Consumer complaint received 2020-06-02
Product: Debt collection — Federal student loan debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: National Credit Services, Inc. (NC)

I was TOLD by NATIONAL CREDIT SERVICES INC. ( NCS ) that I had a calculated payment of a particular amount that I needed to make in order to be enrolled into the Federal Student Loan Rehabilitation Program. 

I initiated a call to NCS in XXXX. I communicated to NCS my desire and intention to enroll in the Federal Loan Rehabilitation Program. At that time I also communicated my concern that the payment amount NCS was quoting to me was too much and above my means. NCS said that was what they had calculated and that it could be MORE. When probed, NCS also indicated at that time that with the proper paper work the Department of Education could calculate my repayment amount to a determine a payment based on official documents. Again, they stressed that this could be MORE money than their calculations. 

In accordance with my desire to be enrolled in the federal program I sent in the required paperwork and official documents to NCS and the United States Department of Education ( USDE ) to determine my monthly payment amount in hopes that the payment amount would be affordable.The USDE calculated the appropriate payment amount and communicated that amount with NCS. I signed up with NCS for the USDE federal loan rehab program with the USDE calculated payment amount. 

Unfortunately, it has come to my attention on review of my bank account that NCS Inc. has been taking out an amount not calculated or authorized by the federal government, or signed up for by me. I have not authorized NCS to collect another amount other than what was agreed and calculated by the government. I agreed to pay NCS in accordance with my agreement and terms set out by the United States Department of Education federal loan rehabilitation program. No more and no less. 

I called NCS in XXXX to inquire about the incorrect withrawl amounts. I inquired as to why this amount was being debited from my bank account and who authorized this amount. I asked NCS to cancel the incorrect payment and debit the authorized payment. I was told that I had agreed to pay this other amount and had been paying it and that people always pay OVER the amount owed so how would they know. 

I did not agree to any other amount than what is outlined in the federal documents that I signed to be in the rehabilitation program. In response to how they would know, they would know by looking at and referring to the federal documents that they collected and have on record that clearly specify the amount that it to be paid during the Federal Loan Rehabilitation Program.

NCS has the signed paperwork of the amount I DID agree to pay. I signed paperwork and agreed to the calculated amount given by the Department of Education, then readjusted by the government and signed by me of a lower amount. NCS has the signed documents that indicate the amount I am to pay. At no time did I agree to make payments to NCS other than to be enrolled into the Federal Loan Rehabilitation program. NCS has no right to take an amount other than what was agreed on by and set forth in the loan rehab program.

It is with confusion and anger that I write to report that NCS has chosen to continually ignore me and the signed federal documents that they have possession of. NCS claims that I want to pay more than what I am documented to and they are authorized to take it. I believe this is unethical, adverse, and fraudulent business practice on the part of National Credit Services Inc. After many calls to NCS and requests for call transcripts or a refund, there has been no resolution. I was told by NCS they would not comply except for on court order. I am eliciting outside help to rectify this issue.