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+--- Thread: VCCS COVID-19 Guidance Message 9: Suspension of Collection Activities (/thread-3435.html)
VCCS COVID-19 Guidance Message 9: Suspension of Collection Activities - tcassidy - 03-24-2020
From: Craig Herndon
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 10:31 AM
To: presidents
Cc: cabinet, vp- finance vps-provosts
Subject: VCCS COVID-19 Guidance Message 9: Suspension of Collection Activities
Presidents,
In consultation with Greer Saunders, system counsel for the VCCS, we write to offer the following guidance related to the suspension of collection activities through the end of the Spring 2020 semester.
The Attorney General of Virginia has directed the Financial Recovery Section (“FRS”) of the Office of the Attorney General to suspend certain collection activities. (The FRS used to be called the Division of Debt Collection.) The FRS will attempt to relieve the burden on Virginia families and businesses by suspending certain collection activities until April 6, 2020. The date coincides with the current termination date of the judicial emergency declared by the Supreme Court of Virginia. FRS will not make or issue any new demands, whether verbally or in writing, to debtors to pay their accounts.
We share the Attorney General’s concern for Virginia’s families. Accordingly, the VCCS has decided to suspend all collection activities until the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Please note that this is not debt forgiveness. Colleges must take all appropriate and cost-effective actions to collect all accounts receivable, but we understand the financial strain many of our students, faculty, and staff may be experiencing during this time. Collection efforts include barring a student from enrolling, withholding a transcript, etc. Anything that is intended to be an incentive for someone to pay a debt is considered a collection effort.