Date Received: 2018-06-10
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Can't temporarily delay making payments
Consumer Complaint: I briefly attended XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX for part of XX/XX/XXXX and part of XX/XX/XXXX. Currently I have a total outstanding balance of just under {$29000.00} that consists of a combination of 7 Federal Stafford Loans ( both subsidized and un-subsidized ). The loans were originally through XXXX XXXX. Soon after I began attending I suffered a personal medical crisis and had begun failing or withdrawing from classes. During that time, I lost my job, and home, moved XXXX miles away to stay with friends temporarily. As my first loans were about to enter repayment, the school relentlessly contacted me to re-enroll. I had just started working again, but still did not have a permanent address. While the school was trying to entice me to re-enroll, they stated that re-enrolling would prevent my loans from entering repayment. Knowing I was not going to be able to make the payments, I re-enrolled, which meant taking out more loans. Still not having a stable income or residence, including no consistent access to an internet connection ( required to attend online ), I failed to complete or was withdrawn from classes and from the school completely. When the loans went into repayment, I did not receive any notices. They were eventually in default. At some point in late XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted by a collection company regarding rehabilitation of my loans. At that point, I had a stable job and residence. I completed the rehabilitation program and started making payments. The loans were apparently transferred to XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX. In XX/XX/XXXX I lost my job and contacted them regarding not being able to make payments. The loans were placed in forbearance for 6 months due to being unemployed. I was still unemployed at the end of the initial period and requested the forbearance continue which was approved. After nearly a year of unemployment I did return to work, however, my income was considerably less. I was still unable to afford the monthly payments and have been requesting to postpone making payments. Due to the deceptive and misleading financial and recruiting practices of the school, as well as the certification of Federal loans in excess of the annual loan limit, and without making satisfactory academic progress I had also been preparing an application for Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment. Forbearance was ending and payment of {$280.00} was due XX/XX/XXXX. Although I am employed and technically a full time employee, my pay rate has decreased over the last 8 months, and I do not consistently receive a full 40 hours per week. On XX/XX/XXXX I once again requested forbearance while preparing the BDTR, I requested from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX due to financial hardship. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a notice that I had been approved for General Forbearance. However I was a little shocked to see the time period approved was XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I received an interest notice stating interest in the amount of {$9000.00} would be capitalized at the end of my current status ( forbearance ). On XX/XX/XXXX I received a billing statement with a payment due XX/XX/XXXX for {$280.00}. The same payment I couldn't afford the previous month when I requested to postpone my payments, I was still not able to afford. I filed the completed BDTR with supporting documentation online through the Department of Education 's electronic application and submission website on XX/XX/XXXX and requested the loans be placed in administrative forbearance pending review of the application. On XX/XX/XXXX I received a notice of new repayment terms, with increased monthly payments for each loan. On XX/XX/XXXX I received another billing statement showing I had a past due amount of {$280.00} and a current amount due of {$360.00} for a total of {$650.00} due XX/XX/XXXX. My financial situation that made me unable to afford a {$280.00} payment on XX/XX/XXXX certainly had not changed in 19 days while the loans were placed in forbearance leaving me equally unable to afford a {$280.00} payment on XX/XX/XXXX, and most definitely unable to afford a new monthly payment of {$360.00} ( or {$650.00} ). I attempted to request to postpone payments again through the XXXX XXXX eligibility screening tool on the website for both economic hardship deferment and student loan debt burden forbearance. Both options state I am ineligible. All calculations are based on gross income or adjusted gross income with no regard for actual pay and any other expenses. As I previously mentioned, although I am technically considered a full time employee, we do not consistently get 40 hour per week. For the first 5 months of this year, my monthly average take home pay has been {$1500.00}, out of that I have to pay rent ( $ XXXX/month ), car payment ( $ XXXX/mo so I can continue to go to work ), and that leaves {$120.00} to pay utilities, insurance, and eat. Since the forbearance request that was approved was only for 19 days, and the new monthly payment is nearly {$100.00} more per month than the payment I already couldn't afford, the loans have become delinquent. It has been 4 months since I submitted the BDTR application on which I requested the loans be placed in forbearance while it is reviewed. Since they have still not been placed in forbearance, and I continue to not be able to afford to make the monthly payment I did not want the loans to go from delinquent to default and result in significant damage to my credit that I have been working to repair since initially defaulting on the loans. To try to avoid any adverse action and damage to my credit, on XX/XX/XXXX I explored my IDR options. Because my loans are FFEL loans I had to first consolidate them to apply for most of them. On XX/XX/XXXX I submitted an application for a direct consolidation loan to consolidate all 7 loans and requested the PAYE IDR plan and submitted the required supporting documentation. On XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX I received notifications that my request had been received, one also requested I update my address, which I did, the other stated the consolidation was in process. On XX/XX/XXXX, the very thing I was trying to avoid by taking these extra steps while still awaiting my loans to be placed in administrative forbearance pending the outcome of the BDTR application, happened. On XX/XX/XXXX, while I am awaiting my loan servicing company to process my application for consolidation and a more affordable payment option while I wait for them to follow through on placing my loans in forbearance while assert my rights against the predatory lending and recruiting practices of a for profit institution, that same loan servicing company reported all 7 loans as 90 days past due to the credit bureau. The result of that action, was a 70 point drop in my credit score, and the first report of a missed payment since my financial hardship began with the loss of my job in XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 76513
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-11
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-10
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: I received American Education Services private loan information from my credit union back in XX/XX/XXXX. This entire time I believed American Education Services was my loan originator. I sent them a letter in XX/XX/XXXX to settle the current debt owed which is {$24000.00}. I have two separate loans that are on one account and I make one payment of {$270.00} each month. My offer was to settle the balance with a one time payment of {$18000.00} and for it to be charged off the account and set as paid in full with no penalty. I called American Education Services later in the month to see if they'd received the letter and they said yes. I asked when would a decision be made. The representative did not have answer because it was sent to the loan originator. I was told that XXXX was the loan originator. I asked the representative what XXXX stood for and she could not tell me. She also mentioned that I am on a variable month to month interest rate. This month ( XX/XX/XXXX ) my rates are 7.61 % and 7.36 I XXXX XXXX and found it is XXXX XXXX XXXX. I tried to locate contact information for the company and could not. I called American Education Services one week later to obtain XXXX 's contact information and was informed that I was not allowed to have the loan originators information. I am requesting assistance with settling my debt through this loan originator. I have been paying on this loan since XX/XX/XXXX. Thanks in advance for your advice and assistance.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 76116
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-10
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-09
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. 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, XXXX and XXXX with no successful resolution. Equifax and XXXX are reporting me late. There was definitely an error on their part. I was never 30 days late XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 93304
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-09
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-09
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: Public Service Loan Forgiveness. I have been dealing with these people for a year. First I submitted all required forms in XX/XX/XXXX/XX/XX/XXXX. I should have been forgiven as of XX/XX/XXXX. They had me submit employment cert form at least 3 times which I did. They told me not to make further payments in XX/XX/XXXX because my app was on " appeal ''. I missed XX/XX/XXXX at their instruction. Later I was told that that information was erroneous.I timely paid XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. In XX/XX/XXXX I was told to make 1 payment for XX/XX/XXXX and re-cert my employment. I re-certified my employment and called to make a payment. I was assured that it would be credited to XX/XX/XXXX. It was not. I have been told many contradictory things. I was told that the prior servicer informed them that I was in forebearance from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX. That is not true. I uploaded bank statements and activity which show my student loan was being directly paid from my bank account during that time. I have requested a copy of my files ( FOIA ) and received nothing. I have received no word except that my loan, which was supposed to be forgiven in XX/XX/XXXX has now been reported delinquent to credit companies.I am still receiving bills for money that I do not, by law, owe. Because of this, my credit score went from XXXX to XXXX. I have been refused home improvement loans for a new roof. I did get one loan for a roof for which I have to pay exorbitant interest. I have complained via phone and email have have heard absolutely nothing. The government has completely ruined me and has not been following the law. I have been paying student loans on IBR at least since XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 43613
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-09
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-09
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: The number of qualifying payments eligible for PSLF being reflected on my billing statements is incorrect. I have contacted the company several times by email and never receive a response, and I have also faxed them and mailed them all of the information proving that the qualifying payments are not accurate. The first fax they responded that my employment verification dates showed a start employment date that was prior to my employment end date which was just completely not true. I included the employment certification again, along with my credit report showing how many payments I have made on my student loans and every other piece of information I could find to prove the payments reflected are incorrect. I requested that a supervisor handle the request since my first attempt had been so blatantly blown off by somebody just trying to respond to the fax quickly without actually making sure their response was accurate. I have never received a response to the second fax and mailing or the many emails I have sent attempting to check on the status of this.
Company Response:
State: VA
Zip: 24073
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-09
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-09
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: I received Paper Statements for my FedStudent Loans. The XXXX send me a MONTHLY BILL on XX/XX/XXXX for {$38.00}. { See the following : Last Payment Received XX/XX/XXXX Current Payment Due {$38.00} Total Due by XX/XX/2018 {$38.00} } I paid {$50.00} on XX/XX/XXXX as my Loan was due XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a new MONTHLY BILL as following : Last Payment Received XX/XX/XXXX Amount Past Due {$8.00} Current Payment Due {$49.00} Total Due by XX/XX/XXXX {$57.00} In other words, FEDSTUDENT LOAN SERVICING PURPOUSLY MADE ME IN DEFAULD OF MY PAYMENT EVEN THEY DEFINED THE PAYMENT OF {$38.00} FOR XX/XX/XXXX and in XX/XX/XXXX, they sent me a statement I am in a Amount Past Due {$8.00}. Thus, in a requested payment of {$38.00} I paid {$50.00}. Sending one amount request, and then making the student to be in a past due, defiantly will reflect negatively on the student credit/scores upon reporting. Such error is inexcusable, and must be corrected.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 14626
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-09
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-08
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: To : Consumer Protection Financial Bureau From : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX Re : Complaint on American Educational Services ( AES ) private student loan servicer for XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) HISTORY Myself, XXXX XXXX, and my husband, XXXX XXXX, are the parents of 6 children all of whom hold college degrees. We as parents are co-signers on every loan that the children have. With the ages of the children, there were times that we had two kids in college at the same time. The school loans are a mix of federal loans and private loans. The earliest private school loan was taken out ( I believe ) in XX/XX/XXXX. We have been paying on these loans since then. I was desperate as a parent to ensure that our children went to college and the private school loans were so very easy to get. There are a total of 8 different private school loans, 6 of which are serviced by American Educational Services ( AES ) and 2 by XXXX. Today our concern is with the interaction our family has had with AES. PLAN OF ACTION In late XX/XX/XXXX and early XX/XX/XXXX, we as parents offered to 4 of our children, who have private school loans with AES/Navient totaling $ XXXX that we would refinance our house and use whatever equity we were to get, to pay off as many of the private loans as possible. We made this offer knowing that we as the parents have been the ones paying the majority of the school loans over the years because most of the kids didnt or dont have jobs that support the hefty payments. My husband and I are fairly close to retirement and we were hoping to find a way to be sure that the kids didnt default on any loans. However, not knowing where we would land in the refinance, we all decided to see if AES would accept a Settlement Offer that would essentially wipe 4 loans off the book totaling $ XXXX. The next step was for me to talk with AES since I am listed on all the loans as someone who could speak for this idea. CONVERSATIONS WITH AES On XX/XX/XXXX I made a call and talked to an AES customer service representative. Though I failed to write down this womans name, I believe her employee ID # XXXX is correct. This woman advised me that I could mail or fax my Settlement Request to them at the following number, XXXX. She advised me of all the information that needed to be on this offer and she told me that AES would ensure that the owner of these loans, which is XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) would be given our offer and we would hear back from them, XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX I faxed this Settlement Offer to AES. I waited one month ( into XX/XX/XXXX ) with no answer about our Settlement Offer. I called and spoke with XXXX, employee ID # XXXX. He advised me that absolutely my offer was sent to XXXX and that I should call back in one week. It was now early XX/XX/XXXX and we still had not heard from AES or XXXX on the Settlement Offer. On XX/XX/XXXX I called and spoke to a very young sounding woman and I had to explain again my whole story. I believe her employee ID is # XXXX. This woman was the most frustrating person that I have had to deal with in a very long time, and Ive been a cop for 30 years. She basically refused to answer any of my concerns about a Settlement Offer and simply kept stating that AES never accepts settlement offers and that my only option was to pay in full. I told her that AES, in my mind, could not make that decision since they were only the servicer on the loan, and that I felt that XXXX needed to make the decision. I went on to tell her that I didnt want to pay off such big loans without a guarantee that I was paying the right person/entity. She heard none of this. I explained that back in XX/XX/XXXX an AES representative is the one that gave me the information on how to make a Settlement Offer. This person did not know how to answer me on that. I then asked her what XXXX stood for since I wanted to do an internet search on them. Her answer astounded me! She told me that she could not tell me that because I didnt have the right to know that. Of course I educated her on the facts and she then told me what XXXX stood for and we agreed that she would re-submit my request. On XX/XX/XXXX, since I still had nothing from AES or XXXX, I called AES back again. I spoke with a lovely woman by the name of XXXX, employee ID of # XXXX. I went through my story again and she was able to find my other contacts but did also tell me that XXXX has not answered. XXXX told me that XXXX is a trust and there is a history of sending requests to them and not hearing back. I shared with XXXX that I had contacted the face behind XXXX, a man by the name of XXXX XXXX. XXXX is the founder of XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX whose corporate headquarters is in XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX. I did something pretty basic and looked for XXXX XXXX on XXXX. I found his name in XXXX XXXX and I sent him a private message on XXXX messenger. I sent XXXX 4 messages explaining my sincere hope that he would be able to put me into contact with a real person at XXXX who had the authority to look at my Settlement Offer. His message to me on XX/XX/XXXX was the following : XXXX, I have read all of your correspondences. Let me first say that I am sorry for your familys situation and I have tremendous respect for your efforts to address these loans. I have in fact been very concerned with the collection practices with respect to the XXXX loans, and I have been litigating against PHEAA/AES and all the other vendors who have been blocking my attempts remedy the situation. With regard to your loans, I personally am not in a position to do anything other than to find you a contact person at PHEAA/AES to speak with. I do recommend seeking legal counsel to determine what all your options are, and if you google XXXX, you will no doubt find someone willing to advise you. I wish you and your family the very best, and I will endeavor to find you a real contact person at PHEAA/AES. XXXX XXXX became frustrated with my continued requests and on XX/XX/XXXX, he asked that I stop contacting him. XXXX, from AES, and I ended our conversation and told me that all that they can do is to send out my offer and nothing more. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS 1. In all my readings about the private student loan debacle it is said to be something similar to the subprime mortgage crises that happened about 10-12 years ago in the XXXX. My children and I have private loans out that we dispute the amount owed on the one concerning my son XXXX XXXX. I requested to see original paperwork and was told AES is not able to get that. 2. I told AES that I wanted to speak with someone higher up in their food chain since there initial representatives have given me conflicting information and I am told that is not an option. 3. I thought the owner of the loans, which is XXXX, is the only entity that can speak to the possibility of a Settlement Offer yet the head of XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, tells me to speak with AES. AES tells me that XXXX will need to be the one to answer my question of a settlement offer. It is absurd to be making such a financial commitment of refinancing a house, to try to do the right thing and yet no person anywhere is able to answer all my concerns. 4. I dont want to pay off loans unless I feel assured that I am paying the correct entity and that I agree with the loan amounts initially given are accurate. 5. My children and I do not want to default on loans. DESIRED RESLOUTION WITH AES 1. We would like a person at AES, who is in a position to make a decision, to be able to discuss our proposed Settlement Offer if indeed it is AES and not XXXX that has to power to make this happen. 2. We would like to dispute the initial loan amounts given to XXXX XXXX. 3. We would like proof that these four loans in question, being serviced by AES, are indeed able to be located to ensure we are paying the appropriate entity. 4. We would like to understand why XXXX is not the person/entity to talk with if that is decided to be the case.
Company Response:
State: OR
Zip: 97116
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-08
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-08
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: My name is XXXX, my loans were generated under XXXX XXXX XXXX. When I consolidated them on XX/XX/XXXX, the loan amount was {$33000.00} this was done under XXXX XXXX. My daughter graduated in XX/XX/XXXX and the amount jumped to {$48000.00}, the date shows it to be XX/XX/XXXX. Then again in XX/XX/XXXX the amount jumped to {$61000.00}. This consolidation eventually went from XXXX XXXX to XXXX and on XX/XX/XXXX the amount had jumped to {$77000.00}. I understand adding the interest in, however during this time I was making payments. I did forbearance a few times. The loan is now being serviced by XXXX. It shows on the federal website that it is still under XXXX. I feel as thought they pressured me into forbearance at different times. However, the interest should only have been XXXX, XXXX and XXXX respectively. XXXX told me I am enrolled on an ICR, however my payment is {$0.00}. I don't understand why I owe this much and how the loan jumped XXXX, XXXX and then XXXX. The math does not make sense. Also, I am not sure XXXX, XXXX or XXXX XXXX are reputable companies. I feel I have been cheated and I really want to pay this off. If you look at my records, the school loans for myself in XX/XX/XXXX have all been paid. How do I know I have been treated fairly? What legal recourse do I have for the school, XXXX XXXX for taking my co-sign signatures on at least 50 % of these loans and removing my daughter as this is her debt. Thank you for any help. my e-mail is XXXX XXXX
Company Response:
State: OK
Zip: 730XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-08
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-08
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Don't agree with the fees charged
Consumer Complaint: This school was charged with predatory loans and practices. It has went bankrupt and closed. I am trying to get my loans discharged on account of their fraudulent acts and closure. They took advantage of all their students, there were times they ran out of books for us, but the book fees were rolled in to the tuition so we couldn't get any money back. Most teachers had us XXXX tutorials, basically we taught ourselves. The teachers would show up half the time and make false claims so they could get their bonuses. I graduated and having their name on my resume is a red flag for any employer. Now I can't get employed in my field and I owe over 100k in student loans causing me to potentially be in debt for the rest of my life with nothing to show for it.
Company Response:
State: NE
Zip: 68521
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-08
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-06-07
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: XXXX XXXX XXXX misapplied my loan payments after a loan had already been paid off and I received a PAID in FULL notification ; they reopened my PAID OFF loan and altered my balance right before I was about to make a payment. I believe this company is altering and misappropriating my loans to collect extra money from me.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 92688
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-06-07
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A