325-224-3998

calling all the time not leaving messages

Calls early in the AM and does not leave a message.

Number is from a lady who works for ACT, INC.  They are a collection agency for student loans.  

I received a call from this number at work, which i am unable to receive calls.

Got a call from Account Control Technology, Inc. They did not identify themselves, leave a voice-message, or explain what their purpose was for calling my number...in short, they're deceptive.

Here is a ripoff report article surveying their competence.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/account-control-technology-act/bakersfield-california-/account-control-technology-act-these-people-are-beyond-mornic-bakersfield-california-569276#comment_1

Account Control Technology, Inc.'s Purpose Statement:  "With our consultative approach, ACT fosters respectful communications, carefully preserving the relationship between your institution and your students and alumni. Whether it’s efficiently reaching students while still in school or working through the intricacies of the student loan life cycle, ACT adheres to strict standards and is always mindful of protecting your reputation.

ACT has operated as a licensed third-party collection agency in educational loans and receivables since 1990. We are trusted by colleges and universities across the nation to serve their financial needs and retain positive relationships with students. We service all types of campus-based debt and offer additional solutions to help your school improve its finances and strengthen its reputation:"
http://accountcontrol.com/Industries/Education

This company operates like Pioneer Credit Recovery, another "third-party" company offering the same "unsolicited" services. These companies target "potential" individuals who "may" owe a debt to a college/university, by drag-netting credit reports, etc., and using that information to solicit colleges/universities or the Dept. of Education for personal information, e.g., phone numbers, et al.

Account Control Technology makes a commission if they get a potential student loan debtor to pay back a loan that is actually in default, in arrears, or marked as such on a credit report. Collection companies like these (Pioneer Credit Recovery for sure), charge a $2 collection fee (their commission) for every $1 dollar they actually pay towards the loan. In other words, if you have a $1K loan in arrears and want to pay it off with one payment and you go through them, it will cost $3K.

There is no financial reason anyone should work through a middle-man, if they can go direct to the original lender and work with them. That only requires an individual to pull their own "credit-report" to find the original lender, then call the original lender to get an accurate account status.

If the account is paid in full, then ask for a letter stating that fact. If not, try and work with them to pay off the debt. Bottom line, a "third-party" can not "legally" do more than an individual when it comes to paying back debt; if a third-party claims they can pay back the debt, then...obviously, the individual can as well...without being financially gouged in the process.

Using the letter to show one "third-party" collector that money isn't owed is a waste of time, because there are over a hundred debt collectors working "collections" on-behalf of the Department of Education, etc., and...more importantly, it doesn't address the "reason" the collectors call in the first place, e.g., a credit report, et al.

If the account is paid in full, then submit the paid in full letter to each of the credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax, etc.) that are "misreporting" on the student loan. Get the account to say "closed", with a "$0" balance, and remove anything in the report comments that even looks like it's in default or in collections, e.g., "sold or transferred", "collections", etc.

I'm in an active Chapter-13 bankruptcy. In short, I have a federal judge protecting me from creditor collections...as long as my "stay" is active, they can't contact me in any way for the purpose of collecting on a debt. In return, I have to ensure I make payments according to the payment plan set up by the court to satisfy all my debts (and, I'm paying back 100% of those debts over a 4 year period).

The beauty of bankruptcy...once it's complete, is that all "prior" debt is "forgiven" with a federal seal of approval discharge letter, no creditor can refer to a previous debt for payment/collection, period.

The problem I have is more complicated than the basic student loan debtor; I've got a federal student loan, and my "original" lender is federally prevented from "collecting" on the debt, so...they have transferred the debt to their "bankruptcy" department (who opened up a "new" account on my credit report to show bankruptcy). The original collections department, then tagged my account as "transferred or in collections", until my bankruptcy stay is lifted.

This is the equivalent of some credit card company opening up "multiple" credit card accounts for an individual...one for regular bill payments/collections, one for bankruptcy, one for whatever the credit card company cares to dream up, etc...which unjustly compromises a credit report's accuracy, and ultimately the debtor.

I'm not legally required to pay on my student loan while in bankruptcy. However, since my student loan lender tags my "original" account as "transferred or in collections"...I'll get hounded by the federal Dept. of Education misfit collection companies...who don't do a complete credit-report review, because it's not in their best financial interest.

If I make a payment to these collection companies, then I'm merely paying them high-dollar commissions for nothing...because, my student loan lender can't legally "accept" my payment, even from a third-party collections agency. To complicate this, if I make a payment, then I'm legally stating that I owe a debt to this third party collection company--I would have to contest the payment in court to get a refund, which is almost always more costly in personal time and resources than the refund itself.

Never make a payment...to anyone without a legitimate bill that can be confirmed.

Financial debts are "civil" matters, they aren't "criminal" matters--you can't go to jail for owing someone money. In terms of federal student loans, you won't go to jail for that either, but it's likely all IRS tax refunds will be withheld until payment is made in full.

I'm waiting for the day some creditor calls me and threatens to "take me to court" (LOLOLOL). I'll gladly ask them which court they want to meet up at...so they can explain to a civil judge why I owe them money (without my signature, or any other evidence). The onus is on the creditor to provide evidence a debt exists, not the person being accused of owing a debt. End...rant.