GREAT LAKES

2018-12-04

Santa Ana, CA

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Private student loan

Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: I went to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, ca. I was informed that once you sign up, that all of your time there would be utilized experience for your job application opportunities. Every time, after graduating from the school. They would give me a list of places to apply to. I would. Go in for the interview. Some of the interviewers laughed in my face, stating, we dont care how long youve been at that school. You dont have enough experience to work for us. Or, Im under qualified. Its embarrassing.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-12-03

Winter Park, FL

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Problem lowering your monthly payments
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-12-03

Detroit, MI

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: Great Lakes Education loan transferred my student lone to XXXX. However, XXXX states the balance is over {$12000.00} even after I have made payments to Great Lakes. I have contacted XXXX on more than one occasion about the amount they are reporting on my credit report and trying to collect from me. The amount of over {$12000.00} is incorrect. They received two loans from Great Lakes Education loan services in XX/XX/2018. At that point I have already made payments of XXXX ( {$1600.00} to collection fees, {$270.00} to interest and {$9900.00} to principal ). Every time I call, they ( XXXX ) states there's nothing they can do to call Great Lakes. I call Great Lakes they tell me to call XXXX. However, I did receive a detailed payment history from Great Lakes ( the original collection agency ). When I spoke with someone at XXXX ( multiple times ) and told them that I had it and could send it over they ( XXXX ) still stated to call Great Lakes, who told me call XXXX again. Not only is XXXX trying to collect an inaccurate amount but also, they are charging interest rates to an extremely higher than accurate amount This is stressful and damaging to my credit report and worthiness. I am unable to get a home loan for my family we desperately need or even a bigger vehicle since my family has double with the birth of my XXXX. I am aware the one or both companies or in violation of " The Fair Credit Reporting Act " and " The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ". I am feeling trapped and needs help.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-12-02

Arlington, TX

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Problem with customer service
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-30

Chicago, IL

Incorrect information on your report

Student loan: Private student loan

Information belongs to someone else
Complaint: I never got or requested a loan from Great Lakes or no other loan company. I never signed for a loan.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-28

Erie, PA

Credit monitoring or identity theft protection services

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

Didn't receive services that were advertised
Complaint: I attended this school for 3 days owing nothing
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-27

IA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Problem with customer service
Complaint: I updated my contact information online because i moved. The company ( great lakes ) would not update my information without an email address. Then once you enter the email address you are automatically signed up to receive everything by email. There is no way to receive all correspondence in the mail excepted to call and have customer service fix the account. I received a " verify your email address '' and did not respond to it. My email address was not verified. The company then sent me an email with my account number amount due and other information to the email address that had yet to be verified. Is it acceptable for them to send my account information to an unverified email address?
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-27

IA

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I scheduled a payment on XX/XX/XXXX for XX/XX/XXXX, knowing I had my first payment due XX/XX/XXXX. I also set up automatic payments the same day and saw that it said they could take a few days to set up and that if I had a payment due within 10 days, I would be responsible for making it. As the terms and conditions didn't state that the automatic payment would pull regardless of if the payment had already been made I thought things were fine, and didn't think anything of the confirmation email I received stating the first due date for the auto pay would be the XXXX as I knew the payment would be in process shortly. Then on XX/XX/XXXX they pulled a duplicate payment for the payment due XX/XX/XXXX, and I was unaware of this until I went to pay another bill and realized my account balance was shockingly low. I called customer service who told me for the first time that the payments pull no matter what and I needed to skip an automatic payment etc., and when I asked for a supervisor the line was disconnected. I called back and was able to be connected to a supervisor named XXXX employee number XXXX, and he stated that the terms clearly indicated that the payment would be pulling regardless, and I stated they didn't he then read some terms to me that again didn't explicitly state that it would pull even if the regular payment had been satisfied, and said that there was no reason it had to say this. Every other bank has to clearly disclose if they are going to be pulling the payment regardless of it being satisfied before the payment due date. He told me the payment pulled XX/XX/XXXX satisfied the XX/XX/XXXX payment but it would still pull a payment XX/XX/XXXX unless I cancelled the Automatic payment. I just received an email this morning stating my automatic payment would be made soon which leads me to believe the XXXX payment was not satisfied. But I was also told that in order for them to refund the payment to me it would take 30-45 days, which is astronomical and unfair. I'm adding a copy of the terms and conditions documents provided through the automatic payment sign up so you can see it. It specifically says " if you have payments due on any of your loans, you are responsible for manually paying your scheduled monthly payments until you are notified that your Auto Pay request has been processed. '' this implies that they will only be pulling the scheduled monthly payment that is due.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-26

Fort Worth, TX

Credit monitoring or identity theft protection services

Student loan: Private student loan

Didn't receive services that were advertised
Complaint: Someone used my identity to ATTEND COLLEGE disburstments were made funds were never recieved.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-25

MS

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Can't temporarily delay making payments
Complaint: I believe the amount the company states I owe are incorrect.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-25

Brooklyn, NY

Incorrect information on your report

Student loan: Private student loan

Account information incorrect
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-21

Patterson, MD

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX, i received a letter from Greatlakes student loan servicing company that my loan is due for payment. I never took any student loan and i have been out of college since XXXX. I know my son had told me in XXXX he want to go to college and since he was a minor the application need to be sign by an adult. He never mentioned student loan. I had asked the young lady who had called my on the phone that i need to reach him and find out. He is was lured by this private college in New York with promises of free scholarship which never happen. He was stress out with the school registering him for classes he never have any interest in and he was frustrated and dropped out. We have searched for him in the last 3 years and no information about him. Whether he alive or dead we don't know. My problem is how is it that a kid who never finished a semester his father is told he owe {$40000.00} and i never signed a student loan. I will never sign for anyone not even myself to go to a private school in XXXX New York? The most expensive place in the world. I worked as a XXXX XXXX for the XXXX XXXX XXXX I am recovery from a XXXX XXXX XXXX. The New School deceived and fraudulently induced my son into all this issues. It's bad enough i have lost my only child and been asked to pay money i never sign for is injustice of the highest order. Please help me, i can not afford an attorney with my small salaries that i spend more than 25 % on medicine to stay alive.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-21

New Orleans, LA

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

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

Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-17

Houston, TX

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: Trying to pay for student loans in MyGreatLakes.com requires a PHD in shadiness to not get scammed. My account is 3+ years paid ahead, I make minimal monthly auto payments and one time additional payments each month. I have now 4 loans vs. 5 after making several large one time payments to pay off the loans. What was scammy about the process is realizing the timing of when additional payments are made can have significant impact on how the additional amounts are applied to the principle and ultimately impacting the amount of interest you pay in total. Simply clicking on the screens to have 100 % of your payment directed to a specific loan, doesn't always end up the way you think! Why would it matter if you are paid ahead is what conventional logic would suggest. Because you aren't shady like My Great Lakes, you don't understand. Here 's what I've come to realize.. If you want to pay ahead and have the additional payments directed at your specific loan ONLY ( vs. peanut butter spread ), you need to meet your monthly minimal and any interest accrued. XXXX Example : your loan payment is due on XXXX of the month - XX/XX/XXXX- Minimum payment applied. $ spread like peanut butter across all loans as expected. - XX/XX/XXXX - additional payment applied. $ considered payment to next month but still peanut butter spread across all loans even though you tell them it is to be 100 % directed to a specific loan even if the amount you set for additional payment is higher than the monthly minimum payment. Scam. You'd think just the amount up to the minimal payment amount is spread like peanut butter but nope ... the whole thing. - XXXX - additional payment applied and you are now paid ahead for next mont. Only now will your payments be 100 % directed as you choose. _______________________________________________________________________ The above is still true even though I'm 3 years paid ahead. SCAM. SCAM. SCAM. So beware. When paying ahead, schedule the additional payment on the same day as the monthly due date OR make multiple payments to 'test ' the waters to confirm the payments are getting correctly allocated.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-16

Plainsboro, NJ

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Don't agree with the fees charged
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-15

Chicago, IL

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

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

Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-14

Douglas, MI

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: I received a phone call from one of my past colleges ( XXXX XXXX XXXX College ) notifying me that I had loans that were close to defaulting. I had never elected loans and had not been aware of any student loans in my name. I got in contact with the loan provider and found out that there were 12 loans in my name totaling nearly {$30000.00}. I made two payments soon after the initial phone call totaling {$2000.00}. After seeking advice, I mailed the Great Lakes two letters requesting copies of the loan document ( s ) and proof that I had taken the loan and requested that my credit score be restored due to being unaware of the loans. The letters were dated XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, Great Lakes provided a copy of the loan document. The loan document bore a digital signature, providing no proof of the identity of the person who took the loan. The document listed my name, but was missing all other personal information ( birthdate, social security number, and driver 's license number ). Furthermore, the document did not suggest that I would have ever received any communication regarding the loan as the document listed a mailing address, email address, and phone number that were not my own. Legal counsel was sought and I am mailing an additional letter to Great Lakes in response to the loan document provided. I am requesting a response from Great Lakes within 30 days of receipt.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-14

WI

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Keep getting calls about your loan
Complaint: Hello XXXX of XXXX I made a payment of {$18000.00} to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, which was my payoff amount. I received a letter stating my loans were all paid in full and I no longer have any loans in default with them or the collection agencies they are affiliated with. Than XXXX of XXXX while applying for a VA loan I had a flag on my credit reporting I still had an unpaid balance so I contacted both Great Lakes and the collection Company XXXX. It turns out they did not have record of my payment, however I was smart to have my bank cut the check and send it by certified mail, so I had a paper trail. They found the miscommunication and sent another letter XX/XX/XXXX stating my loan was paid in full. Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX, I got another letter saying I had owed a total of {$1400.00}, which was refunded back to the account because because charged interest to me on the payment they lost than found. Well once again XX/XX/XXXX, I am dealing with the same problem and it affects my credit not to mention the frustration and anxiety I have to deal with when talking to these people. I have all the emails they sent clearing me and the letter clearing me. I am fed up and tired of being bullied by their creditor XXXX. I want to file a formal complaint as well as seeking restitution against Great Lakes and XXXX. Can you help me please. Thank you, XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-10

Hanceville, AL

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, my loan was transferred to XXXX XXXX as part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. When my loan was transferred, I was sent a letter indicating that qualifying payments from XX/XX/XXXX to the present would be applied to my account. Between XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX, I made numerous calls asking when this would be updated. Each time I contacted the servicer, I was informed that my account was still under review. A few weeks ago, I sent an email to the vendor showing them the exact dates that my consolidation loan was paid and asked that they apply these payments as agreed to my account. Recently I was informed by the vendor that the payments could not be applied because my account was allegedly in forbearance from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX. I immediately disagreed with this information and asked XXXX to contact the servicer on three way so that we can discuss this together and possibly provide a resolution. The vendor refused to do this and told me that it was my responsibility to have Great Lakes to update the information and provide updated status. I then called Great Lakes and thought I had this information resolved as agreed. The representative I spoke with told me that she would send me an updated status history that reflected that my consolidation loan was not in forbearance during this time. However, when I received the document, it read the contrary. I called Great Lakes again, spending hours on the phone and a representative asked me to send an email to the company and request a review. Instead of comparing my payment history and billing invoicing, the company sent me a messaging indicating that the information was accurate and no change would be made. I then called back and spoke with another representative who then explained that since I waited for a year to contact the servicer, that they would not make any corrections to my account. I made numerous attempts to explain to the vendor that I had no knowledge that the error was made until XX/XX/XXXX. I also explained to the vendor that they if my account was indeed in forbearance, than I should not have received invoices stating that I had payments due. My payment history reflects that I made regular payments as agreed. After making three years of qualifying payments, to find out that my consolidation loan was placed in forbearance without my knowledge or permission is very disheartening. I encourage all student loan holder to review your account yearly to ensure information is accurate. I asked Great Lakes to provide the recorded conversation or evidence that I made the request and nothing has been provided. For clarity, I have two loans that were serviced by Great Lakes. I placed my Stafford loan into forbearance, but I was very clear that I did NOT want my consolidation loan placed in forbearance and I continued making payments as agreed. I believe the vendor placed both loans in forbearance without telling me. The vendor indicated they mailed me a letter, but I explained to them that I was in the process of moving so I may have missed the correspondence. I further explained to them that they emailed me everything else, but I had no record in my email where such a correspondence was sent to me. I am asking that this information is researched thoroughly and either an update to my account is made or written proof is provided indicating the date and time that I called to request the forbearance on my consolidation loan, including the telephone number called from. I will be able to pull my telephone records with my cellphone provider to match this information.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-10

Oxford, GA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Federal student loan debt

Debt was paid
Complaint: This was opened in XX/XX/XXXX. I want this deleted off my credit report immediately. Great Lakes sod this debt to the United States Department of Education. I paid this debt in FULL including all fees XX/XX/XXXX. As of today XX/XX/XXXX it is still showing on my credit report. In addition this shows as two separate negative items because Great Lakes is listed and US Department of Education. I have been denied new lines of credit more than 8 different times due to this false report. This is impacting my credit score negatively. It is not rising even though the debt was paid 19 months ago.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-10

Rochdale, NY

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: The letters sent went to addresses that I no longer lived at. Both of these addresses had permanent forwarding addresses. This leads me to believe that these letters were never sent. I did not get proper notice before these loans went into default.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-09

Sangerville, ME

Incorrect information on your report

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

Old information reappears or never goes away
Complaint: I have made contact with Great lakes in regards to my account status being " closed '' " paid in full '' " balance XXXX '' and showing an age of 7 years and 2 months still remaining on my credit report and showing a negative status. i have successfully rehabilitated this loan and have opened the account in positive standing with a new loan through Great Lakes, when contacting the company i was told there is no way to remove it. the acocunt was closed in XX/XX/2015
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-09

NY

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: I am writing to you because I am having difficulty obtaining stable employment due to my health. I am also requesting a payment that allows me to meet my medical and living expenses. I am not working due to several physical illnesses. I have XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX and generalized XXXX ( please see attached documentation ). I currently have no income and I do not foresee any improvement in the future, but my husband is willing to help me pay my student loans. I obtained my XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX XXXX from XXXX inXX/XX/XXXX. I worked for three years with a very low starting salary. In XX/XX/XXXX, I was XXXX with XXXX XXXX which has impaired me to continue in the field, but the amount of days which I am bed bound has also prevented me from obtaining any stable employment. My dreams and vision to help people with XXXX XXXX has vanished. Please conduct a review of my account to determine whether I am eligible for an alternative repayment plan. I believe I can afford to pay {$800.00} per month toward my loan. Please consider my offer, I am trying to reach out with all my best intentions. If you do not grant this request for a reduced payment plan, I will be at risk of default. If I received a reduced repayment plan, I may be able to avoid default, which is the best interest of all parties. Please consider this letter a written request that you contact my lender or other authorized party to conduct a review of my account and provide a response. I hope we will be able to agree upon an acceptable repayment plan.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-08

Detroit, MI

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Credit card debt

Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-11-07

Portage, OH

Struggling to repay your loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Timely Response