24 Year Old Perkins Loan

[boanon]

Hello... In 1992 I attended a certain college and took, as part of my financial aid, a Perkins loan. Considering its 24 years later I have no way of knowing if I paid that particular loan or not and now I receive a call from a collection agency saying that I owe it. The loan is legit as I can find it on studentloans.gov but whether or not it was paid I can not say. To be honest, I am not sure what bank I was even using at that time and I certainly do not have any records. I know that there is no statute of limitations but how can I know for sure if I paid it or not considering I have not heard from them in, once again, 24 years. Apparently this has happened to others as well. The collection agent is being a real jerk saying he would give me a day to do a consolidation loan to get it paid with other loans I am paying though he "gracefully" gave me to the end of the week to begin actively collecting and said his first act would be to call my employer but just to confirm my employment. Not that I really care, I work for the USPS so he would be calling someone in the gigantic administrative section of the USPS to someone I would never even see or meet but I assume that was meant to be some kind of threat. Is there any way to even get this guy off my back so I can figure things out? It is not a back-breaking amount but still the come back after 24 years, say I owe them this money, and, oh, can you give it to me right now.

 

[adjusterjack]

Is there any way to even get this guy off my back so I can figure things out?

Yes.

These vampires buy old debts for pennies on the dollar and then hound people for money.

Read the FDCPA:

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act | Federal Trade Commission

First, stop talking to him on the phone and insist that all further communications be in writing and you won't take any more of his calls or announce at the beginning of each call that you are recording it and if he stays on the line it will be construed as consent.

You might also tell him you've just finished reading the FDCPA and expect him to obey it or you'll be the one suing him.

Advise him if he calls your employer for harassment you'll sue him for that, too.

Next, send a written request for validation.

After that, send a cease and desist letter.

All of the above will either make him stop bothering you or it will precipitate a lawsuit. If a lawsuit happens you'll be able to get all the loan records during discovery.

 

[army judge]

Perkins Loans, oh yes, I recall that near disaster.

Anyway, you might find VERY useful insight and valuable ways to get this type of federal loan waived, discharged, or compromised.


Here you go:


Forgiveness, Cancellation, and Discharge Charts


Your EMPLOYMENT might also offer you special discharge considerations, read to see if you qualify:


Job Related Cancellations




Perkins Loans were supposed to be for people with special needs:


Perkins Loans