account control technology threatening wage garnishment Internet, Texas

I understand your reasons for being sceptical, however you are all greatly mistaken and overly paranoid. As a former bill collector I can assure you that they cannot garnish your spouses wages. The only time something like that happens is during tax offsets whch is administered through the depratment of treasury. Even then the spouse can file a claim and get that money back. A collection agency never sees a dime of that money.

The main reason a collector on a student loan would ask for your bank account is to confirm from you that you HAVE MONEY and a way to set up payments!! A novel concept I know. These things are crucial to sucessfully completing a call, and it makes it extremely more efficient when negotiating terms with you. Also, this information is required for any government program since your original loan documents state that your loan is now due in full. However, administrative wage garnishment can be done, however it is not desirable for the company to go that route. They get paid way more from you making voluntary payments which are usually a lot less than your AWG. Especially with Sallie and DOE. If you can prove your financial situation you may qualify for as low as $5.00 payments 

Also, they cannot touch your bank account, and we ask for your bank information because it is the easiest way to set you up on pmt arrangements. Imagine how hard it would be to trust a large group of people that for whatever reason, have already demonstrated an inability to pay bills on time, to send in a monthly payment on time. Not saying many would but imagine the administrative work involved in tracking all of that, especially in a digital age. Using a Credit/Debit card or bank account just allows the collectors to stay on top of your payment arrangement. If your payment declines they get that info in real time and don't have to wait to see whether a payment is in the mail or not. 

I would suggest investing in a pre-paid card to make payments. It is about as secure as you are going to get these days. Keep in mind my experience is with student loans. There are other types of debts that asset seisure does happen, however that does not happen on student loans by 3rd party collectors.

Actually, here's how it works.

The reason why the collector asked for how much money was in the account is first to see how much to take, and also that information will be used to "identify" the account.

Here's what happens. Now that the collector knows where both husband and wife work, they simply subpoena the payroll dept and find out exactly how much you make, AND what bank the checks have been deposited into, along with the bank account information. Real simple.

And, YES, they CAN garnish both paychecks AND any bank accounts.

Dept of Ed collections are done by very different standards than civil debt collections. There is no statute of limitations on Dept of Ed debt, and they do not have to sue you first and get a judgement. They just locate your money, and take it, just like the IRS.

The OP and here husband WILL have their wages garnished within 30 days. And, at last time I checked, they can take up to 25% of your wages. That will be 25% from the husband, AND 25% from the wife, and EVERYTHING from the bank account. They can clean it out altogether up to the amount owed.

That collector was a pro! he played the OP like a fiddle.

Steve is right stay off the phone and close the bank account then go to another bank . How much you hae in your account is none of thier business. If any agency asked me how much is in my bank acount I would tell them its none of your d**n business.

I'm not sure how a collection agency can get your bank account # I will also refuse to give mine to a collection agency. I know they cannot be trusted.

If you pay them get thier imformation in writing and pay by money orders .

They cannot touch your wages . I remember 1 threatened me over the phone to garnish my wages. I called from a payphone and left them a nasty message telling them flat out that they cannot touch my wages . I also told them if they take me to court that I would not pay thier court costs and thier attorneys fees. I even told them that I would not give them my work# or would I tell them were I work.

You should of told Jeanne its none of your business how much I make and hung up on her.

I don't know why people find it so hard to just stay off the phone!!

I don't think you know how much danger you put yourself in financially by speaking with these people.

You may think you were in control, but let me assure you that you were not. They got the information they needed from you to garnish your wages and your bank account, as well as your husbands wages.

You have royally screwed yourself. All you have to do now is sit back and wait for your money to disappear.

Good job! All they needed to know was what bank you were with, and what employers to serve wage garnishment orders on, and you just rolled over and gave it to them!

STAY OFF THE PHONE!!!!!!!

NEVER speak to ANY third party debt collector on the phone!!!!

Doing so WILL ALWAYS hurt you.

Take every penny you have out of any bank account right away, IN CASH, and close those accounts. They have now been compromised. They don't need your account info, only your name. Take your CASH to a DIFFERENT bank and open a NEW account.