My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Missouri. I don't know if this pertains to my question well.
To begin, when my first loan repayment became due I was unemployed, so the only responsible thing to do was to apply for an IBR or something similar. I did this, but ACS sent a letter after a long, long while stating that I was rejected for not supplying financial information. I did. I checked the box that stated I made no taxable income and sent with the IBR the Alternative Documentation of Income Form. I called ACS and the customer service representative who answerd repeated the letter. I told him of the alternate form I sent and he was audibly surprised when he saw that the form was received but never processed. I asked him to process it, but he said he could not because I stated I made no money and because it was an "income based" repayment plan, I needed some income to qualify. I assumed he was right.
Next I tried to file for deferments. ACS sat on these for a long time and I eventually found out that my other loan holder, My Great Lakes, accepted my IBR with them even though I had no income. I was upset, so I wrote ACS an email demanding they fix the situation. I got a reply stating I had left the financial part of the form blank. This is not true. The financial part is the only part of the form besides personal info and a signature, which they claim is all I sent them. They lied to take the blame off them. I didn't want to fight. All they wanted was a signed letter stating I had no income. I did this and they sat on it for another long time.
Keep in mind I have no money and have been missing payments, three to be exact. I sent a letter detailing their negligence and unprofessional conduct with me. Only then did they process the form. Weeks later I found out they reported me delinquent. The report does not state it was settled, even though it was. It states I own them so and so amount of money and I have been delinquent more than sixty days. I only found out they did this because I got rejected for a credit card and the card issuer stated it was due to my account with ACS and not having another credit account.
Even though the only reason for filing an IBR is when you can't afford payments, will it only been seen as my fault for not being able to make the payments?
Do I have any recourse?
Can I dispute the report with the credit companies?
Has ACS done anything illegal, unethical, something I can rightfully complain about?
Thank you for your time and help.

