Date Received: 2018-07-25
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Don't agree with the fees charged
Consumer Complaint: I am the cosigner ( parent ) of a student loan with the company American Education Services and have been getting bills in the mail for approximately 2 years telling me the loan due date and amount due. I then pay the bill online through ACH payment. I recently received a late payment of {$2.00} and was threatened about being in default. When I called to have the late fee removed I was told that they had to ask for permission through a formal procedure. I received a letter in the mail about 2 weeks later stating they they were not going to remove the late payment charge. When I called and inquired I spoke to agent # XXXX and was told that because the payment was initially late they were not going to refund it. At this time I was told I could make a complaint with them in writing. I do not understand why the late fee was not removed and have no desire to file a written complaint as I know it would not change the result. This was an honest mistake as a direct result of them not sending out the bill. Also, I have never had a late payment with them before, and they do not allow for automatic payment of the bill making it much more difficult to keep track of. I am XXXX years old, have excellent credit and over the years have made several mistakes which resulted in late payment charges. There has never been an incident where the late charge was not subsequently removed upon request. I believe these predatory companies should not be allowed to get away with this. If I was not looking out for my daughter there is very little chance that she ( or anyone else her age ) would have the wherewithal to stand up to these type of companies. This is not a great deal of money but it is the principal. It is disgusting to me that this company would not refund a {$2.00} late fee. They are making an enormous amount of money off these students as it is with their inflated interest rates.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 01752
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-25
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Subissue: Account status incorrect
Consumer Complaint: XXXX XXXX incorrectly reported me 90 days late to all 3 credit agencies. I was never late, as I had applied for a forebearance, and they never processed the application. Later, I refiled the forebearance request, and it was processed 90 days late. I complained to the company by both letter and email, and they sent me a generic response saying they weren't going to do anything for me.
Company Response:
State: IA
Zip: 52246
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-25
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Problem with customer service
Consumer Complaint: This is related to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ( PSLF ) and the US Department of Education. I have the usual complaints I am sure. Delayed responses. Inaccurate qualified payment count. Wrong employment start date. It seems like they should take the information required on the certification form, verify it and enter it into the system and that should be it. Instead it takes multiple phone calls and emails only to receive a generic response and then there is no follow up. I have been doing this for around 4 years now and in 4 years I have yet to receive an accurate update on my status.
Company Response:
State: MI
Zip: 49423
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-25
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 have a loan with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have always made my payments on time. For some reason I realized that there was a late payment on my credit report. As you can see, I have always had a stellar payment record with this company. I tried contacting both XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX with no successful resolutionXXXX was the only one reporting me late. There was definitely an error on their part. I was never 30 days late XXXX,XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX / XXXXXX/XX/XXXX
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 34758
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-26
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: I am not sure if this is the appropriate menu choice for my concern. I have 3 student loans - two of which I have been repaying since XXXX. My employment since mid XXXX has been in PSLF qualifying positions with the exception of a few months. If it doesn't add up to 120 months, it is darn close. My concern is about these two old student loans, not my more recent loan for grad school. Due to confusion about PSLF and how the program worked, in addition to inconsistent information, I did not re-consolidate my loans to XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX till XXXX. I am hopeful that by the design of TEPSLF, I may qualify for forgiveness for these two older loans. I have emails documenting all of the interactions described below. To date, I emailed TEPSLF to inquire about details and whether or not I may qualify - didn't want to waste their time or mine! I was effectively told to go away, apply for PSLF and be denied before they would engage me in any dialogue. I applied for PSLF around XX/XX/XXXX, and my application for some reason was converted to an ECF in the XXXX XXXX system. I re-applied for PSLF again XX/XX/XXXX, and was subsequently denied a few weeks later. I then promptly emailed TEPSLF per the instructions on the Department of Ed site, and the reply was that I was ineligible because I hadn't applied for PSLF and been denied. I then replied to this email and attached the denial letter from XXXXXXXX XXXX and asked that they reconsider this. I also called to inquire, and was told by the operator that since my loans pre-XXXX were not XXXX XXXX, I shouldn't be concerned - my loans hadn't been " the right kind '' so I wouldn't qualify for TEPSLF anyway. Besides, I had been paying on them for 6 years, so I only had 4 to go! In fact, my tally of qualifying payments is closer to just under 5 years per the XXXXXXXX XXXX evaluation from XX/XX/XXXX. I asked that I receive an official evaluation and documentation of my approval ( or expected denial, per her feedback ). At this point, I am awaiting feedback from my last TEPSLF email requesting reconsideration of my request and including the PSLF denial letter sent XX/XX/XXXX. As with many experiences with XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX I have found that if I speak or email 3 different representatives with the same concern, I get at least two different answers. This is still very frustrating, but expected at this point.
Company Response:
State: OR
Zip: 97223
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-26
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-24
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Subissue: Account information incorrect
Consumer Complaint: I want delinquent payments taken off my payment record. On XX/XX/2015 I payed 3x the payment amount ( {$240.00} ), then the record says no payment was made until XX/XX/2015. I have since made 39 consecutive monthly payments of the requested amount, and I have paid one loan off in full. The company said they did not have a resolution to the problem. Due to the duration of consistent payments and the inactivity of the company to resolve the problem, I am filing a complaint here.
Company Response:
State: CO
Zip: 80301
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-24
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: I have worked for non-profits since XX/XX/XXXX and was told that all of my payments were eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness. When I applied for forgiveness in XX/XX/XXXX, I was told I have only made 8 eligible payments. I've asked XXXX XXXX XXXX to look into my account but have been waiting 8 MONTHS for them to update my account. Every time I call, they tell me it is being reviewed and in the expedited process but nothing has changed.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 90012
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-23
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Consumer Complaint: I have been dealing with AES for years. Not only have they harassed my father and I regarding the loans, but this company is not helpful whatsoever when it comes to lowering payments or putting my account in forebearance. Every single employee I have ever spoken to has been incredibly rude and unhelpful. When I was pregnant my son last year, I had health issues that kept me from working after I delivered him. When I called AES requesting a forebearance or even lowering a payment ( in XX/XX/2017 ), the only response I received is no from the customer service representative. I never received a reason as to why I couldnt have my payments lowered or why I couldnt put my account into forebearance for a month or two, considering i didnt have an income at all at that time. I can not afford these payments and I am exhausted trying to get this company to work with me. I am not ineligible for any 10 year on time forgiveness because I cant afford my payments. I currently pay {$220.00} a month. If i miss one payment, my next payment is almost {$450.00} ( which is what I currently owe ). That is unbelievable for anyone, let alone a single mother. Also, I dont even know where they got their balance from. I have looked over every single loan document on the loan database website, and I dont see how they got their amount they claim I owe them.
Company Response:
State: IN
Zip: 46234
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-23
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: I'm currently in Income-Driven Repayment under the PAYE program with XXXX and the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. I've been working for a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) since XXXX and have verified my employer as qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness ( PSLF ). On XX/XX/XXXX I requested a manual recount of qualifying payments toward PSLF as the number they currently have is inaccurate. Multiple attempts have been made to get updates on the status of this request without any response other than, " you'll have to keep waiting ''. It's been over a year now and I've lost any confidence that XXXX will be able to rectify this situation. I'd appreciate any assistance.
Company Response:
State: UT
Zip: 84105
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-07-23
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Problem lowering your monthly payments
Consumer Complaint: I have a private loan from the XXXX University XXXX XXXX processed by American Education Services. The loan was initially a federal loan, but due mis-filing and miscommunication on the school 's end, I was required to return the funds back to the school and then the school back to the government. Subsequently the school then offered the private loan to assist students for their mistake. I was given the understanding that the same terms that applied to the federal loan were the same terms that applied to the new private loan. My loan is now due for repayment and I am asking the lender for a forbiddence or modified-reduced repayment plan. I was pro-active and approached the lender in XXXX, months before my loan was due for repayment. I have been going back and forth filling out necessary paperwork since XXXX and they are still not able to provide me with an update about processing and the reduced payment. I am told every month that it will be fixed for the next month and now in XXXX am being told they do not know when they will have an answer nor can they provide me with a time frame. My timeline and communication is as follows : XX/XX/2018- replied to a letter received about forebearrance application ; Filled out XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ; provided current enrollment status with letter from XXXX University ( currently enrolled ) XX/XX/2018 - received another letter notifying me of interest capitalizing on loan. Called for update on forbearrance request told to wait. XX/XX/2018- Received a letter stating that my verbal request for a Modified Graduated Repayment Schedule has been approved. Additional details of repayment schedule will be sent under another cover. The same letter also mentioned monthly installment will be adjusted in accordance with each level of repayment and your verbal request for MGRS satisfies the requirement to modify loan terms in writing. The subsequent cover letter NEVER CAME! I contacted the American Education Services and they told me paperwork is in processing I should wait and will receive the addition details soon in the mail. I was told on the phone that beginning XXXX my modified payment would be $ XXXX/month for the first year and $ XXXX/month the second year and $ XXXX/month there after. XX/XX/2018 - Received the same letter stating that my verbal request for a Modified Graduated Repayment Schedule has been approved. Additional details of repayment schedule will be sent under another cover. At this point I contacted American Education Services and they told me that they never received a signed copy of " Amendment to Repay Terms. '' I signed and faxed the paperwork back. XX/XX/2018 - received XXXX 's bill in the mail. Payment was not modified. Called American Education Services and they said the paperwork had not been processed and to wait 7-10 business days. XX/XX/XXXX called American Education Services because per last phone call I was told paperwork should be processed by then. Was given a new date of XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/2018 called. Paperwork was still not processed but spoke with a lady who said she saw the paperwork in my file but it was never submitted for review, but that she would submit the paperwork and mark it with " EXPEDITE '' XX/XX/2018 called and was told paperwork was processed and sent to lender for review and it would take another 7-10 business days. XX/XX/2018 - Received bill for XXXX. No modified payment. Contacted American Education Services, they said they are waiting on lender and can not give me a time frame any more.
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 33624
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-07-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A