AES-PHEAA
Consumer Complaints
There are over 9925 complaints on file for AES-PHEAA. Dated between 2019-12-11 and 2012-03-07.
Complaints Page 131
2018-06-29
Mesa, AZ
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
Menlo Park, CA
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account status incorrect
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
NC
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: This complaint is related to complaint XXXX. In that complaint, XXXX/PHEAA inappropriately switched my loan payment amount from the REPAYE amount to the standard repayment amount 2 months early for most of my loan sequences. My loans should have all updated ( based on my new income verification ) in XX/XX/XXXX but instead most of them were switched to the standard repayment amount in XXXX resulting in a > {$1000.00} increase in the payment amount they were requesting. After filing the complaint, XXXX/PHEAA has halfway admitted there mistake and has agreed to allow me to make the correct payments for the months of XXXX and XXXX and have them applied retroactively to those months. However, as part of their proposal they are requiring me to submit an updated PSLF employment certification form to get the payment amounts corrected. For this complaint, I would like to know who has given XXXX/PHEAA the authority to impose additional regulations on borrowers for them to receive the correct payment amount under income-driven repayment plans as outlined by the federal government. My loans are all under the REPAYE plan and as such my repayment amount is based on my discretionary income as calculated using my adjusted gross income and family size and updated at least annually ( or more frequently if requested by the borrower ). Nowhere in the federal statutes governing this program does it state that receiving the REPAYE amount is based on being employed by an eligible employer and nowhere does it state that completion of a ECF is required. Furthermore, even for borrowers doing PSLF, the payments do not have to be consecutive and so even for borrowers who do intend to do PSLF they do not have to continuously be employed by eligible employers to remain in the program or to have their loans serviced by XXXX/PHEAA. Regardless of whether a borrower is currently employed by an eligible employer, the REPAYE amount is a fixed amount determined completely separate from the borrowers employment status at an eligible employer. Thus, it is readily apparent that the requirement to submit a current ECF form that covers the 2 months when XXXX/PHEAA messed up my payments is a ) beyond the scope of the authority of XXXXPHEAA and b ) is a purposeful attempt to cause borrowers to pay more in student loans than they are legally required.
As an updated, I submitted my ECF yesterday for my current employer. This ECF covers from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. I have also made the 2 additional payments of {$330.00} ( one on XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX ) as requested by XXXX/PHEAA to cover the XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX payments that were messed up. All of this was done within 2 months of XX/XX/XXXX. This should satisfy the criteria XXXX/PHEAA imposed on me in order to override the XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX payments.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
Kingstree, SC
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Private student loan
Problem lowering your monthly payments
Complaint: I have 10 private student loans which are serviced by American Educational Services. I have paid these loans on time for over three years. This has been a struggle paying these loans, but I do not want to ruin my credit. I have contacted them monthly to ask for assistance in reducing my payments for the loans which are NCT. I sent in a request in writing in XX/XX/XXXXwhich was never acknowledged, I have also asked for copies of the notes that I signed twice, in XX/XX/XXXX and again today, XX/XX/XXXX. Today, I called again after seeing a reduced payment schedule for the NCT loans on their website. I was told by the rep that this does not apply to me. I asked to speak to someone above her and she said no one was available and I would have to call back. Lastly I asked for the phone number for NCT and she informed me that they were told never to give the NCT phone number to anyone. I have not been treated fairly. I forgot to mention, the woman informed me that I need to stop paying these loans and someone will assist me.
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2018-06-28
Milwaukee, WI
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: In 2014 my student loan defaulted. I am not disputing that fact. I am however disputing the amount of collection fees the collection agency charged. The amount they charged nearly doubled what I owed. I have been trying to get copies of what the collection agency had sent ( since I believe I was charged 30-40 % vs the 16 % since these are FFEL loans and Phea has never responded. I faxed them and I also mailed a certified letter on the XXXX of XXXX and still have not received a response back.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
MO
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Problem with customer service
Complaint: Beginning on XX/XX/2018 I have requested a deferrment application. And XXXX ( PH:XXXX ) has been determined not to send me a deferrment application. Also, I'm entitled to receive a deferrment Application.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
Winton, CA
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Problem lowering your monthly payments
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
DC
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Need information about your loan balance or loan terms
Complaint: My loans have transferred from XXXX XXXX to American Education Services. My complaint is that this servicer DOES NOT provide the information necessary in order for me to manage my loans. The website DOES NOT provide information on my scheduled payment plans, so I have no idea when my payments will be increased. The website DOES NOT provide information on how many months I am paid ahead. The servicer DOES NOT allow for overpayments to be applied to multiple loans in one account. These are ALL basic items that XXXX XXXX allowed consumers to do. This information is needed for consumers to plan and manager their student loans.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
Almonesson, NJ
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2018-06-27
Wecota, SD
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: I was on XXXX last year and because I didn't file 'Married but separate ', they denied me XXXX. So now I'm stuck paying {$610.00} just to see if I qualify for other repayment plans. They won't even tell me unless I make that ridiculous payment. I can not afford that payment since I already pay another private student loan.
Please help.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-27
Urbandale, IA
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-27
Omaha, NE
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-26
Hollywood, FL
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Problem with customer service
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-26
Tampa, FL
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account information incorrect
Complaint: I disputed inaccuracies with a XXXX concerning my student loans. I consolidated my accounts and the consolidation caused the accounts to be paid in full and closed. I did this to clear up my credit report so that I can purchase a home. My on time payments are missing for a whole year and my missed payments are showing up with which is throwing off the ration, so I consolidated. Every other credit bureau removed the accounts from my credit report and reflect the current consolidated student loans except for XXXX and I would like them to follow suit and delete the inaccurately reported accounts and payment history. The XXXX representative told me that consolidation would resolve this so now I am asking that my XXXX be updated to reflect the changes as well.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-26
Schenectady, NY
Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-26
Odell, OR
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Phoenix, AZ
Incorrect information on your report
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Information belongs to someone else
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Bakersfield, CA
Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
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, XXXX and XXXX with no successful resolution. XXXX, XXXX and XXXX were reporting me late. There was definitely an error on their part. I was never 30 days late XX/XX/2017.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
WA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: Made payments, verified taken from bank account, and never showed up towards loans on XXXX XXXX website. They are stealing money.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Burlingame, CA
False statements or representation
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Attempted to collect wrong amount
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, I received a XXXX Grant of {$4000.00}. The terms of the grant were as follows : 1 ) XXXX in a XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) 2 ) XXXX in a high-needs XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ) 3 ) Do so for four of the subsequent 8 years.
I have XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX XXXX for the subsequent 9 years. The XXXX XXXX website is a horrible thing, but I continuously sent in notes saying that I was working in a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had other, larger, loans to forgive and I knew ( or thought I knew ) the terms of the agreement so I wasn't worried.
At several points I noticed that there was no XXXX Grant link on my loan page ( when I could get to it -- the website is a horror, remember? ) and contacted them. At one point in XXXX, I talked to someone on the phone and arranged to submit three years of certification at once. Had I known of these issues, I would have submitted a fourth year -- I had plenty, it's just that I had three forms readily available. I thought I would just submit the fourth year in the XX/XX/XXXX, which is when I usually did paperwork. I did get warnings through this time, but I'd been getting warnings throughout the process. They reconverted my grant several times without ever indicating I was failing to do some essential thing. The essential thing, which was probably mentioned somewhere in the paperwork but was NOT mentioned in the phone call, was that I had to recertify every year. I never recertified, to my knowledge. All I ever did was call them up and ask to have it converted back to a grant because they'd screwed up and I was still teaching math in a Title I school.
Then in XX/XX/XXXX when I went to submit the last year, I was told that I couldn't submit, that it was permanently converted to a loan, that there was no recourse. I argued with them for months, and at no point did they mention that I could have appealed to an ombudsman. They said that loans are never converted back to grants but they are, and I have the email showing they converted mine, and that they accepted three years after the fact. But they won't accept ONE MORE YEAR of proof. Instead, they have converted the grant to a loan and charged me nine years interest.
The " annual recertification '' is a joke. First, it's not routinely mentioned in the publication of the XXXX grant ( although I'm sure I saw it in the loan papers ). Second, I have told them every year I intend to teach. Third, they are denying me this entire grant and charging me interest because they refuse to accept proof that I've met the terms of the grant. In other words, they are hitting me with a XXXX penalty and 9 years of 6 % interest because I missed a deadline for one quarter of the evidence needed, even thoguh I have the evidence and tried to submit it long before they converted it formally into a loan.
This is a huge problem for many people, but I don't know that many who have been hit with 9 years interest who have likewise worked in the service area required for nine years.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Boston, MA
Incorrect information on your report
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Account status incorrect
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2018-06-25
Hazlehurst, GA
Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Was not notified of investigation status or results
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, I communicated in writing to PHEAA via certified letter with return receipt seeking an investigation on the entries they were reporting on my credit report. To date, over 60 days later, I have received no correspondence from them. PHEAA has not attempted to respond to my request, yet when I disputed the inaccuracy of these entries with the credit bureaus, the bureaus responded that the entries were verified. This response prompted my communication to PHEAA. PHEAA has reflected late payments from XX/XX/XXXX thru XX/XX/XXXX. I do feel and believe that these entries are erroneous. I keep all of my records regarding student loans and I take full responsibility for my obligations ; however, having not ever received any information nor communication from them regarding the alleged delinquencies has me baffled. Additionally, the reporting among the bureaus for these accounts vary. How does the same alleged accounts on the 3 bureaus vary in the payment history? PHEAA does not even reflect payment history on the XXXX report? How so are the entries validated?
If PHEAA is truly reporting accurate information, they should have been able to respond to my request and justify these entries with the corresponding documentation that substantiates the reportings. To that end, these entries should be deleted from my report immediately.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Brooklyn, NY
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Problem with customer service
Complaint: I have on several attempts to reach my student loan holder XXXX XXXX XXXX, and have been unsuccessful finding a phone number that works. My load servicing provider AES refuses to connect me with the loan holding bank and is unable to provide loan details and/or discuss resolution.
I feel that I have a right to speak with my creditor and discuss my loan, review contract details, and work directly with the bank that owns my debt. I have paid {$21000.00} on a {$22000.00} loan with a balance of {$20000.00} this is unethical.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Monterey, IN
False statements or representation
Debt collection: Private student loan debt
Attempted to collect wrong amount
Complaint: I was sent a delinquency notice for a student loan that I co-signed. The American Education Services raised the monthly amount without notification by phone or letter. When I called the company I was transferred 4 times to a different customer service representative. When I asked to speak with a supervisor I was told there was no supervisor available. During the 4 conversations I was told two different dates as to when the monthly amount was changed. One representative stated it was in XXXX of 2017 and another stated it was in XXXX of 2017. I asked the representatives why I was not notified by mail or by phone of the change and one representative answered and said they did not have to notify me because I was only the co-signer and that I would only receive a notification when the loan was delinquent. When I received the delinquency notices there was no mention of the monthly amount being changed.
American Educational Services also has harassed me for information regarding the other borrower on the loan by calling me in the middle of the night around XXXX - XXXX in the XXXX. They have also contacted family members in the past and have spoken about loan information with other family members who were not on the loan.
The practices and tactics they have need to be reviewed and investigated as it seems to me is illegal.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-06-25
Cheverly, MD
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: I requested my records from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and was told by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that there was a flood and the only documentation that they had for me was the check that I signed in XX/XX/XXXX for {$2600.00} and my attendance record. I explained that I was attending school when XXXX suddenly closed the doors. I initially started in XX/XX/XXXX, I took a medical leave of absence due to XXXX XXXX. When I returned they had return my grant money and I had to take out another student loan. I returned to school in XX/XX/XXXX and completed the classes that I needed to take ( I waived the word processing portion and was waiting for the end of the course and the school closed. I have been back and forth with XXXX XXXX for years trying to resolve this matter. They have the paperwork that shows that I was in school as of XX/XX/XXXX and they insist that I wasn't within the 120 days of the school closure. The {$2600.00} loan is now $ 17K plus. I am 22 credits away from my degree and I can no longer pay out of pocket. The course at XXXX was 34 credits and I can't get that either. I am returning to school on a less than a half-time basis, because that is all I can afford. This s a huge hindrance. I am a XXXX for the XXXX XXXX and I am being compensated as if I have a two year degree. I have 114 credits, 34 credits that I can't get credit for and 35 years of work experience. Please help!!! I would prefer a arbitration hearing and not just XXXX XXXX blowing me off. Thank you.
Company Response: Closed with explanation