Consumer complaint received 2017-05-05
Company: Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A.
State: CA
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Private student loan
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Sub-issue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan

Complaint:
I am being endlessly harassed by the current owner of my three outstanding private student loans, Weltman, Weinberg and Reis Co. They call me at least 6 times every day and have recently started calling for me at my new employer. Just last week they left a voice mail message in the general mail box regarding my outstanding debt that I owe. I have tried to negotiate with them and offered to enter into a payment plan but they have ignored me and bullied me and are trying to pressure and intimidate me into paying them money that I do not have. I have other federal student loans and they have been easy to work with and I have gone into payment plans on those loans when I ran into hardship. These three loans currently with Weltman and Weinberg I paid on for nearly 7 years until I was laid off from my job. I went to XXXX University and was in a 5 year XXXX XXXX program. The loans in question were taken out in XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. The verbiage stated that I would not have to begin paying on these loans until I graduated and was working, but since it was a 5 year program the original lender ( XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX ) began sending bills while in my last year of collegethe monthly payment was {$540.00} per month. I paid this as agreed from XXXX to XXXX until I was laid off from my job after nearly 10 years in that field. I could not keep up with the payments and contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to ask for help or some type of reduced payment plan or forbearance but they refused. As soon as I defaulted they transferred the debt to XXXX. I still faced the same issues and was not able to make any payments to XXXX. I then began the licensing process with the XXXX to become a licensed loan XXXX and as part of the process I need to be in repayment plans on any debts. Once again I contacted XXXX and asked them if they would work with me on some type of payment plan. They refused and a week later my loan was transferred to Weltman and Weinberg. As soon as I got the paperwork from Weltman and Weinberg I contacted them to see if they would work with me and once again ran into a brick wall. They refused to enter into a repayment plan or allow me to make lower payments and told me pay them {$600.00} a month or they would come after me. I am back working but not making as much money and still going through the licensing process. I will get back on my feet soon, but this company is not making it any easier with their constant harassment. Additionally, they have caused me a great deal of embarrassment by calling me at work and leaving general voicemail messages that many of the employees could hear. I believe this company is violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I am also concerned because I looked up the law firm name Weltman, Weinberg & Reis CoXXXX LPA and they are not licensed in California XXXX yet they are sending out letters to me, a California resident on their letterhead. I believe this is also a violation.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation