Seven calls yesterday. Nine today. Your phone buzzes with another unknown number, and you already know it’s Ascendium Education Solutions. They’ve left voicemails threatening your credit, called during work meetings, and somehow obtained your family members’ phone numbers. The constant contact is affecting your job performance, your relationships, and your mental health.
Here’s what nobody tells you about student loan servicers: they may have powerful collection tools, but they don’t have unlimited power. Federal law protects you, and violations can result in serious consequences for them and compensation for you.
Call The Wood Law LLC at +1 844-638-1122 for immediate help. Their consumer protection attorneys have extensive experience with cases where borrowers are harassed by Ascendium Education Solutions and can guide you toward stopping the harassment.
Understanding Ascendium Education Solutions
Ascendium Education Solutions operates as a nonprofit organization that services both federal and private student loans. Previously known as Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, they rebranded as Ascendium in 2018. This history matters because many borrowers are unaware that they’re dealing with the same company under a different name, and confusion about the servicer’s identity can complicate attempts to assert their rights.
When Ascendium Education Solutions’ debt collection harassment enters your life, it’s typically because you’ve fallen behind on student loan payments, your loans have entered default status, or you’re dealing with past-due private student loans. Their dual role as both a servicer of current loans and a collector of defaulted loans creates legal complexity that works to your advantage when violations occur.
What makes them different:
Unlike traditional debt collectors pursuing credit card debt or medical bills, Ascendium deals exclusively with education debt. Student loans carry unique consequences, including wage garnishment without a lawsuit, tax refund offset, and potential Social Security garnishment. These powerful tools sometimes create a sense of urgency and fear that Ascendium exploits through aggressive tactics that may cross legal boundaries.
When Ascendium typically contacts borrowers:
- Federal student loans are in default after 270 days of non-payment
- Private student loans are past due or charged off
- Loans transferred from Great Lakes or other servicers
- Failed payment plans or income-driven repayment issues
- Forbearance or deferment expiration
- Parent PLUS loans where students haven’t made payments
- Co-signed loans in default status
Many borrowers report that Ascendium Education Solutions’ phone harassment intensified dramatically after the pandemic-era payment pause ended. Call frequency increased, tone became more aggressive, and threats about consequences became more explicit. This pressure campaign aims to extract immediate payment, but it sometimes violates your federal rights in ways that create legal liability for them.
Recognizing When Collection Crosses Into Illegal Territory
Federal consumer protection laws don’t make exceptions for student loan debt. Understanding these boundaries helps you identify violations and build a case to stop Ascendium Education Solutions’ debt collection harassment.
The 8-to-9 Rule
Contact before 8 AM or after 9 PM in your time zone violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Ascendium cannot claim ignorance about time zones or argue that student loan collection justifies different rules. These hours represent absolute boundaries established by Congress to protect consumers from invasive contact.
Document every call outside these hours with your phone’s call log. Each violation potentially entitles you to statutory damages even without proving actual harm.
Call Frequency That Becomes Abuse
Receiving double-digit daily calls goes beyond reasonable servicing. Courts nationwide have found that excessive calling patterns with apparent intent to annoy, harass, or abuse violate the FDCPA. When Ascendium calls repeatedly throughout the day from various numbers, especially immediately after you’ve ended previous calls, these patterns demonstrate harassment rather than legitimate collection efforts.
Track every call with date, time, duration, and phone number. Patterns of excessive contact become powerful evidence.
Employment-Related Contact
Ascendium can initially contact your workplace for employment verification or to discuss your account. However, once you explicitly state that your employer prohibits personal calls or that workplace contact is inconvenient, they must cease immediately. Many Ascendium Education Solutions debt collector complaints describe continued workplace calls creating embarrassment, damaged professional relationships, and employment jeopardy.
Document your objection clearly. Any subsequent workplace contact may constitute intentional harassment.
Statements That Cross Legal Lines
Even with student loans’ serious consequences, Ascendium Education Solutions cannot:
Threaten immediate consequences without proper procedure. While administrative wage garnishment is possible for defaulted federal loans, it requires specific notice periods and hearing opportunities. Claims that garnishment begins “tomorrow” without following procedures may constitute false threats.
Misrepresent legal consequences or their authority. Falsely claiming criminal prosecution, immediate professional license revocation, or that family members become responsible for your debt all potentially violate the FDCPA’s prohibition against false, deceptive, or misleading representations.
Use language designed to abuse or harass. Profanity, yelling, or demeaning comments violate federal law regardless of your payment status or how long loans have been in default.
Threaten employer contact for collection purposes. While employment verification is sometimes permissible, threatening to contact your employer to embarrass you or demand payment violates the FDCPA.
Violations of Privacy Protections
Ascendium Education Solutions cannot discuss your student loan details with:
- Parents (even if they helped with original applications)
- Siblings or other relatives
- Roommates or significant others
- Friends or references you listed
- Employers or coworkers (except in limited circumstances)
- Co-signers in many situations (depending on loan type and state law)
Leaving voicemails with specific loan information where others might hear, discussing payment amounts with family members, or disclosing default status to third parties all potentially violate FDCPA privacy protections.
After You Demand Communication Cessation
A properly sent cease and desist letter limits Ascendium to only two types of contact: confirming receipt and notifying you of specific legal action they’re actually taking. Any other communication violates the FDCPA.
Important caveat: ceasing communication doesn’t stop the debt, interest accrual, credit reporting, or collection actions like garnishment. It only stops the calls and letters, giving you breathing room to address the situation strategically.
Legal Framework Protecting Borrowers
Three federal statutes create enforceable rights against abusive collection practices.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to Ascendium Education Solutions when collecting defaulted student loans. This distinction matters because servicers handling current loans have certain exemptions, but those exemptions evaporate once loans default and active collection begins.
Violations can result in:
- Statutory damages up to $1,000 per case (no proof of harm required)
- Actual damages for emotional distress, lost wages, medical expenses
- Punitive damages in cases of particularly egregious conduct
- Attorney fees and costs paid by Ascendium, not you
That fee-shifting provision makes quality legal representation accessible without financial risk.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act restricts use of automated telephone equipment. If Ascendium bombards your cell phone with autodialed calls or prerecorded messages without your prior express written consent, each call may violate federal law.
TCPA damages range from $500 to $1,500 per call. Borrowers receiving dozens or hundreds of automated calls have recovered substantial compensation through TCPA claims.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act mandates accuracy in credit reporting. When Ascendium reports incorrect payment status, wrong loan balances, inaccurate default dates, or other false information, they may violate this law.
Student loan credit errors can derail mortgage applications, prevent rental approvals, increase insurance costs, and even affect employment opportunities. The FCRA provides remedies when inaccurate reporting causes these tangible consequences.
Your Strategic Response Plan
Taking control requires methodical action combining documentation, legal demands, and professional representation.
Building Your Evidence File
Comprehensive documentation forms the foundation for legal action to stop debt harassment from Ascendium Education Solutions.
Essential documentation includes:
- Complete call log with dates, times, duration, numbers used
- Saved voicemails (back up to multiple locations)
- Screenshots of text messages with visible timestamps
- All physical correspondence with postmarked envelopes
- Notes from conversations including representative names and employee IDs
- Records of workplace calls with dates and witnesses
- Documentation of third-party contacts
- Your emotional responses and any medical treatment sought
This evidence transforms your experience from subjective complaints into objective proof of violations.
Understanding Repayment Alternatives
While stopping harassment is critical, understanding options for managing underlying debt prevents future problems.
Federal loan options:
- Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans calculating payments from income
- Fresh Start program for borrowers emerging from default
- Loan rehabilitation through nine affordable payments
- Direct Consolidation to exit default status
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness for qualifying employment
- Total and Permanent Disability discharge
Private loan considerations:
- Refinancing with different servicers
- Hardship programs (when available)
- Settlement negotiations for reduced payoff amounts
- Statute of limitations (varies by state and loan)
- Bankruptcy discharge (possible in limited circumstances)
Ascendium must provide accurate information about these options. Failing to inform you while aggressively collecting may strengthen harassment claims.
Exercising Your Cessation Rights
Federal law gives you unilateral power to stop communication, though it doesn’t eliminate debt obligations.
Your cease letter should state:
“Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), this letter directs Ascendium Education Solutions to cease all communication with me regarding student loan account(s) [list account numbers if known]. This directive encompasses all phone calls, text messages, emails, and postal mail. Future contact must be strictly limited to: (1) written confirmation that you have received this directive and will comply, or (2) written notice of specific legal action you are actually initiating. This is my formal exercise of rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.”
Send via certified mail with return receipt. Maintain complete documentation. Any subsequent contact beyond the two permitted purposes becomes an FDCPA violation.
Creating Official Records
Filing complaints establishes official documentation strengthening your legal position.
File with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Include comprehensive details about violation patterns, specific incidents, representative names, and impact on your life.
Also file with:
- Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group at studentaid.gov/feedback-ombudsman
- Your state Attorney General’s consumer protection office
- Better Business Bureau serving their location
These complaints create permanent records useful in litigation but typically don’t produce direct monetary compensation. For damages, you need legal action.
Securing Professional Representation
Experienced consumer protection attorneys know how to handle servicers like Ascendium Education Solutions effectively.
The Wood Law LLC specializes exclusively in consumer rights. Their focused practice provides deep expertise in FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA laws as applied to student loan servicers.
Professional representation delivers:
Rapid harassment reduction. Attorney involvement typically decreases contact within 72 hours as servicers recognize professional monitoring.
Violation identification expertise. Attorneys spot multiple violations in conduct that seems merely aggressive to untrained observers.
Complete communication management. You never interact with Ascendium again while attorneys handle all contact.
Contingency fee structure. Zero upfront costs. Payment only upon successful recovery. Ascendium typically pays your attorney fees separately from your damages.
Maximized compensation. Experienced attorneys identify every violation and pursue all available federal and state claims.
Learn about their client-centered methodology and distinguishing characteristics.
Call The Wood Law LLC at +1 844-638-1122 for a comprehensive case evaluation without obligation.
Legal Action Against Ascendium Education Solutions
If Ascendium violated federal law, you can sue Ascendium Education Solutions for harassment and recover compensation. Many borrowers don’t realize they have actionable claims even while owing legitimate student loan debt.
Available Compensation
FDCPA statutory damages: Up to $1,000 per lawsuit without proving actual harm. These damages exist purely because violations occurred.
Actual damages: Compensation for emotional distress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, sleep disruption, lost wages, medical treatment costs, therapy expenses, damaged relationships, and other quantifiable harm.
TCPA damages: $500 to $1,500 per illegal automated call. Borrowers receiving persistent robocalling have recovered five-figure and even six-figure amounts.
FCRA damages: Actual damages for credit harm consequences, statutory damages for willful violations, and punitive damages for particularly egregious conduct.
Attorney fees: Paid by Ascendium separately from your damages, ensuring you keep your full recovery.
Evidence Requirements
Successful claims require proving:
- Ascendium contacted you to collect education debt
- They’re subject to the FDCPA (they are for defaulted loans)
- They violated specific FDCPA, TCPA, or FCRA provisions
- You suffered harm (unnecessary for FDCPA statutory damages)
Strong cases include phone records showing patterns, saved voicemails demonstrating violations, text message screenshots, letters containing false statements, witness testimony, credit reports with errors, and medical documentation of stress-related treatment.
Frequent Violation Patterns
Understanding common violations helps you recognize them in your experience.
Overwhelming Call Volume
Borrowers report 12, 15, even 25 calls daily. This excessive frequency may demonstrate harassment intent rather than legitimate servicing.
Misinformation About Options
Ascendium Education Solutions debt collector complaints frequently involve inaccurate information about income-driven repayment eligibility, rehabilitation requirements, or consolidation processes. Providing false information about available remedies may violate FDCPA prohibitions against deceptive practices.
Immediate Consequence Threats
Threatening that wage garnishment begins imminently without proper administrative notice, claiming tax refund offset will occur within days, or falsely stating legal action is already underway all potentially constitute false threats.
Professional Consequences
Some complaints describe threats that professional licenses will be suspended, certifications revoked, or security clearances lost. While loan default can affect some of these areas, immediate threats without proper procedures may violate the FDCPA.
Family Contact Violations
Discussing loan specifics with parents, siblings, or spouses beyond obtaining borrower contact information violates third-party communication restrictions.
Automated Call Bombardment
Many borrowers report dozens of automated calls to cell phones. Without written consent (and merely providing your number on a loan application doesn’t constitute TCPA consent), each automated call may be a violation.
Protecting Your Financial Future
While addressing harassment, protect your broader financial health.
Credit Monitoring
Access free reports at www.myfico.com and www.annualcreditreport.com.
Look for inaccurate Ascendium listings, incorrect payment history, wrong balances, duplicate entries, and improperly reported default status.
Credit Dispute Process
Challenge errors in writing to both credit bureaus and Ascendium. Bureaus must investigate within 30 days. Investigation failures or continued inaccurate reporting may support FCRA claims.
Student Loan Rights
Federal loans include protections most borrowers don’t know exist:
- Income-driven payments as low as $0 monthly
- Fresh Start program eliminating default consequences
- Forgiveness programs for public service, teachers, disabled borrowers
- Closed school discharge for certain situations
- Borrower defense discharge for school misconduct
Ascendium must inform you about these. Failing to provide accurate information while aggressively collecting strengthens harassment claims.
Documentation Systems
Maintain organized files with all Ascendium correspondence, payment records, income documentation, notes from all phone calls, applications for deferment or repayment plans, and dispute documentation.
Additional Collectors The Wood Law LLC Handles
The Wood Law LLC represents consumers facing harassment from various agencies:
- Trellis Company
- Aidvantage
- Central Research Inc
- Xact Receivables Management
- Concentrix
- Allied International Credit
- BCA Financial Services
View their complete agency list and practice area details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the FDCPA apply to student loan servicers?
Yes. The FDCPA applies to Ascendium Education Solutions when they’re collecting defaulted student loans. While servicers have exemptions when handling current loans, those exemptions don’t apply during active collection of defaulted debt.
Can they garnish wages without suing?
For federal loans, administrative wage garnishment is possible without lawsuits, but requires specific procedures including advance notices and hearing opportunities. Threats of immediate garnishment without following procedures may violate the FDCPA.
What should I do about workplace calls?
Explicitly inform them that your employer prohibits personal calls or workplace contact is inconvenient. Document this conversation. They must cease workplace contact after your objection. Continued calls may constitute harassment. Call +1 844-638-1122 for guidance.
Does a cease letter stop collection actions?
No. Cease letters stop communication but don’t prevent debt collection actions, interest accrual, credit reporting, or garnishment. You still must address the underlying debt through rehabilitation, consolidation, or repayment plans.
Can I sue while owing the debt?
Absolutely. Your right to lawful treatment exists independently of debt validity or payment status. Even if you’re in default and owe the full amount, Ascendium must follow federal law. Violations create legal liability regardless of debt legitimacy.
How do I identify illegal robocalls?
Automated calls that connect only after you answer, use prerecorded messages, or sound computerized may be illegal if you didn’t provide written consent. Document each automated call’s date, time, and number.
Can they contact my parents?
Generally no. Ascendium cannot discuss your loan details with parents even if they helped with applications or co-signed PLUS loans (depending on specifics). They can only contact family for your contact information. Discussing debt details may violate third-party contact restrictions.
Will complaints hurt my loans?
No. Filing a complaint against Ascendium Education Solutions with CFPB, Federal Student Aid, or state agencies won’t negatively affect your loans, credit, or repayment options. These agencies protect consumers. Ascendium cannot legally retaliate.
Can they report loans incorrectly?
No. Reporting loans as defaulted when you’re making payments under approved plans, showing wrong balances, or listing incorrect payment history violates the FCRA. Dispute errors immediately.
How long can I sue for violations?
FDCPA violations: typically one year from the violation date. TCPA: four years. FCRA: two to five years, depending on the violation type. Quick action preserves rights and maximizes potential recovery.
Get Legal Help Today
Stop letting Ascendium Education Solutions’ debt collection harassment damage your life. The Wood Law LLC has helped numerous student loan borrowers end harassment and recover compensation.
Their approach works because:
They act immediately. Case building begins when you call. Most clients see harassment decrease within 72 hours as servicers recognize professional monitoring.
They maximize results. Attorneys identify all violations and pursue every available claim under federal and state law.
You risk nothing financially. Zero upfront costs. Contingency fees mean payment only upon recovery. Ascendium typically pays attorney fees separately.
They understand student loans. Their attorneys know the unique aspects of education debt collection and how to hold servicers accountable.
Your next moves:
- Document everything from Ascendium immediately
- Send cease letter via certified mail if harassment continues
- File complaint against Ascendium Education Solutions with CFPB and Federal Student Aid
- Call The Wood Law LLC at +1 844-638-1122 for evaluation
Federal law protects student loan borrowers from harassment. Experienced attorneys stand ready to enforce those protections and pursue compensation you deserve.
Get Your Free Case Evaluation: +1 844-638-1122
Stop Ascendium Education Solutions phone harassment today. Your wellbeing and financial future matter.
