Is General Revenue Corporation legit -- and what do you do if they contact you?

Yes -- General Revenue Corporation (GRC) is a legitimate, active third-party collection agency based in the Cincinnati/Mason, Ohio area, and part of a larger group of collection companies. It is not a scam. GRC focuses heavily on DEFAULTED STUDENT LOANS and higher-education or campus receivables, plus some government, utility, and general consumer accounts. Because of that focus, the number-one thing to do is IDENTIFY THE LOAN TYPE FIRST -- it is the spine of everything else. A PRIVATE or institutional/campus balance (for example a school-held or Perkins-type loan) is negotiable like other unsecured debt, but a FEDERAL student loan is NOT settled through a consumer debt-settlement program; it has its own federal repayment, consolidation, and loan-rehabilitation options, so trying to "settle" it the consumer way would misroute you. GRC collects for the loan holder or school, so send a written validation letter to reveal who actually owns the balance. You keep your FDCPA rights -- written validation naming the current owner, the right to dispute, and, for private balances, a statute of limitations where a payment or written promise can restart the clock. Like many high-volume collectors, GRC has drawn consumer complaints, but that alone does not make it illegitimate. Only a genuinely-owed PRIVATE or institutional balance is negotiable in writing -- and a forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C; federal loans should go through the federal system instead.

Getting a letter or call from "General Revenue Corporation" -- often shortened to GRC -- can be stressful, especially if it's about an old student loan. Here's the calm version: GRC is a real, active collection agency, not a scam. The most important move is to figure out what KIND of loan they're collecting on, because that single fact decides everything you do next.

Short answer

Yes, General Revenue Corporation is legit -- an active third-party collection agency in the Cincinnati/Mason, Ohio area, part of a larger collection group of companies. It works mostly defaulted student loans and campus receivables, plus some government, utility, and general consumer accounts. Identify the loan type first: a private or institutional balance is negotiable, but a federal student loan is handled through the federal system, not a consumer settlement.

Who General Revenue Corporation is

General Revenue Corporation (GRC) is a third-party collection agency based in the Cincinnati/Mason, Ohio area, and it is part of a larger group of collection companies. Its focus is defaulted student loans and higher-education or campus receivables -- accounts owed to lenders, loan holders, and schools -- along with some government, utility, and general consumer accounts. As an agency, it does not usually own the debt; it collects on behalf of whoever holds the loan. It is a real, active company, not an impostor front.

Identify the loan type first -- this is the spine

Before you do anything else, find out exactly what GRC is collecting, because student loans split into two very different tracks:

Private or institutional/campus loans (for example a school-held balance or a Perkins-type loan) behave like other unsecured debt. They can be negotiable in writing, and your normal FDCPA and statute-of-limitations rights apply.
Federal student loans are different. A federal loan is NOT settled through a consumer debt-settlement program. It has its own federal options -- repayment plans, consolidation, and loan rehabilitation -- that can bring a defaulted federal loan back into good standing. Trying to "settle" a federal loan the consumer way would send you down the wrong path.

If you're not sure which kind you have, treat that as the first question to answer -- not the size of the balance.

Get validation: who owns the balance

Because GRC collects for the loan holder or school, a written debt validation letter is how you find out who actually owns your balance. Ask GRC to document the debt in writing and name the current creditor or loan holder. That single letter often clears up whether you're dealing with a private/institutional loan or a federal one -- which then tells you which track to use. You have a 30-day validation window after their first contact, so use it.

Your FDCPA rights (and the clock)

Written validation. Make GRC put the debt in writing and name the current owner before you pay or promise anything.
Dispute. You can dispute anything inaccurate -- the amount, the ownership, or whether the debt is even yours.
Statute of limitations (private balances). For a private or institutional balance, check the statute of limitations -- and remember that a payment or a written promise to pay can restart the clock, so be careful what you agree to.

Is it a scam?

No -- General Revenue Corporation is a real, active collection agency, not a fake front. But scammers do impersonate legitimate agencies to pressure quick payment, so verify before you pay: a real agency will validate the debt in writing on request and name the current owner. If someone demands immediate payment by gift card or wire, or refuses to send written validation, treat that as a red flag for impersonation. Like many high-volume collectors, GRC has drawn consumer complaints and the kind of regulatory scrutiny common to large collection agencies -- that alone does not make it illegitimate. For comparison, see another student-loan collector and another large third-party collector.

If it's a genuinely-owed debt

Once you've validated the debt and confirmed the loan type, here's how it splits:

Private or institutional/campus balance: if it's genuinely yours and validated, it may be negotiable in writing like other unsecured debt. Get any agreement in writing before you pay. A forgiven balance over $600 can trigger a 1099-C, so consider asking a tax professional.
Federal student loan: do not route it through a consumer settlement. Use the federal system instead -- repayment, consolidation, or loan rehabilitation -- to resolve a default.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your rights and timelines vary by state, and federal student loans are treated very differently from private or institutional balances; consider consulting a qualified attorney, a nonprofit credit counselor, your federal loan servicer, or legal aid.