Collection Debt Question

[Martin Tweed]

What is the name of your state? My state is California. I recently received notification from a debt collector requesting payment on a Title IV-E Stipend (15k plus collection costs). This was a program I was in while recieving my masters degree back in Sept of 1995. I dropped the program in one year (3/1996) but did graduate. It was my understanding that if I worked for a non-profit organization serving child & families or IV-E children then my financial obligation was met for tyhe one year I was in the program. I worked for a Non-profit orgainzation who is a direct contract with Santa Clara County serving the children & families stated. i have actually worked for them for over nine years now. Numerous years have gone by and suddenly I receive this notification from a debt collector requesting payment. I never received anything before. Even if the debt collector wants to argue whether the obligation was actually met or not can they even collect on this debt at this point so many years later? I received the notification on 4-20-05. Can somebody help me?