Collection Agency
Rights and Wrongs

by Sandra
(California)

When I was younger, I had an experience with a debt collection agency regarding a federal student loan. In my opinion, these agencies can sometimes be the most difficult to deal with, as some of the agents seem to feel they are backed by the federal government and are "above the law."

When I was out of work and facing tough times, the agency harassed and belittled me. They accused me of lying about my work status as well as lying about my income and living situation. In my opinion, there was no reason or justification for the agency to treat me this way. The fact of the matter was that I already felt bad enough about my situation. I was dirt poor and there was just no way I could make payments at that point.

I wanted to take care of the situation, but after having such a bad experience, I also did not want THIS particular agency to receive any sort of commission for collecting from me.

On the other hand, later, when the loan was transferred to another agency, the situation changed completely. Perhaps it was because I was in a better situation or because I seemed more willing to work with the agency at this point.

All I know is that the new agency was great. They were friendly and accommodating and they were careful to approach the situation tactfully. They made me feel like a part of the process of coming up with a solution, instead of just beating me over the head. Now, everything is on track thanks to the new company and I being able to come to an understanding.