I really appreciate both of you taking the time to read and reply to all this.

My school is not based in the UK but the European Union. I wish I could tell the country (in case it matters) but I just feel a bit paranoid that any detail here could reveal my identity, pissing them off to take action against me, even though the possibilities of them knowing about this forum are slim but you never know. It's just this is the first time this happens to me and the fear of any repercussions this may have on my school has me feeling like this.

Unfortunately, I did submit the assignments they helped me with, few minor changes that I made regarding grammar and punctuation, and that has me even more worried now. Is there anything I can do to protect myself in this situation?

I've spent the last hours reading similar threads here and people say that they are just trying to make you give in to the blackmail but what if they actually do something about it?

I haven't and I just don't want to reply to their messages because I'm afraid that even more interaction between me and them could make things worse and be used against me.

Considering all this, is there a smart way I could handle the situation if my school ever asks me about it? Any help is greatly appreciated and once this is over I would expose this company here, I just hope everything turns out not so bad for me.

Is threatening them like that the best idea? I don't want to add more fuel to the fire and I really don't think they would care at all if I expose them.

I got another message from the writer saying he'll proceed with my school bc I didn't answer, and the company contacted me separately asking me if I received any message but I don't know yet if they are in on the blackmail or if they want to help me (which I doubt at this point).

I have the US bank details they send me to pay them the assignments but I don't know if that could help at all or in what way.

I just feel so dumb for not properly researching the company before I hired them, but I was in desperate need of help with my assignments. I feel overwhelmed that I'll have to deal with my school if they actually contact them bc I'm not sure how I'm going to defend myself but I guess I'll just have to be honest.

Update

I replied to the consultant of the company (not the writer)

Me: what is this about?
Writing Company: The expert who did your assignments has breached our data and now he's asking the copyrights fee of the work. Did you received any text from the expert?

Me: Why are you doing this? I helped you with what you needed
WC: I have nothing to do with this the company didn't paid the expert and now he's threatening every customer of ours to get the copyrights of the work of he'll complain in the university. I'm trying to find a way to get this sorted.

I haven't replied yet. Does this even sound real to you? I mean, the consultant is trying to play innocent but I already got fooled once. I don't know what to reply or if I even should. Where could the conversation go from this? I just want to get over with this and don't engage anymore but I'm just trying to make sure I'm considering all options first.

Should I say something?

And yes, their grammar mistakes on the conversation are just as I got the messages: "Did you received / Didn't paid".

@noted

Honestly, any advice is more than welcome. I'm new to this kind of stuff and the more advice you can give me the better for me. I believe this anxiety I'm feeling is due to being the first time someone blackmails me like that.

They kept on texting me and even called me but I didn't answer, and they offered me to pay less money, just as you said. I'm just going to ignore them and see what happens. I feel like I'm just hoping to be lucky enough for the school to ignore them in case they do email them.

By the way, the writer kind of gave away his identity in something they sent me, and after doing a bit of research I found he's in this forum and someone already complained about him several years back. Too bad I did my research after I engaged with them. I'll post the conversation and his identity when everything calms down, I don't want any more trouble right now as I'm struggling with keeping my peace of mind thanks to all this.