My venture started a year and a half ago. I graduated from a public University in Oklahoma in 2005, in the midst of consolidating my student loans I missed a private one. Once it went into default I was contacted by the Universtiy's Lawyers for payment. I tried setting up by-weekly payments with them based on the amount I could afford. They wanted $500 a month for 6 months, $700 a month for 6 months, then $900 a month until it is paid off. With all of my other bills and student loans there was no way I could pay that. The lawyer kept saying the phrase "So you are unwilling to Pay", I never understood that until I found out if the case goes to court they can tack on 50% attorney fees. I then hired a lawyer to see what i could do about setting up the arrangements I could afford. I had to pay the attorney $1000 up front before he would help me out. The day before the court appearance my lawyer called and said there was nothing else he could do and advised me I didn't need his represtation any more, and advised me I didn't even need to go to court. I told him I was still going to go without him. I showed up to court and my attorney had called that morning and told them he was not going to be there so they ruled in favor of the University. My lawyer never filed paperwork to let the court know he was no longer representing me and so I was never contacted from the University Laywers due to attorney ethics. Thursday my parents checking account was froze and they took $1300 dollars from them since my mom was my co-signer on my loans. I have now found out today they are taking 25% of my check until the loan is paid. With the fees and costs added to my loan it went from $13000 to $23,000 now and I am having to pay $675 a month just on this one loan for the next 32 months. I have a Sociology Degree that I have yet to use, and as all of these payments hit I am starting to get lost.