Date Received: 2018-10-25
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: I got the loans in XXXX. It's 2 loans : one with an original balance of {$6800.00} ( UNSUB ) and the other for {$6100.00} ( SUB ) with fixed interest rate of 4.625 % for both. I have deferred the loan up until 5 years ago and have been making payments for 5 years in the amount of {$130.00} total for both loans. I went paperless and also was on auto pay. I didn't really check up on the loan status and it was naive on my part for trusting the company. I recently logged on to AES now that they have an app. I was looking at the break down of each loan and it doesn't make sense. The difference between my original balance and principle balance for the unsub loan is barely {$200.00} and the difference for the sub loan is barely {$1000.00}. So in 5 years, I have paid them over {$7800.00} ( including interest ) and only about {$1200.00} went towards the principal balance ( total for both loans )? Thats absolutely insane! I looked up the payment history on my account and it only goes back till XXXX of XXXX. Also when I do the math for the payments that they claim went towards principal balance doesn't add up. They also claim I plaid {$4600.00} towards the principle balance, on the website, but again my total owed still doesn't make sense. I called them and they gave me some erroneous explanations I couldn't even comprehend and didn't really do anything to help me better understand. They basically told me to make bigger payments if I wanted to see a significant difference in the principle balance. I just want to know where all my money went and how they are making these calculations. If my original balance was {$13000.00} and I " paid '' {$4600.00} ( as they claim on my account ) then wouldn't my principle balance be less than {$11000.00} ( currently owed ). I didn't have this issue with XXXX ( who I finally paid off ). Also, AES says they are funded by XXXX ( when I logged on to the app ) and I called XXXX but they had no connection to AES and couldn't really help me out. Please help. I feel like calling AES again is a lost cause. I have been and still am burdened with other student loans and this is a very stressful matter for me.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 91107
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-24
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: I've been getting scammed by this company for many many years, in fact 15 years since I graduated college. Never! have they applies my principal payments to the actual principle ... And as of late, they have started charging unpaid interest which I am sure down the road will result in delinquency ... and more late fees. What makes me furious is that I am setup on auto draft and when I check my account it says I AM PAID AHEAD! Here is a sickening example. I had one unsubsidized loan for {$2500.00} ( and change ) ... and after more than 10 years of paying that 6.7 % loan and literally 20+ principle payments, I still owe {$1200.00}. This is ridiculous, I've paid this loan off 10 times over. Funny how my payments for this loan were applied to my 2.7 % interest loans. How much do you plan on ripping me off for, sum total, over he course of 30 years - AES? For those of you who do not believe me, please search ripoff and other consumer advocacy sites for AES SUCCESS and their deceptive practices as well as their new scam the variable 'unpaid interest '' scam that appears to fluctuate depending on whatever they feel like stealing for that period of time. I am so sick of this company ... Had they applied my payments correctly, as opposed to strategically applying them to benefit themselves and steal from consumers like me, my loans would be nearly paid-off now. Disgusting and deceptive ... My only retailiation is Karma ... and to that end, I foresee a class action in the coming years. If I had the time, I'd start one now. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX
Company Response:
State: TN
Zip: 370XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-24
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: This year I submitted my Income based request. I was informed that due to my new marraige status and that my husband and I filed together I no longer qualified. Once i recieved this noticed, I called XXXX and requested my options to be put on other plans as I could not afford the standard repayment. I was informed that the graduate plan or extended graduate ( I cant recall exactly which was it was but my payments were to be around {$300.00} something ) plan would be by best option as my husband is in a program currently to get himself out of default with his student loans and his payments could not be considered when revising my payments. The woman at XXXX went through the process with me and stated to remove me off of the income driven plan, I would be required to go into forbearance for a month and then make one qualifying payments in XXXX for either the full amount or {$5.00}. On XX/XX/18, I received a new payment terms notice which listed me back on the standard plan, followed by the notice of being put on forbearance ( gaining more interest on my account due to this ). After not receiving anything regarding my payment plan changing after making the {$5.00} payment in XXXX and receiving a new bill due XX/XX/2018 for {$460.00}, I called again on XX/XX/2018 to check the status. At this time, I was told the paperwork regarding my request was still being processed and once again this was the best plan for my situation. I emailed on XX/XX/2018 & XX/XX/2018 asking once again for a status, I received back a confirmation that they had received my emails but never got a response. On XX/XX/2018, I called in yet again, I informed the representative of the situation, explained it was showing I have a payment due soon and was still wondering what the status was as it had been two months since I made the request. The rep told me I should never have been on the forbearance to begin with and it was not needed to move me on to this plan. She told me she was going to expedite my request to the new plan and it would be processed in 7-10 business days. I then asked about the payment that was coming due, she informed me to not pay the payment, that it was incorrect and it would not have any affect on my credit or come back as late. Fast forward to XX/XX/18. after receiving a text telling me my payment was late. I logged in once again to check my account and the status. Today, on XX/XX/2018, I called again and was once again informed that the plan switch was still being processed and that I was late and needed to pay. I explained that the previous rep told me not to and that the paperwork was supposed to be expedited and that was supposed take care of the late payment notice. Now once again, I have been put back in forbearance to make my account current and in good standing ( gaining more interest on this account due to their error ) and was told yet again they would be expediting my request to change plans. I have made on time payments since I started making payments on these loans. I have been in contact with them and take paying back my loans seriously. Every rep I get acts like they solved the problem and then I have to call back again. When I ask why it wasn't handled the proper way in the first place, I receive back a I dont know response. I am simply trying to get on a plan that I can afford and continue to make my payments as I have been. Instead I am continuing to rack up months of interest being forced into forbearance over and over again due to their error.
Company Response:
State: MD
Zip: 21921
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-24
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: In XX/XX/2018 I attempted to change my income based repayment plan form a different IBR plan to RE-PAYE. I was told that I needed to submit an application to change my loan payment plan. During the process, I was told that My loan would be transferred to the standard 10 year repayment plan but in forbearance. I would then need to make a nominal payment, such as {$10.00} to cover the month on the standard payment plan. The following month, my loan would be transferred to the new plan and resume under the new RE-PAYE plan. They did say this would cost me one month of Public Service Loan Forgiveness as the month on the standard payment plan would not count. I submitted my application. When the loan was transferred to the standard payment plan, I made a payment of {$10.00} as instructed. I waited and it took 3 months to change payment plans costing me 3 months of Public service loan forgiveness eligibility. I submitted a new employment certification and on XX/XX/18 was told that I had made 44 qualifying payments. On my XX/XX/2018 statement. I received notice that my account was past due {$0.00}. This was surprising since my account has been on auto payment from the 2nd payment. I also noticed that my Public service loan forgiveness qualifying payments has been reduced to 34 on several of my loans. I called the XXXX number and the person on the phone ( id : XXXX ) told me that the {$10.00} payment while my loan was transitioning plans, was not applied to all loans properly and there was an outstanding balance of a few cents on a few of my loans. She stated that since there was an outstanding balance over the past few months, the payments I made would not count towards public service loan forgiveness. I explained that I followed all instructions given and she agreed that they misapplied my nominal payment. Additionally, no notice was given about this outstanding balance until XX/XX/2018. I started the payment plan change in XX/XX/XXXX. She said she would submit the account for review to get the {$.00} cents removed. I explained I was more worried about the public service loan forgiveness. She stated she wasn't sure what would happen with that. I asked how long it takes to have my account reviewed and she stated she did not know but it could take a few billing cycles. At this point, I feel I am being cheated out of qualifying payments towards public service loan forgiveness because of a clerical error. Additionally, I was not properly and timely noticed of a past due amount. Furthermore, I should not have 10 months of public service loan forgiveness retroactively taken away after it was already granted.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 61111
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-24
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Problem with customer service
Consumer Complaint: The service provider, XXXX XXXX XXXX, has not correctly calculated my payments credible to the Public Loan Service Forgiveness Program. I alerted them in XX/XX/2018 and escalated it in XX/XX/2018 to the ombudsman office. This issue has still not been resolved. I have also contacted XXXX XXXX 's office and the Department of Education who closed the case out without resolving the issue. I am attaching all the payments I made. There was a miscalculation on how the payment was applied, which is affecting the credible payments. I can show all payments were timely, yet this is still not resolved. I am missing around 3 years of payments. Thanks, XXXX XXXX, XXXX
Company Response:
State: DC
Zip: 20001
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-24
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Subissue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Consumer Complaint: I was homeless during a period of time that my loans came into repayment. I was unable to receive mail during the time nor had the means to contact XXXX XXXX regarding my options to keep payments from being late. I was able later to reach out and I was sent in the information regarding me being granted retroactive deferment, however they refused to remove the late payments from my credit report. During this period of time there was no possible way for me to be able to make a payment or even get the information needed to make arrangements or find out my repayment options because I didnt have a address for them to send correspondence to. Now I am in a better place but my score is suffering severely from the way the information is being reported. I also filed a dispute with the XXXX in which the insisted it was unlawful for them to change the reporting status for this period of time. Now its hard for me even in a better place in life with a good job to even get accept for an apartment alone based on the negative impact the report has had on my credit score. They were willing to add remarks stating that they are in good standing, but it has harldly no impact on the damaging effects of the unfair reporting to the credit reporting agencies. Now that I have started my own family and have attempted to move forward in life, this holds me back in every aspect which makes it hard for me to progress from where I was completely. I cant even secure housing in a area that would offer my children better schooling options, because I am constantly denied do to XXXX impact on my credit score due to their reporting practices.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 600XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-24
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Problem with customer service
Consumer Complaint: I requested a re-audit of my qualifying public service loan forgiveness employment in XX/XX/2017. I have yet to receive any response on the request despite calling on more than one occasion to follow up. XXXX has refused to certify months during which I was employed by a qualified employer and otherwise complied with all requirements for public service loan forgiveness. At one point I was considered " ahead '' on payments because I was admitted to the auto-payment program but was not aware of the fact that I was admitted. As a result, in the month that I was admitted, I made a manual payment and an auto-payment the same month. For months thereafter, while working at a qualified employer, XXXX has refused to qualify my service until I went a month without paying so that I would be considered no longer " ahead '' on my payments. In addition, the month I was instructed not pay so that I would no longer be " ahead, '' also did not count despite continuing to be employed by a qualified employer and complying with all other requirements.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 132XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-23
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: I have been paying on my student loans since XX/XX/2016. I have been enrolled in the Public Student Loan Forgiveness ( PLSF ) program since XX/XX/2016. XXXX XXXX XXXX is improperly tracking payments. They have tracked 12 payments for me since that time. I have called to get adjustments and they have failed to do so. When speaking with a representative they say all my payments have been tracked. i have made 31 payments and followed all the re-certification required. XXXX XXXX XXXX is not abiding by the program rules and in tune not tracking payments. I attached statements to show the improper tracking over the last year. I am not able to retrieve earlier statements.
Company Response:
State: ID
Zip: 833XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-23
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: Received notification on Saturday, XX/XX/XXXX that read : " YOUR STUDENT LOAN IS ABOUT TO DEFAULT! WE CAN HELP! CALL US TODAY ( TOLL FREE ) AT ( XXXX ) XXXX. Contact us today so that we can help you avoid the serious consequences of defaulting on your student loan ( s ). If you are unable to make a payment, there may be options to bring your account ( s ) current as soon as today! Once current, we can explore repayment plan options to help you stay current. Calling our expert loan counselors today is the fastest and easiest way to resolve this delinquency. If you don't take action and your loan ( s ) default the balance will become due in full. You risk having a portion of your paychecks garnished and your future federal tax refunds withheld and automatically applied to the balance of your defaulted loan ( s ) until paid in full. On top of this, collection fees can be assessed increasing your balance as much as 15 %! Take action now so we can help you remain in control of how your student loan ( s ) is paid. As mentioned above, once your account is current, we can look into repayment plans that will help make your student loan payment ( s ) affordable for the long term. PLEASE CALL US TODAY ( TOLL FREE ) AT ( XXXX ) XXXX. WE WANT TO HELP! You can also contact us via email at XXXX or via our website mygreatlakes.org. '' When I contacted the new loan holder ( AES ) on XX/XX/2018 they showed by account in good standing/current as of XX/XX/2018. I called XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/2018 to inquire about why I was receiving delinquency notices when the account was up to date but they claimed they could not change anything until they received the information from AES. I called AES on XX/XX/2018 who confirmed my account was in good standing and told me XXXX XXXX has all the information regarding my account and was unsure why they were sending me deliquency notifications.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 02446
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-10-23
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: XXXX, although has the critical role of linking borrowers and lenders chose to provide incorrect information regarding Qualifying Payments made by me from the years XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX. I have been calling them, writing to get this resolved since XX/XX/XXXX. initially the servicer was XXXX XXXX and since XXXX has been assigned as the servicer, they have been providing misleading information regarding the payments i made in XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX that were taken directly from my debit card. Upon talking to XXXX today on XX/XX/XXXX, I was explained that it is my responsibility to comply with the criteria set forth in order for the payments to count toward the 120 Qualifying payments. I was not informed that the loan amount being paid was not the full amount and thus not being counted toward the Qualifying loan payments.Although this information was held from me during the times i contacted XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX and so i was unable to contact my finanacial institution to correct the loan amount that would satisfy the criteria for these payments qualify, XXXX representative stated that they can not confirm that i was given misleading information and there is nothing XXXX can do to rectify this situation as they can not be held accountable for me not keeping track of the loan amount. This is just unfair that these servicers are keeping pertinent information from borrowers so that they can make informed decisions. Misleading information and lack of help has been the pattern during my dealings with XXXX escalated team. Their practices should be questions and representatives should be held accountable for false information.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 11375
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A