Can a debt cause my nursing license to be taken from me?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Peds, Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong spot or if I'm doing this wrong but I haven't been on the site in a couple of years; I'm scared and I don't know where else to go. I had something happen today that really freaked me out. It started out as a normal day, I woke up, made coffee, started getting ready for work, then I recieved a strange phone call. Back in 2008 I had signed a contract for an online school for an LPN to RN degree (I have been an LPN for 16 years now) and for the usual reasons that we all experience, life happened and I was unable to finish. After a while, I was unable continue making the payments and eventually I they stopped asking and quite honestly I forgot about it after all this time. The funny thing is, a few months ago I called this school and asked them about signing back up with them and getting back on track with the payments and continuing where I left off with the education and all I was told was that they no longer offered the LPN to RN program... nothing about payment program, which is what I was looking for to get the payments up to date with what I owed them. So back to the original story. The call I recieved today... this woman tells me she is a prosecutor from the Jefferson City (the state capital), and that they currently have 56 counts of bad checks on me; I told her I have never in my life written a bad check... she said it is from The College Network... from all the payments that were NOT made, that when I DIDN'T pay them, they continued to try to collect each month, all these years, just to strenghthen their case against me, and that each one counts as a "bad check"; this completely shocked me to say the least. She continued to threaten me; she had me on the phone for a total of 4 hours; she had information on all of my family members including myself, my husband, my children, my parents, all of our vehicles, our bank accounts, medical information.... the list goes on and on.... she was telling me that telling me that she was "working for me" and she was "going to bat to get me the best settlement" possible. She said they can report me to the State Board of Nursing for ethics and my license could be in trouble. Does anyone know if this is true? She also said if I didn't pay her $14,000 by 6pm she would have me arrested by tomorrow morning; at that point I lost it and almost passed out.. I thought I was going to prison... I know it sounds stupid for a person to fall for such silly tactics from a bill collector but this woman really had me going, she really had me fooled. She had me believing that I messed up so badly that was going to lose my home, my children, my nursing license, my freedom, I thought for sure the police were coming to my house to pick me up in the morning. My family had to convince me that this woman was a fake and even now I'm still shaking and sick to my stomach, she was that convincing. But i'm still concerned about whether or not it can be reported to the State for ethics. I mean, I understand that I signed a contract so yes, I do owe money, I know that, and I will be more than happy to pay them a set amount on a monthly basis. Does anyone have any advice?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Can a debt cause my nursing license to be taken from me?

Welcome to Allnurses.com!

Only the state board of nursing in which you practice has the definitive answer to this question. I hope everything works out for the best. I really do. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in OBGYN.

I don't think having debt could be a reason to take your license but if they press charges against you then you may have problems.. You need a lawyer probably to help you, good luck! I hope you can work it all out!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

License can be suspended and placed on OIG sanction list for failure to pay state/federal taxes, child support, federal student loans.

Call the Criminal Tax Investigation Bureau to confirm this was a prosecutor as never heard of a 4 hour phone conversation to settle this debt, rather need for in office discussion and papers signed.

Jefferson City Central Office 573-751-4689

Please seek legal advice or lawyer experienced in debt collection to protect you andhelp setup restitution.

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No, outstanding debt can't make you lose your license, but it does sound like they were trying to scam you. Did she say what agency/department she was calling from? I'd look that department up directly and call that number, not the one she gave you, and tell them what happened. I NEVER give payment or personal information over the phone unsolicited; I always call back to verify. Call the College Network (which has faced complaints for false claims) and ask if they show those same records or who their collection agency is. Check with your bank to see if someone really was trying to withdraw money without your consent and if your account balance has been affected. Good luck, but you'll be okay.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

I'd advice you to contact you to make direct contact with The Attorney Generals office immediately. You don't know who this person was, only who they claim to be. There is no reason why this "prosecutor" would need all the information you provided. It sounds like either a bill collector working outside the law, or a con artist. Either way, you need to act Today to protect yourself

Never ever provide any personal information to any unknown person who calls you.

Good luck.

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Jill, debt collectors lie, threaten, and play emotions like a harp....they will say ANYTHING to get you to pay. Please read this Fair Collections law (this is federal, some states have even more stringent laws to protect consumers)

http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/fair-debt-collection-practices-act-text

You might have wages garnished, but ONLY if you are successfully sued in court and have a judge rule against you. The boards of nursing are not in the habit of doing credit checks. It is NOT their job. Do not believe a word you hear from this collector, ask for everything in writing, and get a lawyer and sue THEM if they harass you!!

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Sounds like a scam to me. Do not send anyone money. Anyone that asks you to send a large amount by the end of the day is a scam!!!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

This is 2014. We no longer have debtor's prisons. You are not going to jail.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Peds, Geriatrics, Home Health.

Well thankfully my state/federal taxes are paid, I don't have child support, and my federal student loans are paid on a weekly basis. That is little bit of relief. Thank you so much.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Peds, Geriatrics, Home Health.

Thanks everyone for your comments, they all made me feel a little better when I woke up and read them this morning. This entire situation has me so upset it may few days until it's completely out of my system but your input certainly does give some direction and somewhere to go.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

In the State of Missouri, when you renew your license, you will be required to notify the BON if you are convicted of bad checks. Jail time or no, if you are adjudged guilty, pay a fine, etc., you will need to report it and give supporting documentation.

According to a family member, who went thru this for ONE bad check, the BON told her for repeated bad check convictions it is possible to have your license disciplined.

As a nurse (prior) in MO, I rarely remeber seeing this as a cause for discipline in the MO BON newsletter, but I guess the potential exists.

While we cannot give legal advice, per TOS, I would encourage you to obtain a lawyer.

And, in MO., jail time is possible for bad checks.

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