Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/01/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I've been Contacted by SIMM Associates for an outstanding private student loan. I only have one private student loan provider, which I am in good standing with. I contacted them, and they said they are not associated with SIMM Associates. Whenever SIMM Associates calls me, they ask for personal info, like my SSN, date of birth, address...etc.
  
  The problem is, they always call me about a "personal business issue," but won't divulge anything until I give them my personal information, which, since I don't trust them, I will not provide. I know that they're trying to contact me for a student loan, because they've emailed me about a student loan.
  
  When I call them and ask them a simple "yes" or "no" question like, "If an individual is in good standing with their loan provider, do you have any reason to call that person?"
  
  Though this question I ask is something that could be answered with a blanket "yes" or "no," they get aggressive. They get rude and combative, and hang up unless I give them personal information. But like I said, why would I do that if they're cold-calling me, saying I owe them money in regard to a private loan that I confirmed with my lender just before calling them is in good standing?
  
  This is predatory behavior, and I'm sure people who are living paycheck to paycheck and don't know their consumer rights will pay without second-guessing themselves. They are harassing me, and I don't owe them a dime. I have the credit score, as well as 13 years of payment history to my lender to prove this.
  
  Based on the other complaints and one-star reviews documented on the BBB site, of which there are many, I have reason to believe that they are committing fraud, and need to be stopped before they wipe out somebody who is just trying to survive in this economy.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 12/11/2023

  SIMM Associates, Inc. is a third-party collection
  agency.  SIMM does not purchase or own
  debt; it collects on accounts referred to it by debt owners.  It was founded and incorporated in 1991 in
  Newark, Delaware.  From its inception,
  SIMM has been dedicated to providing highly effective collection services to
  its clients, assuring always that the consumer is dealt with in a professional
  and appropriate manner.
  ****** ******’s, and co-obligor **** *******s, past
  due TPAT 2018-SLI Private Student Loan serviced by American Education Services
  (PHEAA) was assigned to SIMM Associates for collections on October 12, 2023.
  Based on the information provided by the servicer, the current balance owed at
  the time of assignment to SIMM was $5,818.14, with a past due amount of
  $165.38. The last payment reported by the servicer was in the amount of $85.00
  and was applied on September 28, 2023.
  Mr. ****** states in his complaint that he has only
  one private student loan and it is in good standing. He also states that in the
  past when representatives of SIMM Associates have attempted to contact him, they
  ask for personal information in order to authenticate his identity and he
  refuses to do so for personal reasons. SIMM Associates is contracted by the
  portfolio management company who is responsible for servicing Mr. ******’s
  loan. We only service loans that are past due and assigned to our office by the
  servicer. In accordance with SIMM policy, we are required to authenticate
  anyone with whom we are speaking in order to prevent disclosing personal
  information to an unauthorized third-party.
  Due to this complaint, we have closed his account
  within our office and forwarded it back to our client. Mr. ****** will receive
  no more communications from SIMM Associates. Should he have any questions he
  may contact *** ******** **  *********************** or call at 1-************* ********* ***** 
  Thank you.
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/14/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have determined that this does not resolve my  issue.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.I have spoken directly to American Education Services (AES), and they said they don't work with this organization. It goes without question that I pay them off cycle, but AES told me that they don't go into collections through a third party unless you're over 90 days past due. I've gotten to the 50-day mark, but I always pay them as soon as I have the funds, and have done so in this fashion for 13 years. I freelance for a living, so I spend a considerable amount of time collecting invoices. I always tackle general cost of living first, an when I'm caught up, I then pay AES. I've had this conversation with AES countless times over the years, and it's always the same thing. I'll be inundated with collection calls from them directly, and I have the conversation, confirm that I'm still in good standing, or at the very least give them an expectation of payment, and then I pay them. They stop bothering me for a while, and then the cycle repeats. But I've talked to several supervisors on the matter, and they insist that they don't work with SIMMs. What's more, they don't pursue collection until the loan defaults, which is not the case for me. I acknowledge I don't pay on time, but I always pay. I'm satisfied over the fact that SIMMS won't contact me anymore, but I'm still suspicious of their operation, as I went to the source countless times over the years, and I have reason to trust them more than third-party agency that, quite frankly, has more one-star reviews than I could count. These are stressful financial times for everybody, but I'm making good on my student loans. I always have. I've made tremendous sacrifices to stay on top of my payments. So I'm glad that SIMMs associates won't harass me anymore, but I just wanted to pass this info along as I see it. Based on my contract and past (and recent) conversations with AES, I find the whole thing suspicious. Thank you.
  **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered.
  
  
  
  Regards,
  Complaint ID: 20943989
   
  
  
  
   

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/06/2024

  SIMM Associates, Inc. is a third-party collection
  agency.  SIMM does not purchase or own
  debt; it collects on accounts referred to it by debt owners.  It was founded and incorporated in 1991 in
  Newark, Delaware.  From its inception,
  SIMM has been dedicated to providing highly effective collection services to
  its clients, assuring always that the consumer is dealt with in a professional
  and appropriate manner.
  As previously communicated, ****** *******s, and
  co-obligor **** ******’s, past due TPAT 2018-SLI Private Student Loan serviced
  by American Education Services (PHEAA) was assigned to SIMM Associates for
  collections on October 12, 2023. Based on the information provided by the servicer,
  the current balance owed at the time of assignment to SIMM was $5,818.14, with
  a past due amount of $165.38. The last payment reported by the servicer was in
  the amount of $85.00 and was applied on September 28, 2023.
  Mr. ****** continues to assert his position that
  American Education Services (PHEAA) claims that they do not work directly with
  SIMM Associates and that “it goes without question that he pays them off cycle,
  but American Education Services (PHEAA) told him
  that they don’t go into collections through a third party unless you’re over 90
  days past due”.
  SIMM Associates regrets that there continues to be
  confusion over this matter but the Lender has engaged SIMM Associates to make
  delinquency outreach on accounts that are 30 days past due or greater.
  Mr. ******’s account remains closed within our office.
  If Mr. ****** continues to have questions or concerns over the handling of this
  matter, we strongly encourage him to contact American Education Services
  (PHEAA) at 1-800-233-0557. 
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/30/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a letter from this company about a debt owed, however the creditor in question no longer exists and I asked for confirmation of this creditor and SIMMS Associates could not provide any information. I explained to them how is this debt valid if the creditor does not exist,? They could not provide an answer. I am afraid this company maybe fraudulent and they have already taken a payment from me that I would like returned until this matter is resolved.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/07/2023

  SIMM Associates, Inc. is a third-party collection
  agency.  SIMM does not purchase or own
  debt; it collects on accounts referred to it by debt owners.  It was founded and incorporated in 1991 in
  Newark, Delaware.  From its inception,
  SIMM has been dedicated to providing highly effective collection services to
  its clients, assuring always that the consumer is dealt with in a professional
  and appropriate manner.
  ***** *******’s states that she received a letter from
  SIMM Associates in regards to a debt but feels she does not owe the balance
  because she claims the creditor no longer exists.
  We received Ms. *******’s account on October 31, 2022.
  Our records, provided by Stilt, indicate that this account was opened on April
  20, 2018. If Ms. ******* feels this is in fact a case of fraud or would like to
  dispute the balance, we suggest she contact Stilt directly as they would be the
  ones to help resolve the issue as Stilt, Inc. is still open and operating.
  Due to this complaint, we have closed her account
  within our office and forwarded it back to Stilt. Ms. ******* will receive no
  more communications from SIMM Associates. Should she have any questions she may
  contact Jeremy Poling at  ************************** ** **** ** *************** ********* *****  
  Thank you.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/09/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have determined that this does not resolve my  issue.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered.
  SIMM Associates is incorrect about the creditor Stilt being open, I have paid a balance that has not been confirmed to go to the creditor. This company has been unable to prove that the amount went to the creditor when in fact the creditor is no longer in business. I have confirmed and verified this, reps from SIMM associates told me to google numbers from Stilt as they could not provide a number that was functional which is more evidence that the company is no longer in business. SIMM associates is holding a payment fraudulently as they continue to fail to confirm the creditor (who no longer exists) received the money. 
  
  
  Regards,
  Complaint ID: 18953940
   
  
  
  
   

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/24/2023

  SIMM Associates, Inc. is a third-party collection
  agency.  SIMM does not purchase or own
  debt; it collects on accounts referred to it by debt owners.  It was founded and incorporated in 1991 in
  Newark, Delaware.  From its inception,
  SIMM has been dedicated to providing highly effective collection services to
  its clients, assuring always that the consumer is dealt with in a professional
  and appropriate manner.
  ***** ******* continues to argue that the company,
  Stilt Inc., is no longer open and operating. She also states that she paid
  money towards a delinquent balance and feels the money should be returned due
  to the company being closed.
  All monies received in regards to her balance were
  remitted to Stilt and applied to her account balance. As stated in our prior
  complaint response, her account with SIMM Associates was closed due to this
  complaint and we forwarded it back to Stilt. All communications must be
  directed to them. Please reach out to **** *** *** ** *** ******* ** ****** *** ***** ** *******************  
  Thank you.