Jeannie left a message, asking for verification of current employment. She gave no indication where she was calling from. But, like so many others, I recently started getting harassed by Pioneer Credit over student loans. The bill was hilarious "$175k, please do not send cash"
No way I'd give my employment info to some anonymous caller.
hi,
while agree that if you financially able you should try to pay off a loan, there's problems with this company than simply collecting a legit debt.
google this company, and the complaints listed are endless. this rutheless collection agencys will take your money, all your money, if they can. They refuse to give you a balance, or statement, they continue garnishement long after your paid up, add outrageous "fees" and "interest", try to trick you into sending more money with bogus agreements of settling, and even garnish without a court order by pretending to be the Dept. of Education.
I've read posts from people stating that they don't even know the person who's named on the loan. Sure, they could be lying, but then why post it? there's a copy of a court docket in which this company was found at fault for taking a payment in full, but not removing the person's debt, and continuing to harrass them! This person had to go to court AFTER paying?
A guy was in a car accident, lost his hand, and still offered to pay a 20,000 dollar loan. PCR said with interest he owed 24,000 dollars. He ends by complainting that he's paid 28 thousand dollars to date, and STILL paying!
Look it up yourself if you don't beleive me.
These kind of shady outfits should not be allowed to rip us off, but they seem to do so with impunity. This isnt business, this is a barely legal scam.
They called me when I was sleeping after work - WRONG MOVE. I have already been registered on the do not call list and I knew what these people do / what their business is about.
They are a small company that buys up bundles of delinquent loans from banks for fractions of pennies on the dollar and then tries to collect the debt that they now own.
The banks sell the debt to them with the stipulation that if any money is recovered the bank will get a percentage of that money.
These agencies will bounce their number from state to state to try to cover up where their number is actually originating, and often will not identify themselves.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32583106#32583106 (MSNBC looks into this matter)
To get the money from you they will do anything including impersonating the law, or outright lying to you.
THIS IS WHAT I DID:
I let him speak his piece. Then I informed him he had the wrong number. Then he hung up on me. I called him back and he sounded angry that I was able to. I then asked to speak to his manager, he said that HE was the manager (lie), then I informed him that he and his organization were in non-compliance with the Federal regulations surrounding the National Do-Not-Call list, and that I didn't care if he bought debt and was trying to collect, he was breaking the law by calling me. I then threatened that if I received any further calls from his company I would proceed with legal action.
I have not heard from him since.
Also, if you get them on the phone use the addresses below to let them know you know where they are calling from - this makes them less bold because you could come a'knockin' on their door.
Cheers [:
"This is Pioneer Credit Recovery, a collection agency owned by Sallie Mae:
Arcade Office
26 Edward St.
Arcade, NY 14009
(585) 492-1234
(800) 836-2442
Perry Office
20 Parker Ln.
Perry, NY 14530
(585) 237-7000
(800) 515-3102
file your complaints on line at
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
it only takes four minutes. By law, they can can harrasse or lie. They called me playing games and lying and I filed a complaint. Everyone should do the same.
By law debt collectors are not allowed to call you at work after you have requested that they do not contact you there. And while they are legally allowed to call whomever they want in attempts to contact you, they cannot however, leave messages with anyone BUT YOU with any private information including the nature of your debt or you identifying information (SSN, etc.). There are very strict laws protecting a consumers rights.