Look up the report done by Monica about GC Services and United Student Aid Funds and you will find a very similar report. I'm writing this right after I received by "wage withholding" paperwork from GC Services.
To get a quick jist without reading everything I list problems at the bottom.
It began with a phone message left at my dad's place from a Darrell Brown telling me that it VERY important that I call RIGHT AWAY, yet he left only his name and number and no company name.
I contacted them to see what was going on. They told me my student loans went into default from undergrad in total of ~$26,000 and that my "account" had been handed to them. What alerted me to something being wrong was that they had my middle initial wrong.
We discussed the issue and my options, I was freaked out and confused because I am a medical student and my loans were supposed to be in deferrment until they told me I couldn't talk to the government about it and there was nothing I can do. They proceeded to tell me that my financial aid would be withheld... Meaning after 3 years of med school I would have to drop out! They talked about garnishing my wages, which I have none, I live off student aid and babysitting for family.
Here is where it gets fun... They asked for my address, which I gave, and then they said my full name wrong, I said they were wrong, they then discussing states I lived in, ~I have never lived outside my home state, they then gave my age which was wrong, and read me a full SSN that was not mine. At this I was extremely aggitated and told them I couldn't believe that the government gave them the wrong information on me. I was worried and told them that I wouldn't "open an account" with them but if this was true what could I do so as to not have to drop out of school.
Eventually after ~40 min they admitted I was the "wrong person." They were sorry that they almost gave me a heart attack and that they just assumed I was lying as most people in collection do. They were "very sorry."
A couple weeks later, during finals week, Darrell Brown called me again, I assumed to apologize or something of the sort. He told me how he was responding to my want to begin paying. I explained my last conversation with GC Services and he told me that I called and gave my home address so I could handle the debt, I told him again he was wrong and I would be the only one calling with that address, he said I was wrong. Maybe he thinks I have split personalities. I told him to take me off thier list and never call me again.
Latest... I was away for spring break and got home, checked my phone messages and found 3 messages from GC Services telling me to call "right away" and they threatened to contact the police to get me to "comply." I went to my dad's and had been sent a wage garnisment letter. I hope we can all get together to stop fraudulent bad business as such. Make sure they have your correct info and don't give them anything.
What they did wrong:
1. I never recieved any paperwork from GC Services before the phone call, wouldn't I get letter alerting me my loans were in default?
2. They read me a wrong full name, a full SSN, and listed places I lived. This wasn't me and it would be so easy to commit identity fraud with this info, can they legally give this info over the phone?
3. They admitted I was the wrong person and have kept calling me.
4. They are attempting to "garnish my wages" and halt my financial aid, I think I have a valid argument if they succeed with any official harassment.
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