Reliant Recoveries, Inc. Gilbert Cruz Debt Collector trying to Tack on $191.71 interest on a non interest payment. Internet, California

I owe my college $544.55 from the last class I took four years ago. It has been my fault I have not payed it due to personal priorities (rent, expenses, hospital bills) that have come before. I have not refused to pay this amount, I understand it is my responsibility and I have in no way a problem owing this to the school.

I received a call from Reliant Services, Inc at my job regarding this amount from my school. I told them they could not call my work and to delete that number permanently from their records then I gave them my information and asked to call another day since I was very busy at work.

In a couple of days I received a call from the collection agency asking me to make a payment for the amount of 736.26. I told him the amount I owed the school was 544.55 not 736.26 he vaguely explained that it was accrued interest from the 4 years; I argued with him that there was no interest on this and I was not able to make a payment at the time until next month due to others bigger payments I had to do that month. We both ended up getting pretty fired up and I told him I would talk to the school to confirm and he gave me 72hours to call him back "or else" he would report me as a refusal to pay.

I found a letter from the school dated December 21, 2011 explaining exactly how much I owed which was 544.55. I also called the school to double check all the facts and everything was clear that the amount was as it showed in the letter. I did some research on debt collector's practices and found out they are required by law to send a letter before any arrangements are made. I called the debt collection agency and told them I would not make any arrangements until I received that letter, he then asked me for my fax number which I don't have and then asked me for my job's fax, which at this point I told him I did not him having anything to do with my place of work. He then became agitated told me to go to kinko's or figure out how to make a payment. I refused to make any arrangements and asked him to send the letter again if it had gotten lost, he then raised his voice saying he wasn't the post office and it wasn't his fault and I had to make a payment. Again I said no, I said I would wait until monday to see if the letter would arrive by then and asked him what my principle amount was since he kept asking me to make a payment. He said the principle amount was 736.26 so I told him that wasn't the amount I owed and corrected him on the amount which he refused to listen. When I was half way through my sentence saying I had the letter from the school dated december 21st, 2010 at the amount of 544.55 he cut me off and said he would no argue anymore, at that point I hang up the phone.

That same day when I came back home I received his letter with his amount of 736.26

-----------------------------------------

Principal Amount Currently Due: 544.55
Interest Currently Due: 191.71
Other Costs Currently Due: 0
Total Currently Due: 736.26


This is currently where I'm at with this situation. I looked up some reviews on this company Reliant Recovery, Inc and it seems they tack on  BS interests on what ever amount people owe.