GREAT LAKES
Consumer Complaints
There are over 1568 complaints on file for GREAT LAKES. Dated between 2019-12-12 and 2012-03-26.
Complaints Page 18
2018-07-21
VA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: My daughter is on XXXX XXXX with the XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX. This complaint relates to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, the servicer of her loans, which the XXXX has helped pay off through the XXXX XXXX loan repayment program ( LRP ). As a recruitment incentive to encourage my daughter to join the XXXX, the XXXX promised to pay off up to {$65000.00} of the Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans that she and I took out to pay for her undergraduate education. On XX/XX/XXXX of this year, Great Lakes received a payment of approximately {$9000.00} from the XXXX XXXX LRP. This was the XXXX XXXX 3rd and final annual payment, my daughter having completed her third year of XXXX XXXX in the Spring. The simple task for Great Lakes to carry out, as I explained to them clearly and repeatedly involved 2 easy steps : First, pay off the then-outstanding balance of my PLUS loans for my daughter. After several phone calls, Great Lakes finally got that step correct.
Second, I directed Great Lakes to apply the entire remaining amount of the XXXX XXXX payment to my daughter 's account for her own Stafford Loans. Great Lakes has not yet done this and now flatly refuses to so. Instead, they first applied the remaining amount to 2 other accounts of mine that are clearly not eligible for LRP payments ( they are for my daughter 's siblings ). Then, even after multiple phone conversations with them, and written instructions to them, Great Lakes applied only about half of the remaining amount ( instead of all of it ) to my daughter 's account and RETURNED the rest to the XXXX, somehow believing that the XXXX had overpaid them by that amount. Great Lakes did this without notifying me that they were going to do so, let alone getting my agreement to do so, and in direct contradiction of the instructions that I had repeatedly given them and that they had explicitly agreed, in multiple phone conversations, to carry out.
When Great Lakes advised me that they had erroneously returned these funds to the XXXX, they also asserted that they would try to stop payment on that action, but they advised me a few days later that they had been unable to do so and that, at that point, there's nothing whatever that they can do because ( in essence ) they're too big and too complicated to do something as simple as correcting an error that they, and they alone, had made. They refuse, for example, to even contact the XXXX to get this situation rectified and they insist that our only recourse is for us to ask the XXXX to make another payment to Great Lakes ( with no guarantee that they would apply that correctly either ). This seems outrageous and indefensible to me, particularly in light of the clear and simple instructions that I provided Great Lakes on multiple occasions, and their repeated assurances that they would apply the XXXX XXXX payment correctly. I have talked to at least 7 Great Lakes employees, including 1st and 2-level supervisors and a so-called military affairs " specialist '', and it is clear to me that further conversations with them would be pointless.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-20
Gloucester City, NJ
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: I have been trying for the past two years to get these loans forgiven because XXXX scammed me. The loan I have has been very unhelpful with me to the point where Ive had to hire a lawyer to help me get some things done. The loan company has also pretend to help me by giving me fake phone numbers and having me call a number that has nothing to do with what I need.
I also have no degree because of this and can not get a job in my field. XXXX claims and told XXXX that I graduated but there is no proof. The company that took over XXXX transcripts has no degree for me.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-20
Philadelphia, PA
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: XX/XX/2009 the schoo is closed down and charge all this money and never got anything out of it. {$3000.00} they are saying i owe grate lakes but the school closed Call Us Call : ( XXXX ) XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-17
Mdn, MS
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Information belongs to someone else
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-17
Savannah, GA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: Since XX/XX/2018 I have attempted to pay my balance in full with no prevail, Great refused to accept my payment 4 times and now they have raised the amount by {$1000.00}.
XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/2018 I sent letters asking for the balance and if they would accept full payment, FULL PAYMENT no response would settle this account legally and financially, they continue to willfully and knowingly report incorrect inaccurate information to the CRA 'S damaging my credit and lively-hood.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-16
Stkn, CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted by a third party ( did not know they were a third party at the time ) advising me they were from the Dept. of Education and were dealing with my student loans directly.
I was told by the gentleman on the phone that I qualified for an income based program administered by the Dept. of Education which would allow me to make 3 payments of {$260.00} and all subsequent payments until XX/XX/XXXX would be deferred upon reevaluation of my income.
I was obviously skeptical and questioned several times asking to confirm he was in fact from the dept. of education and after seeming to be trustworthy, I was convinced he was there to " help me '' I submitted my 3 payments and assumed I was clear from having to pay anything further until my next evaluation period.
It wasn't until a few days ago when I noticed my credit score took a complete nosedive that I realized I was in default of my student loans - which I did not want. I contacted my student load servicer and was informed I most likely was contacted by a third party stating I qualified for a program through the Dept. of Education when they in fact weren't and the funds I submitted were not used towards paying down my student loan dept.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-14
Katonah, NY
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
2018-07-14
WA
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
Complaint: Opened a secured card. Company not reporting account, nor reliable payments. Opened for credit repair. They also charged a joining fee which was not obviously disclosed.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-13
Sacramento, CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: All my student loans were consolidated on XX/XX/XXXX according to XXXX./XXXX by XXXX, now known as 'XXXX. At no time ever after/post my XX/XX/XXXX consolidation did XXXX. ', now known as 'XXXX ' or did any other lender that my loans were sold to i.e. Great Lakes contact me, inform me, or make any attempt at any time to offer me other types of loan payment options, transfers or payment types ( a loan payment option***does not include a deferment** ) *. Additionally, all the above lenders nor did the any agency of the federal government ever inform me post XXXX of the passage of legislation related to the P.S.L.F. ( Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Today, XX/XX/XXXX @ XXXX Hours I called XXXX who took over XXXX. XXXX and I explained my predicament, and their representative 'XXXX XXXX replied, " We or XXXX. never informed our borrowers of the P.S.L.F, or payment options related to that! ". I have already applied, and been denied for the P.S.L.F. twice that I do qualify for as I have never missed a student loan payment, made over 120 payments, worked for a not for profit for over 10 years in a full time capacity. I also qualify for the new T.E.P.S.L.F. ( Temporary Expanded Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program, and am working with my Congressman XXXX XXXX to resolve this. I have authenticated the XXXX over over XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX over my XXXX XXXX XXXX. Not getting my student loans forgiven is a disgrace. ( I have attached no documents because their are none and nothing to submit-'XXXX ' or did any other lender that my loans were sold to i.e. Great Lakes contact me, inform me, or make any attempt after/post my Consolidation of XX/XX/XXXX at any time to offer other types of loan payment options, transfers or payment types ( a loan payment option***does not include a deferment** ). Not informing me of the passage of the P.S.L.F. in XXXX, or engaging me as a borrower with any kind of basic information or options related to qualifying for the P.S.L.F. is a violation of fairness in lending, a lack of transparency and full disclosure, unethical, and well kind of tricky. An average and reasonable person would simply let their borrowers know of such changes or new programs that affect their student loan borrowers, it's simply an appropriate, fair and courteous response. It's crystal clear that 'XXXX '' now know as 'XXXX ' through their 'failure an omission to act ' didn't want to fairly and appropriately serve their borrowers, because if they did they would have simply done what an average citizen would have, and that is insuring all of the borrowers were treaty with fairness, clarity, respect and full legal disclosure of all that may effect them. Congressman XXXX XXXX 's office will be acting on my behalf you can also correspond with them as well as me.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-13
KY
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Problem lowering your monthly payments
Complaint: Student Account balance and High APR on student loans and student accounts. I would like to enforce my civil rights act as a student and military dependent. I would like to enroll in limited to zero credit and information sharing as well. Thank you.
XXXX Bless, XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Student Accounts in XXXX XXXX University, XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-11
Anaheim, CA
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account status incorrect
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-11
San Francisco, CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: From what I was told by the " escalation department rep '', XXXX is the " administrative and secretarial assistant '' for Great Lakes Guarantor. After repaying my loan in full in XX/XX/2018, XXXX continued wage garnishment for 3 consecutive pay periods. They finally sent a letter to my employer to stop garnishment two weeks ( another pay period ) after I called. When it comes to getting any question answered regarding the status of my account, or when I might be receiving reimbursement, the answers are generic and scripted. " The account is closed. The accounting department doesn't have a contact number and is behind. We have no other information on your account. '' After over 30 min speaking to both reps, I was given the number to Great Lakes. Mind you, the second rep, " XXXX '' kept cutting me off with " We don't have information on your account ''. Poor customer service, rude and unhelpful. I ended the conversation with XXXX, letting him know that if Great Lakes was who I should speak with, he could've saved us both time by redirecting me there 15 min. prior.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-10
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
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
2018-07-06
MD
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: Beginning, I have very few dates to include because I am having difficulty getting responses from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. They did not initially hold my guaranteed Federal Student Loan from XXXX. Yes, this is a case that old but problems did not start until Great Lakes took over and I lost my job. In XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke to Great Lakes about getting out of default which I had been in due to divorce and then I lost my job and was on unemployment. I asked to receive information regarding various plans and plans based on income. In XX/XX/XXXX I was sent a bill of $ 300.00+ dollars for a plan I didn't agree to be in. I called them and explained I didn't agree to this and wouldn't because of being a single mother and how I couldn't afford that much anyway. They stated I agreed to this and I was enrolled and I was required to pay it. I still objected, couldn't pay it and I was charged a huge fee on my account. I already was disputing how much I owed, which was approx {$25000.00}. I have been fighting with this company since then. After a year, they started to garnish my wages after I got a new job even though they never provided full invoices of my account, fees and offer a program I could afford. They also never spoke about loan forgiveness, even though I am a teacher. In XXXX, I left the job I was in, all while they were taking what they could from wage garnishment, and switched jobs. This year, in XXXX, I receive a call from a debt collector stating that the company was collecting on a now $ 57,000.00+ loan that I have not received any information on since XXXX. In that year, in XXXX, I found the Obudsman Group of the Dept of Ed and asked for their assistance in getting a copy of my account with ALL fees and how it had grown so large. It had grown a great deal even within a year. I explained what I needed and when the group got involved, I still could not get the company to provide me with any statements. All I got was a record of payments. I did not ask for that. I specifically told the Group and Great Lakes I wanted an accounting of my account and all fees. I never got that. Now this year, after speaking to a debt collection agency, I asked for that information again. I was then also told in XXXX of this year my wages were going to be garnished. I stated I was not notified. I was told a letter was sent to me in XXXX. They told me they sent a letter to XXXX. I live and work in XXXX. The company knows that. The last address they have for me from XXXX is XXXX. I have not lived in XXXX for 18 years. They knew where I worked because they contacted them. I was not provided the opportunity to even ask for a hearing for this garnishment because I am told, of course, after the 30 day window has passed for a hearing request, that this garnishment is going through. So, in XXXX again, I called Dept of Ed, the Obudsman Group and asked for same account information, and also what I do because this company fraudulently was going to garnish my wages. They recommended I call the company. I did try and call the debt collector and they argued they could go through with the garnishment. It's obvious I will never get anywhere fighting this big company. So the garnishment has started and I called the Group again. I just want to know how I can call this company on fraud and collecting money for being fraudulent and why I can't even get a statement of my account with all fees which I have been trying to do for over 4 years. And being placed in a program I didn't agree to and then having them charge fees.
I know Great Lakes has been sued and that they are known for fraudulent fees placed on student loans. I would love to get out of default and even be in loan forgiveness program because I am in one of those careers, but I won't allow the US Govt to forgive a fraudulent loan amount. My bill has gone from {$25000.00} to now {$57000.00}. And {$7000.00} has been added in the past year and I haven't even been fined with anything that they have told me about. This company is ridiculous. I need to know how to fight them. Please tell me. Again, there is no documentation first because anything before XXXX, has been lost due to unforseen reasons, and second I have not received anything from this company since XXXX XXXX.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-06
Aloma, FL
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
2018-07-06
New Windsor, NY
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-05
Puyallup, WA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-05
CO
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: My payments are being allocated incorrectly. I'm almost {$10000.00} ahead of schedule and when I make an excess payment I select to have 100 % of the excess payment go towards my loan with the highest interest rate. I assumed that when I make that payment it would first pay off all the interest for all loans in the account and then pay the remaining balance towards the specified loan. However, when I looked at the payment it paid principal and interest to all loans in the account.
For example, on XX/XX/XXXX I made a payment of {$1000.00}. I specified that I want 100 % of the funds to go to loan token XXXX. And my default excess payment preference is set to 100 % of the excess to loan XXXX as well. Below as you can see only {$690.00} went to the loan I specified which is 75 % ..
XX/XX/XXXX Payment {$1000.00} Principal - {$920.00} Interest - {$73.00} Late Fees - {$0.00} Balance - {$25000.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$29.00} Applied to Interest {$8.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$2900.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$37.00} Applied to Interest {$8.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$3700.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$8.00} Applied to Interest {$1.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$830.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$47.00} Applied to Interest {$10.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$4600.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$690.00} Applied to Interest {$13.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$2100.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$47.00} Applied to Interest {$12.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$4700.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$17.00} Applied to Interest {$4.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$1700.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$6.00} Applied to Interest {$1.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$610.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$18.00} Applied to Interest {$5.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$1800.00} Applied to Loan Token XXXX Applied to Principal {$19.00} Applied to Interest {$6.00} Applied to Late Charges {$0.00} Unpaid Principal {$1900.00}
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-03
Bronx, NY
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Personal information incorrect
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-03
Okc, OK
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't temporarily delay making payments
Complaint: While preparing for pre-mobilization to XXXX I was alerted that my student loans were passed due. I contacted Great Lakes on XX/XX/XXXX and informed them that I was leaving for XXXX in a week and that I needed to defer my student loan payments. I was told that I needed to mail a hard copy of my military orders to a XXXX XXXX along with my account number in order to defer my payments and it would be of no issue. I mailed a copy of my orders once I hit XXXX and assumed all was fine. I received no other communications regarding the issue after my original conversation. Upon checking my credit score I noticed my student loans had gone into default and were sent to a collection agency. I tried making contact with Great Lakes and the referred me to XXXX Consumer Services. The latter did not have any information for me and informed me on XX/XX/XXXX that my account had been forwarded to XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I have not been able to get any information on how to remedy my student loans being defaulted while I am receiving hostile fire pay since I am XXXX in XXXX and I know that I am protected under USSERA to avoid these things.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-07-03
Onekama, MI
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: My loan servicer is Great Lakes Loan Servicing. Upon timely applying for renewal of my income based repayment, Great Lakes sent an email to my wife to confirm that she was also receiving income and to sign a form. This email went to spam. All other information was timely provided, including all needed information to process my income-based repayment request. Instead of approving the request or otherwise reaching out, Great Lakes immediately capitalized over {$10000.00} in interest and would not remove it when I provided evidence that the requested information was timely filed.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-06-30
Lafayette Hl, PA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-06-28
Brandon, FL
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
2018-06-27
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Complaint: Before entering the military, I, XXXX XXXX XXXX, attended XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, Texas for 1-year. During that year I took out federal/student loan to pay for books and classes. After this school ended, prior to enlisting, me and my mother XXXX XXXX XXXX had called the company by the name of Great Lakes to set up a loan forgiveness program. We accomplished the plan of deferment of 1-year/ 12 months. After that period, we were to begin payments. After the year passed, no notifications were made of the amount that should be taken out. It wasn't until they threaten to garnish my wages and send the amounts into collection without my awareness. I wasn't able to contact the company via email without response. Neither could I call by cell phone because I have an overseas plan. After speaking with a legal representative, I was encouraged to send this email, and see how I could paid my debt.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-06-26
Randolph, MN
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I have been making additional payments and asking them to be allocated to a specific loan token after paying my normal monthly auto payment, however, they are not applying my extra payments directly to principal and are charging against next months interest. I called customer service and they are making it very difficult and are running me in circles with no concise answer.
My auto payment is set to cover all of the monthy interest gained for all loans, then I make an additional payment and that is not being applied to principal as requested and has even been dispursed across all loan tokens. They say that interest gains daily which I understand, but this is an extra payment after all interest should have been paid. Plus they are charging me {$69.00} in interest when I just made a payment two days before.
This has happened many times. Here are some of the specifics : Auto payment made on XX/XX/XXXX - done correctly and applied to all 4 loan tokens Extra payment made on XX/XX/XXXX - done incorrectly, was requested that 100 % of payment go to loan token XXXX. But they dispursed it to all 4 loans.
Extra payment XX/XX/XXXX - done correctly Autopayment XX/XX/XXXX - this was now applied to only loan token XXXX, not all 4 loan tokens instead of putting earlier payment to it. They are doing it backwards.
Extrapayment XXXX- done incorrectly. 100 % ahould have been allocated to principal on loan token XXXX, but instead was allocated to all 4 loan tokens.
Auto Payment XX/XX/XXXX. Done incorrectly and went to token XXXX. They are flipping my extra payments and auto payments around to their benefit for interest gain.
Extra payment XX/XX/XXXX - done incorrectly. Was also allocated to loan XXXX but dispursed to all 4 tokens.
Extra payment made on XX/XX/XXXX. Should have processed but they are delaying processing my extra payments which accumulates daily interest.
All in all, they are flipping my payments around and making not applying extra payments correctly.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation