I reached out to my contacts several times to express my intention of working the organization. The correspondence generally resulted in implications that there would probably not be any open positions. Immediately after graduating in XX/XX/XXXX and attaining licensure by XX/XX/XXXX, I reached out to my contact and told them I was ready to work. After not receiving any correspondence for a few weeks and expenses climbing, I sought other employment. It was only after securing other jobs that I was offered a job within the organization with all the undisclosed stipulations and terms. I chose to go with another organization and to start repaying the organization starting XX/XX/XXXX. 

Though I was paying all that I could possible afford, the payments quickly became unmanageable. The loans were split into 2 separate payments with different maturity dates ( XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX )  and monthly payments that totaled over {$3500.00}. The terms were never presented to me in writing and seemed to change depending on who I could talk to at XXXX XXXX. The loan servicer representatives gave me a single contact XXXX XXXX XXXX headquaters with whom I am supposed to discuss terms and agreements. After numerous requests, I have yet to receive a returned phone call or any written correspondence detailing terms and agreements other than a single letter sent in XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX regarding the smaller loan. 

Two separate past due amounts were sent over to XXXX XXXX XXXX prior to their due date onXX/XX/XXXX. Upon trying to submit a payment on XX/XX/XXXX to XXXX, I saw that the loan amount had already been sent over to a collections agency and no detailed information was available on the website. I called XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX to ask why was it turned over to collections prior to its due date and was told it was due to the XXXX falling on a Sunday ( non-business day ). I went on to question the amount that had been placed with collections and was told by an agent -- with whom I mysteriously always get to speak with -- that he could no longer access that information and I would have to speak with the collections agency or my lender. Again, the XXXX XXXX XXXX contact number I am always given has never been in operation as it is a random nurses ' desk who never picks up or returns my calls. I asked to speak with someone who was in contact with XXXX XXXX XXXX and was told they do not communicate with customers at all and only talk to the lender. I asked to speak with the manager and was told he/she was not present and it takes 7-10 business days for a returned call. To date I have not received a call back. 

I immediately called XXXX XXXX XXXX and spoke with an agent to get more information regarding the amount turned over to collections. As of XX/XX/XXXX and to date, they only have one past due amount for the smaller loan in house amounting to {$8800.00}. Yet when I call XXXX, I am told that both loans were sent over to XXXX XXXX XXXX at the same time on XX/XX/XXXX and they can no longer " see '' any information regarding either loan. 

My questions are as follows : 1. Can a past due amount be turned over to collections prior to its due date? 
2. If both past due amounts were turned over to XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, why are they only showing the smaller loan amount?

3. If there is no trace of the larger loan at XXXX XXXX XXXX, am I still obligated to pay it blindly? 
4. If I was never given a legitimate contact at XXXX XXXX XXXX to discuss the terms, how am I supposed to negotiate a more feasible payment option and stay out of collections?

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation