This has been the hardest week of my life thanks to the scumbags at Valentine and Kebartas, Inc. Collection agency. They have called me repeatedly and made threats via the phone. One collector especially has made life a nightmare for me - A Mr. Robert John Brealey. This jerk verbally abused me on the phone for over an hour, threatened to garnish my disability check for outstanding student loans from the government and asked such personal questions as to why someone my age couldn't "get it together" and why someone who is disabled would be pregnant. He treated me like garbage, scared me to death and strong armed me into giving him my debit card number, or else he said he would insure that my entire disability check would be taken away from me for at least a year and a half. I had to agree to monthly payments of 300.00 a month for eight months, and then he suggested I also sign over my income tax return next year. I have never been so humiliated by a stranger in my life. I am five month pregnant, living well below the poverty level and was terrified by the concept of losing my disability check, which is how I pay my rent. His comment was he didn't care if I was homeless-he was collection a debt. This man is heartless, manipulative and practices illegal collection techniques.
Fortunately, my hyusband and I spent a greater part of the afternoon researching as to whether I had any government loans out from a failed attempt at going to the sham of a school, WIU/University of Phoenix. We contacted FAFSA, who in turn connected us with the Federal Student Aid Information Center, who was happy to inform me that I have NO outstanding notes with the US Government and that this sort of illegal collection practice is common with companies like Valentine And Kebartas. The Federal Student Aid Information Center also helped me file a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, The US Department of Education and the Better Business Bureau.
If anyone out there is in the same situation with this company aor other scumbags like them - DON'T GIVE UP AND DON'T LET THEM WIN. Fight for your rights. I am so glad I did. PS - I had my debit card canceled and reported as stolen-Brealey and his cronies can't touch my account.
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