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  #1  
Old 03-18-2009, 05:50 PM
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Unpaid tuition in Illinois

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Currently living in Texas, but debt is from public Illinois university.

I left midsemester from college in May 2004. Recently got a call from a lady who claimed to be " from the college," telling me I owe unpaid tuition. Come to find out it's a collector. Is it legal for them to represent themselves as from the university when they are not?

I told the lady I wanted written verification of the debt sent to me, as is my right but she told me (verbatim): "You have no rights." We somehow got disconnected because she hung up when I needed her to hold because I had a customer at my job.

First, I know I have rights, is it legal for her to tell me I do not?

Second, what is the statue of limitations for unpaid tuition in Illinois? This was not a loan.

Third, what is my next move? Should I send a written request to the collection company for validation of this debt?

Thanks for any advice.
  #2  
Old 03-18-2009, 05:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mreeree0506 View Post
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Currently living in Texas, but debt is from public Illinois university.

I left midsemester from college in May 2004. Recently got a call from a lady who claimed to be " from the college," telling me I owe unpaid tuition. Come to find out it's a collector. Is it legal for them to represent themselves as from the university when they are not?

I told the lady I wanted written verification of the debt sent to me, as is my right but she told me (verbatim): "You have no rights." We somehow got disconnected because she hung up when I needed her to hold because I had a customer at my job.

First, I know I have rights, is it legal for her to tell me I do not?

Second, what is the statue of limitations for unpaid tuition in Illinois? This was not a loan.

Third, what is my next move? Should I send a written request to the collection company for validation of this debt?

Thanks for any advice.
First ~ No.

Second ~ What kind of school - not sure?

Third ~ Ssend the request for validation and then most likely wait for a summons if you don't come to some kind of repayment arrangement.
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  #3  
Old 03-18-2009, 05:56 PM
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I say your next move would be to pay up.
  #4  
Old 03-18-2009, 05:59 PM
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It is a public university.
  #5  
Old 03-18-2009, 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by mreeree0506 View Post
It is a public university.
**A: ok, then pay a little more.
  #6  
Old 03-18-2009, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by mreeree0506 View Post
It is a public university.
No SOL...Oh well pay up!!!.

Your education is worth every penny.
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  #7  
Old 03-18-2009, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Wirelessany1 View Post
No SOL...Oh well pay up!!!.

Your education is worth every penny.
**A: not so. What the heck is statue of limitations?
  #8  
Old 03-18-2009, 06:27 PM
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Exclamation
What education? All I got is bad debt and harrassment from that university, and assaulted in my dorm in the middle of the night because they can't afford to put a decent lock on the door to protect the students.

That aside, I understand that I may have a bill owed, but my issue is with being mistreated. I have no verifcation this person is even who they say they are. She told me she was from the college, however I had to FIND OUT using a reverse phone look up that is is a collector from an agency in Ohio. Then, she tells me I have no rights. So now you want me just to say "Oh, I'm sorry I don't know who you are, and because I may owe a bill to someone I'm just going to assume its you without asking any questions: here's my credit card number."

I was coming here for advice. If I wanted someone to tell me just to PAY UP, I could obviously get back on the phone with the collector now could I? I'm looking for options, and what I should do legally to find out if this is a real debt that I owe, or a scam.

Please also note, this person has my cell phone number, but does not have my address. They only have my maiden name, not my full legal name. This debt is 5 years old.

Are there any sites that discuss if public universities have a statue of limitations on unpaid tuition?

Should I send written request for debt verification to the company?

Thanks.
  #9  
Old 03-18-2009, 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by HomeGuru View Post
What the heck is statue of limitations?
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  #10  
Old 03-19-2009, 10:55 AM
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call the university, ask how much you owe and send them a check. get a receipt
  #11  
Old 03-19-2009, 02:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mreeree0506 View Post
Then, she tells me I have no rights. ...

Are there any sites that discuss if public universities have a statue of limitations on unpaid tuition?

Should I send written request for debt verification to the company?
She told you right. It is a little simplified, but essentially you have no rights regarding education debt to the government. You can request validation, but you already know the debt is yours. You already know the school is going to say yes, the debt is yours -- so there really is no point.

I never had the opportunity to collect education debt. I wish I did. They can do things to debtors that other collectors have intimate dreams about.

The debt will never disappear. It will keep growing with interest and soon, they'll start taking your federal tax returns and garnishing your pay. They will even garnish social security.

And they should. That is our tax money you spent and failed to pay.

DC
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OP needs counseling...not a court house. --Zigner
Last edited by debtcollector`; 03-19-2009 at 02:53 PM. Reason: remove - loan, replace it for clarity - with debt to government
  #12  
Old 03-19-2009, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by debtcollector` View Post
I never had the opportunity to collect education debt. I wish I did. They can do things to debtors that other collectors have intimate dreams about.

DC
DC... I can see you foaming at the mouth, all the way from here
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  #13  
Old 03-19-2009, 02:44 PM
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Before our OP has a chance to chime in - I'd like to point out that there is no indication that this debt is due to a student loan...
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  #14  
Old 03-19-2009, 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Wirelessany1 View Post
DC... I can see you foaming at the mouth, all the way from here
lol -- not foaming at mouth, more like wistful dreams -- similar to a teenage sneaking a peak at Dad's magazines ....
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Quote:
OP needs counseling...not a court house. --Zigner
  #15  
Old 03-19-2009, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Zigner View Post
Before our OP has a chance to chime in - I'd like to point out that there is no indication that this debt is due to a student loan...
That is correct, but it is a debt to the public university - that debt will never go away either. So the OP can call it apples or tomatoes, but it is still a fruit.
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