My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Pennsylvania
I took a summer class at a college during the summer of 2011. I asked if they had a payment plan, at the time they told me no. I didn't have the ability to pay $1900 at the time. I do understand that this part is my fault. I put it off until I had the ability to pay them all the money I owed. I was unaware until this month that in January, the account was transferred to a collections agency. I sent a request for my transcripts after paying the school and later received a phone call saying they were unable to process it because I still had an outstanding balance of over $500 and that I would need to contact this outside company. I called the outside company to confirm this, and they said that they would be able to make a payment plan over the next four months, but I still wouldn't be able to get my transcripts until the entire balance is paid off. I'm concerned about this because I paid the school the principle balance that they were owed and the amount that I owe this outside company (more than 25%, which I do believe is illegal in Pennsylvania), is still counting as an outstanding balance. Can they legally withhold my transcripts since I've already paid this balance? When they transferred my account, I don't believe I should have even been able to pay the school at all. That account should have been closed and I should only have been able to deal with the collections agency, but I was still able to log into that account and pay them. I didn't even talk to these people until I found out that the account was supposedly transferred. Can I get legal representation to force them to hand over my transcripts since I've technically paid them what I originally owed them? And since it was just tuition and not a student loan where nothing was signed, can this company even charge me this outrageous amount for their services that weren't even rendered?

