GOVERNMENT ACTION
Student Loan Debt Collector Will Pay $700,000 for Unlawful Collection Calls in Settlement with FTC
Student Loan Debt Collector Will Pay $700,000 for Unlawful Collection Calls in Settlement with FTC

For Release

February 14, 2017

GC Services, a large debt collector charged with using unlawful tactics to collect on federal student loans and other debts, will pay a $700,000 civil penalty under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Student loan debt is a large and growing segment of the U.S. debt collection industry, according to the FTC. More than 40 million consumers have outstanding loan debt, carrying an average balance of $29,000. GC Services is a third-party debt collector of defaulted federal student loans and other types of debt.

The FTC’s complaint against GC Services Limited Partnership, filed on the FTC’s behalf by the Department of Justice, alleged that the company’s collectors left phone messages that illegally disclosed purported debts to others without their permission.

GC Services employees also called consumers multiple times after being told that the person who answered did not owe the debt, that they had called the wrong person, or that the person they wanted could not be reached there. According to the FTC, GC Services also falsely claimed that it would take steps to prevent its employees from making unlawful calls to third parties to find a debtor.

Under the stipulated order announced today, GC Services is prohibited from violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and from making the alleged claims at issue in the complaint.

The Commission vote to authorize the staff to refer the civil penalty complaint to the DOJ and to approve the proposed stipulated final order was 3-0. The DOJ filed the complaint and proposed order on behalf of the Commission in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge

For all here, this is unfair collection practice, under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, google it and stop these harrassing calls.

GOT A CALL FROM THEM ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PHONE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT THAT.  I NEVER USED IT.  THEY SAID THAT I CONSOLIDIATED A STUDENT LOAN IN 2005, NEVER DID CAN'T AFFORD IT.  THEN THEY SAID I WAS COLLECTING DISABILITY, I'VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS AND WAS DENIED CHECKING SSI TO SEE IF SOMEONE'S GETTING MY CHECK (LOL).  DID AN ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT AND THEY ARE NOT ON IT???? WONDER WHY IF I OWE???? EMAILED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, LISA MADIGAN REGARDING IDENTITY THEFT AND FILED A POLICE REPORT.  

COLLECTIONS / DEBT COLLECTOR
Caller ID number came out as 323-743-8324, a man left a message to call him back at 1-877-244-7901. I looked up the 1877 number and found out it's a collections agency.

got a call from grace from gc services saying she was trying to get a hold of holly (my brother in laws girlfriend) or my husband.  don't know how they got my number since it is not listed and only 4 people (my parents, my husband, and i) know the number.  as i was typing this, she called my cell phone number which is supposed to be on a do-not call list.  this time she asked for my husband.  same exact lady called and as soon as she said her name i told her to never call this number again.

Received a call from Dana  King aka GC Services 1-877 244 7901, my my she verbally  proceeded that I owed a debt, then the words that came from her mouth were unbelievable.  I did not argue with her, but this is not a professional way to ask  for someone nor to speak  too and belittle a person.  This is unprofessional trade practice and I need help in stopping this verbal abuse.  As a matter of fact I am going to the news and share with them the experience I had today.  I was a nervous wreck and this is unprofessionalism and must cease IMMEDIATELY!!!

I recieved a call from G.C. Services, yes they are on a list of collection agencies for the Department of Education for student loans. Yes they have the ability to garnish your wages because you have defaulted on your student loan. If you do not respond and cooperate with them.They will give you a chance to rehabilitate your loan.  You can check the list of collection agencies to verify if they are on the list at http://www.alabamaconsumerprotection.com/2011 ... ction-agencies/  I asked the person who called what the address was and was told it was. P.O. Box 27346, Knoxville TN 37927. Which is on the list.

They called me about my defaulted student loans, they were very helpful in getting me into an affordable payment plan.

I was behind on my student loan but I received a forbearance last month. Why are they calling?

Student loans

got a call from GC services and they stated that they were calling on behalf of  the us department of education to collect on my student loans. Know i got a letter from my employer that they will be garnishing 15% of my dis possible income every 2 weeks. I called the Department of Education they stated to my that i have to call GC services they gave my the number 1-877-244-7901 to call them. I just think that it is not write to take money without no notification.

My 83 year old MOTHER Received a cryptique message today from this company looking for me, and left a reference name of someone I faintly knew over 25 years ago!!!  And that they needed to speak with me.  Had my mother upset and concerned.
I need to report these people.

I am being harrassed at work by this same number.  They call every hour at MY JOB, a place of business. They are now requesting to speak to my manager.  I just want this embarassmnt to stop.

Message: "Hi Tom.  This is Julie. Give me a call when you get this @ 877-244-7901 x####"

I am pretty sure I am not on first name, buddy buddy terms with whoever this is.  This has happened before with other collection companies.  When I ask how they have my name listed in their system they say "Thomas"..so I ask them why they are addressing me a 'Tom" & acting like we are pals on the message.  Very clever though for someone who may not be paying attention & calls back.

It is illegal for any collector to call someone and ask them to deliver a note on a door or to someone.   If this happened to you and you received the call or the note, google fdcpa law read sections 804 and 805 then sue.

Today "Joseph" called the office of our faith community from 541.595.3039 and left a message to call 877.244.7901. The message sounded odd and wasn't for anyone in our office, so I googled the numbers. The first one is from Camp Sherman, OR with no name attached and the second one is for GC Services. Can it be that bill collectors are so sick these days that they try to talk to ministers/faith leaders to get info?

This must be a scam.  

Woman called both my work number and cell numbers within 1 min.  On the work number she left a message that began with a clapping sound.  She said it's urgent that I call back on 877 244 7901 x5369.  The female caller did not identify her name or company or reason why the urgent message.  I then received a call on my cell, same voice, offering me an incorrect last 4 digits of my SSN and asked that I verify.  I declined.  Then she offered an incorrect birthday and asked that I verify.  I declined.  Then she said she was calling from GC services.  I asked to be taken off list.  I suspect these people are ID thieves but have no way to verify.Poking around the internet it seems like some people think this is a debt collection agent.  While I have no way to verify this, I owe 0$ to any person or organization.  As a young person, when I was behind on a bill, the company calling always disclosed who they were, what was the debt and to whom.I then called the number above, young man came on the line and declined to say purpose of call or what the company did without me giving him a phone number, SSN or B Day. I find it doubtfull that these people are anything more than ID theives.

They think they are so slick, by calling and calling every day, but all they will do is get one fired from their job by doing so and they still wont get money. Pester away, I'll just lose my job and still not have it to give to you. One lady called  from this number and she wanted my name, my DOB, and my SS# and I asked her who she was and she said that they don't say who they are or what it's regarding unless they can id who they are talking to. I told her she had to be kidding if she thought I was giving all that to someone I didn't know and who refused to say who they were. Ridiculous.

This number, extension 5305 called one of my relatives looking for me.  The problem is, they are looking for someone who has the same first and last name, different middle initial and different birth date.  I explained this to the person, they apologized, and promised to take my number off.  Well, they stopped calling me, but they are now calling my relatives, looking for this other person.

I don't know how to get this stopped.

I got a call today from someone name Jared at the 877-244-7901. Left a message saying I should call him back asap it is about my job. Not sure how my job comes in to play.  Outside of this I don/t know why they are calling me.

Got a call asking for a friend of mine, wanting me to give them all kinds of information, and claiming that they needed to get ahold of her in the next 15 minutes. They didn't even say her name right, so I was confused at first and told them they had the wrong #. They knew my name, which was really weird. I told them they were creeping me out. They wanted any information I would give them, including where her work was because I told them I didn't know what it was called, but they refused to give me any information at all. I rarely even see this friend but was willing to try to call her and pass along a message. They were incredibly persistent and didn't even want to hang up while I tried to call her, because of course I refused to give out any personal information. She wanted me to try a 3way call! I don't appreciate being called on my cell phone to harass me about a friend. It has nothing to do with me so LEAVE ME ALONE! How they got my info is beyond me. Kinda scares me a bit, actually...

what to do if they trying to pin someone else's  loan on you?

Woman named CAROLYN NEELY (sp?) repeatedly calls our business's call center (toll free number) asking for one of our service technicians. She says she needs to reach him for "personal business" and that she is calling from GP services ? We have repeatedly trasferred her to our HR department, per company policy but she continues to call and act like nobody has told her to stop calling.

My husband and myself keep getting calls from GC Services for a loan that was taken out in the early 90's through the "US Dept of Education", the lady calling identifies her self as Tasha...When we called back my husband spoke to Randy and explained that the debt was paid in full VIA his income tax refund...Thank God we still have the paper work and proof of it being paid through the IRS, with that said, we faxed it over  and are still getting calls from them trying to collect on a paid debt....This has been going on for years, one collection company gets it, we fax the proof of the debt paid and they in turn sell it to another collection agency....it's a never ending cycle!!!

GC Services is contracted with the Department of Education. They just got $3500 from my income taxes and yet they still continue to call me. My student loan is paid off and they are still calling threatening to take me to court. This company does not use it's power correctly, they are a scam! They will bully and harrass you beware of answering this call!!!

I just got a call from this number looking for a relative of mine.  The relative doesn't even have my work number.  When I asked how they got my number, they weren't ashamed to say that they used skip tracing. These people will go to any lengths!

Got a call from "Josh" who left a message for me to call him..In the meantime he had contacted my employer and my husband to verify who I was.  Neither gave any info.  I called him back & right away he started threathening me with lawsuits & wage garnishment--I kept telling him he had the wrong person but he wouldnt listen. Since he threatened to sue me I asked for the name of their attorney--which the Fair credit reporting act allows me to do. He immediately sent me to a manager who was nice enough to listen to me and verify that they did in fact have the wrong person--she promised to remove my info from the system and that I will not hear from them again. We will see!  This was for a student loan I never had

I got a call asking me to go down the street and tell someone I don't even know to give Lisa Arnold a call at this this number.  I don't know who the caller was and I don't know the person who they wanted.

I got a call from my neighbor asking if i knew a Brandon and then she gave me the number.  I called and spoke with Brandon and he start asking me about my SSN, DOB and name and i told them they had the right name, wrong person and how did they get in contact with my neighbor.  Beware people of these fake companies trying to ruin your credit and steal your identity.

If you get an unwanted call, report them to the Better Business Bureau. www.bbb.org
Enter the phone number and you will get the name of the company I enter 877-244-7901.
I was suspicious when I asked the caller for their address the caller didn't know his company address.
G C Services Limited Partnership
Additional Locations
Fax: (713) 776-6630
View Additional Phone Numbers
6330 Gulfton, Houston, TX 77081
denny.wojcicki@gcserv.com
http://www.gcserv.com