AES-PHEAA

2018-04-02

Effingham, KS

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: I have four XXXX grants, each for part of my XXXX programs. I have fulfilled obligations to them, but they were converted to loans at the height of my divorce on XX/XX/XXXX. I have always been in this XXXX position, before I took the XXXX grants, and remain in this XXXX position, which fulfills all obligations. I had recertified every year that was required of me, and never had any change in employment, or employment position or meeting obligations. I had always communicated with the servicers. In XX/XX/XXXX I was completely blindsided with a divorce from my spouse. I had no idea it was coming after 13 years of marriage. It was a devastating blow to me and I still today, am recovering from the trauma it caused. I could hardly keep my head up at that time. I was already working a fulltime job as a XXXX in a low income ( XXXX ) and XXXX building where more than half of our population are English Language Learners and/or students living in poverty. I love this job and I wouldnt change anything about it. Besides working as a fulltime XXXX, I am also a mother. And as of XX/XX/XXXX, I became a single mother. So, with all of that, I communicated to the servicers what happened and that I was still meeting obligation to my grants. They did not care that I was in crisis. I was in a position where I was in a survival state and I was barely making it. And they landed that right on top of me at the height of it they said you now owe {$10000.00} more dollars plus interest. And my job, which fulfills obligations, had never changed. They had paperwork on file that showed my employment. They didnt care. I suffered more trauma because of what they did to me. XXXX grants : XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX {$2000.00} XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX{$2000.00} XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX{$1000.00} XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX {$2000.00} Today my total that I owe is {$9700.00} -from a XXXX XXXX for 25 lovely XXXX in an XXXX and XXXX XXXX building.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

El Paso, TX

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Don't agree with the fees charged
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

WY

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: At the beginning of XX/XX/XXXX, I applied for an Income Based Repayment Plan. At first, I had to resubmit some income information, which was fine. I supplied everything that was required and received a letter stating that they would process the application. However, on XX/XX/12 and XX/XX/13of 2018, I received correspondence through my electronic inbox that I would requested to have my plan changed to a Standard Repayment Plan, which I never requested. In fact, I had requested the IBR and they sent this in their own words : We received your request to remove your loans from an Income-Based Repayment ( IBR ) plan and to repay under another plan. Then the following day, I received the payment plan terms which said I have to begin making payments of {$1200.00} per month on a monthly income of {$1900.00}. This is why I applied for a plan that was based on my income. Now they are saying that before I can even reapply for a lower payment I must make this payment in full for a month. This will cripple me and may end in the loss of my home or car if I have to make this type of payment. Again, this is why I applied for the IBR, which the servicer now claims was an application for a standard repayment plan. If I was already on the standard plan how or why would I request the standard repayment plan. It does not make any sense and I can not pay the standard plan. That is why I applied for the IBR and sent in all documentation stating my income / eligibility.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Washington, DC

Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem

Student loan: Private student loan

Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Complaint: American Education Services ( AES ) was the original " gate '' loan provider in XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I was provided no option to decrease the payments due monthly so they sent the full loan to a debt collection agency without notifying me of what agency, so that I can start making payments. Instead in XX/XX/XXXX, I began receiving countless harassing calls from XXXX XXXX XXXX. I could only presume that this was the group that took over the collection of my payments, and so in turn emailed and called XXXX XXXX XXXX requesting to make payments via their online portal. Without this as proof of payment, I was making payments over the phone without any follow-up proof of payment provided. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX 's XXXX XXXX, stating that my account with them was in fact closed, and returned to AES. This same letter indicated that any mark on my credit score should be deleted from my credit report as I was unable to reach there company to make a payment. Since in receipt of this letter in XX/XX/XXXX, I have attempted to make repayments via AES, as indicated in the letter. However, I was not able to do so according to AES representatives and I was provided with no additional information. In the past 2 months, I have begun to get new robo-calls from 3 new groups, stating they are now the collectors of my payments of the original gate loans from AES. Those companies are XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. Again, I was never told this by AES, nor was I in receipt of any notice that my collection is now with these companies. I called AES today, XX/XX/XXXX, to get clarity and check on why my credit report indicates there is still an issue of delinquency. The employee noted that since XX/XX/XXXX, my loan was now in collection by XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ). When I called this number on XX/XX/XXXX, it goes directly to voicemail to a company called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Online, this company is listed as yet another name -- XXXX XXXX XXXX. My complaint is against AES specifically for their mishandling of my gate loans, filing a severally damaging credit report, and the companies AES sends loans to for collection. To date, I have no clear indication of the company to which I should be making payments and no statement on the history of the loans -- including payments made over the phone to the original debt collection agency, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Lewisville, TX

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Problem lowering your monthly payments
Complaint: While applying for enrollment and financing for XXXX I feel that the level of education and opportunities it would afford were fundamentally misrepresented. I was told that I would be qualified for jobs for which I did not receive the required skill set. I understand the institute can not guarantee the availability of positions upon graduation, but the type of position I was told I would be qualified for required skills and knowledge that were not provided. Part of the promise of the education was job placement services after successful completion. These services were minimal and now no longer exist. Additionally, almost none of the credits received are transferrable to another institution. If I decide to pursue further education and training, I will have to begin from scratch. I believe that this was intentionally misrepresented as they told me upon my initial inquiry that the school was accredited. The information I was provided about the schools accreditation was completely false. The recent CFPB case against XXXX is a further blow to the value represented by the training received at XXXX. The findings of the investigation strongly found that XXXX took unreasonable advantage of their students with regards to securing financing. I was told, in the presence of my stepfather, that I would qualify for positions whose median salaries were $ XXXX- $ XXXX. Even this far from graduation I have yet to find any jobs with a range close to that within the skill set acquired at XXXX. XXXX misrepresented the success of its graduates by implying that the majority of graduates had received income appropriate jobs within their field, when according to a recent federal investigation, most students are living barely above the poverty level ( myself included ). XXXX made representations regarding the success of its graduates in job placement through a variety of means. These representations were meant to attract and retain students at XXXX and to induce them to take out aid, including loans, to pay XXXX tuition. According to the findings of the CFPB I was intentionally given loans on which I would almost certainly default. The investigation stated XXXX Business Model Is Based on Convincing Consumers to Take out Student Loans to Pay Its High Cost. IE- they never intended to provide an education worthy of the funds they required, they were in business only to create a profit from loan financing. The institution intentionally targeted lower credit and income students. The CFPB case against XXXX is a further blow to the value represented by the training received at XXXX. The fact that they intentionally defrauded students in order to obtain the money from loans, and had acknowledged aggressive tactics led to a judgment that ultimately closed the institution. Now, when reviewing my skills and training a future employer will devalue the minimal education from XXXX because with the press and the investigation the overall opinion of XXXX is that it was a student loan factory and not a place to receive quality education or training. I appreciate the steps the CFPB took to save current students. However, those of us with existing loans were left out of any arrangements and now have degrees that have invalidated. Thanks to the suit by the CFPB listing my education and degree is actually a hindrance when applying for jobs. I have been advised by employers that it would look better not to include my degree in my resume.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Eau Claire, WI

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

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Arco, CA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Boston, MA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I applied for a different repayment plan when i realized i could lower my monthly payments at the end of last year. When the repayment plan was processed, it was erroneously processed and capitalized interest was not added into the plan, causing an additional amount to show up as " past due '' on my account. In addition, i was not even contacted about the repayment plan being approved until after I called multiple times to check on the plan status and what the new payment would b due and it was not until XX/XX/XXXX that i even received the letter confirming this. I called muliple times and was told my " application was still being processed '' even though it was submitted at the end of XX/XX/XXXX and initally was given an incorrect payment amount via email. I have never missed an account payment as I am set up on an auto-pay plan. I filed for an income driven repayment plan because i can not afford the burdensome amount of the standard repayment plan. To then receive multiple notices from the student loan agency saying that my " delinquent '' payment has been reported to credit bureaus, then have to file a credit dispute form, all due to their administrative error is absolutely unfair. I followed all of the steps advised by the student loan agency once they admitted their error. They said that they would retract the negative credit reporting due to their error, but just in case to file a credit dispute form. After almost a month of waiting for them to actually process the fact that XXXX was incorrectly charged to me based on their administrative error, I called back and was told this was still processing. I then received a notice that stated the credit dispute request denied. This student loan agency is irresponsible in administering student loan and giving advice to its borrowers and does not have a timely method of resolving disputes that should easily be resolved through their administrative system. When i asked for documentation of my calls and requests regarding this matter, I was also told that none of the documentation of their error could be put in writing because they don't send individual letters to people. The only documentation of the information i was provided is through the multiple telephone calls i have made throughout the month of XX/XX/XXXX and beginning of XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

MI

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I am struggling to make payments on my two loans who are being handled by XXXX. They are going into collections, working 1-3 days a week. Every one I try to talk to in customer service is incredibly rude and short with me. Not to mention I've been charged unreal amounts in interest. Today XXXX-18 I attempted to make a XXXX payment with a prepaid debit card because I do not have a checking account. Where I was told they do not accept these type of cards with their system. Now, I have to get a money order to mail to them in the mail. Which is only going to add more interest to my account in the meantime. I'm trying to make an effort to make payments, but no one wants to work with me or offer me other suggestions. I am also in the process of getting these loans consolidated through this same company.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Edison, NJ

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Farmington, CT

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Katy, TX

Incorrect information on your report

Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting

Account information incorrect
Complaint: On XX/XX/2017 my student loans with XXXX XXXX XXXX were paid in full in the amount of {$10000.00}. I received the confirmation number after the successful payment was made. I looked at my payment history and it stated that my balance was XXXX and it also stated that the account was 0 days delinquent. After the payment was made the balances of my student loans were updated on my credit reports to XXXX. It reports as positive on my XXXX report but it reports as a sold/transferred debt on XXXX and XXXX. I have disputed it many times but nothing has changed. Then on XX/XX/2017 the U.S Department of education sent me a letter claiming that they were collecting on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX and also claiming that I owe them {$10000.00} plus {$620.00} interest so it came up to {$11000.00} all together. The U.S Department of education gave me 60 days to dispute the issue which I did. I sent them a letter as well as proof that it was paid in full and that it was 0 days delinquent and I asked them to get rid of my personal information. I thought the got rid of it but in XX/XX/2017 they reported the alleged debt to the credit bureaus and sent the debt to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Enclosed will be the letter I sent to U.S Department of education and proof that my student loans were paid in full.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Taft, OH

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: Consolidated student loans thru XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Employed by a federal Head Start grantee for 7 years. Enrolled in student loan forgiveness program sending employment verification signed by my employer that qualified me for the XXXX student loan forgiveness program. Never missed a payment in 7 years. Recently told there is no record of me in this program.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

MO

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: Occurred in XX/XX/2017. Instructed that in order to participate in XXXX Public Service Loan Forgiveness, I had to consolidate my loans. Discussed with XXXX XXXX whom verified this to be true. Consolidated loan per their recommendation. Discovered that not only was that not true, but also all the payments I had made to that point no longer counted and could not be retrospectively added back on. Discussed at length with XXXX. They reported what the give is only advice and they cant be held liable for the outcomes.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Kansas City, MO

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

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Oxford, GA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, an additional charge of {$1200.00} was added to my monthly bill. I immediately contacted the lender. They stated that it was not correct and would fix the issue. I continued to get collection phone calls and email. I called the lender again after 3 weeks because my account was still showing passed due. Again, the customer service representative assure me that the issue was being resolved. I have submitted emails to the lender via there website twice with no reply. I am now receiving correspondence in the mail threatening to place my loan in default, garnish wages and taxes and report me to all three credit monitors.
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Snohomish, WA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Don't agree with the fees charged
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

NY

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Problem lowering your monthly payments
Complaint: Beginning in XX/XX/XXXX, I transitioned my federal loans from XXXX to XXXX XXXX to join the public service loan forgiveness program. The transition was completed on XX/XX/XXXX when I received a welcome letter from XXXX XXXX ( attached as XXXX 1 ) At that time I had been enrolled in the REPAYE income-driven repayment plan. On XX/XX/XXXX I subsequently received communication from XXXX that my current income-driven repayment plan was ending on XX/XX/XXXX and that unless an application to renew the plan was received within 10 days of XX/XX/XXXX, that my payments would increase to {$0.00} beginning on XX/XX/XXXX ( this letter is also attached as XXXX 2 ). On XX/XX/XXXX I received another letter stating that my IDR application must be received by by XX/XX/XXXX. " If we do not receive your application within 10 days of this date, your monthly payment is estimated to be {$3000.00}, first due on XX/XX/XXXX. '' ( attached, XXXX 3 ). My IDR request application was submitted on XX/XX/XXXX and approved on XX/XX/XXXX by XXXX, and I received email correspondence from XXXX confirming both events. ( attached XXXX 4 and 5 ). I again received correspondence stating that my new payment plan would be XXXX monthly beginning on XX/XX/XXXX. ( attached as XXXX 6 ). On XX/XX/XXXX I received, WITHOUT ANY written notification or warning given to me by XXXX or XXXX beforehand, a billing statement from XXXX for {$3000.00} ( attached as XXXX bill ). This is despite submitting my income-driven repayment plan application while currently being under an active IDR plan ( REPAYE ). At this point I attempted multiple phone calls with XXXX customer service and spent upwards of 3 hours between holds, talking to multiple people, before being told that there was nothing that could be done because there had been a lapse in my repayment plan that I was NEVER notified of. The result being that this {$3000.00} payment would now be put into forbearance ( attached, XXXX forbearance ). My issue is that I was charged {$3000.00} months before I was told that I would be charged this amount, with my IDR application submitted, received, and approved well within the time window established to me by XXXX in order to avoid such a charge. The result is a massive payment of my loans which is now in forbearance.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-02

Corpus Christi, TX

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

Timely Response

2018-04-01

Carolina Forest, SC

Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Was not notified of investigation status or results
Complaint: Several years ago, i was misinformed of my deferment period to repay my student loans. I later returned to score, and resume course work. I had my previously loans consolidated. Upon checking my credit report, i noticed several late marks that drastically damaged my credit score. I attempted to contact the company who reported this listing via fax, mail, and over the phone. I wrong goodwill letters explaining the situation, and contacted a rep via phone whom just kept transferring me and ultimately saying i needed to dispute this through the credit bureaus which i've also done. My records on file show that these accounts are all paid in full, {$0.00} balance but have several missed and late payments that i would like to be removed, especially due to the status of those accounts at the time. Please see that this request is honored and investigated.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-04-01

Florence Villa, FL

Incorrect information on your report

Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting

Account status incorrect
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2018-03-31

Rochester, WA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: It was my understanding that the only way that i could receive student loan forgiveness ( i am an XXXX ) was if i consolidated my student loans with XXXX XXXX. After 10 years of public service, 120 on time payments, I could request forgiveness. I was never advised as to what type of payment plan that I would need to be on, only that a qualifying payment would need to be made. I began making standard payments on XX/XX/2012. Believing that I was doing the right thing and on course for loan forgiveness, I submitted my employment certification form for PLSF last year, ( which is now missing from my file uploads in my online account ). After submitting my employment certification form I was notified that I would need to switch to a " qualifying '' payment plan. I researched through the website the qualifying payment plans and found them to be MUCH higher than my standard payment. So much higher that if I switched to the qualifying payment plan I would have my student loans paid off by the end of the 120 qualifying payments. Me paying off my student loans does not equal student loan forgiveness. I then called XXXX XXXX to see if what I was seeing was correct and the XXXX phone representative said, yes i would in fact pay off all of my debt by switching to the qualifying payment plan and that does in fact happen for a lot of people that they are the ones that actually pay off the balance. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. I have been tricked into believing that I could be eligible for student loan forgiveness, consolidated my loans at a higher interest rate, was not explicitly given the choice of the correct payment plan for student loan forgiveness, then was informed that I would, in fact, still pay off my loans completely before i would meet all of the qualifications for student loan forgiveness. This company, who handles ALL of the federal student loan debt for people wishing to seek student loan forgiveness is not working to help people get rid of their debt. They are making money off of misinformation, incomplete information, or neglecting to provide consumers with the clear path to student loan forgiveness.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-03-31

Santa Rosa, CA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief

Timely Response

2018-03-31

Bethlehem, GA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: I received student loans while a graduate student ( XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX ). Upon graduation I started making payments through XXXX XXXX in a timely manner, and have never missed a payment. I Consolidated my loans at some point, XX/XX/XXXX I believe, and switched to the minimal payment plan at some point. I heard about the loan forgiveness program after working 10 years for a state agency, several years ago and assumed I was covered because, since graduation, I have worked for a state university since graduating. I found an article describing the forgiveness program and submitted a request to be considered as my tens years was coming up. I was immediately told I had to switch to XXXX XXXX ( by XXXX XXXX ) because they were they only loan company handling the forgiveness program, so I filled out the paperwork and had the loan switched to them. Throughout, I have continued to make payments every month on time ( they are directly drawn on my bank account ). After the account was switched ( XX/XX/XXXX ), I submitted the PSLF form to XXXX XXXX, who then informed me that I did not qualify because of the type of loan payment plan I had been on. Of course, I was never told by XXXX XXXX, or my other student loan company that the forgiveness program was dependent on the type of loan payment plan. Obviously, had I known, I would have switch. I feel I was duped in two ways : 1 ) by not being told about the ins and outs of the forgiveness program by either of the student loan companies ( XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX ) ; and 2 ) for being told I had to switch to XXXX to to have my loan forgiven, only to find out I did not qualify ... I see this as bait and switch type promotion.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-03-30

Columbus, OH

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: XX/XX/XXXX I contacted XXXX XXXX to have my direct loan transferred to qualify for student loan forgiveness. I am a XXXX XXXX with XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX, OH ) and have been paying my loans on time since XX/XX/XXXX. I believed I would qualify for student loan forgiveness based on the fact that my student loan payments increased yearly. I believed I was on the correct payment plan. I was never told by XXXX XXXX that I wasn't on the correct plan. When I transferred to XXXX XXXX they also didn't tell me, my loan payment dropped to $ XXXX. I thought it dropped because I qualified for student loan forgiveness and they were reducing my loan payment because I would soon be done with paying my loans. I didn't realize I would not qualify for student loan forgiveness until XX/XX/XXXXafter I called XXXX XXXX asking when my loans would be discharged. I called XXXX XXXX and was told I would have to change my loan repayment plan and it would take another 10 years of payments to qualify for student loan forgiveness. I WAS DEVASTATED, IN TEARS!!! That would be almost 30 years of payments. There needs to be better communication from the loan companies, I had no idea I was on the wrong plan. I was told by XXXX XXXX nothing could be done even though I've been faithfully paying my loans on time for almost 17 years.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response