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 23
2018-03-19
Tampa, FL
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: I was approved for the income based repayment plan XX/XX/XXXX. Great Lakes continued to bill me at a standard repayment rate. I called each time to tell them it was wrong which they ignored. They eventually told me I had to reapply to the income based repayment. I did what they said and was approved, again, XX/XX/XXXX. However, they continued to charge my accounts interest from XX/XX/XXXX through the present even though they continued to have my payments wrong preventing me from making a payment without the risk of accepting what they were doing. On XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke to Great Lakes again, and they deny that I was accepted and refuse to correct the interest they charged me which is now over {$10000.00}.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-19
Salton City, CA
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX I received a call from XXXX with XXXX XXXX XXXX offering a Department of Education program that would reduce my payments up to 75 % and possible loan forgiveness. A program which I was pre-approved for the loan repayment reduction.Her advice was to act quickly because the program expired that Friday, XX/XX/XXXX. The call back number XXXX left on my voicemail was XXXX. A number that went to XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX. Whom i spoke with on XX/XX/XXXX. Her extension is XXXX.
I gave her my information as requested, including annual income and was provided with a loan repayment offer. The offer included administrative fees of {$1300.00} and monthly payments less than {$100.00} while getting the loan out of default and paying all remaining payments. A term of 10 years, nine months and no mention of recalculating the payment amount if my financial situation changed. As a result of that call an FSA ID had been set without my knowledge or an email address associated with it. Without answers to security questions or an email account associated with my FSA ID I was locked out of my account.
My concerns are as follows.
What if any is the relationship between XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX?
How did XXXX XXXX XXXX obtain my cell phone number which was not part of my personal profile with the Federal Student Loan database?
How was my FSA ID established without an email address associated with it?
The tactic of urgency used by XXXX in her voicemail to respond within 5 days because the pre-approved offer would not be available.
Complaint file with Department of Education, case # XXXX.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-19
Maiden Rock, WI
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Information belongs to someone else
Complaint: this started in 2001 and was reported as identity fraud and i had a new social secuerity card. ive been trying for years to get this debt removed from my credit report.
this is not mine.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-15
Bee Spring, KY
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account status incorrect
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, I rehabilitated my default student loans account and set up a monthly payment plan. I was told to start payments immediately because I was told that after 9 months of successful payments the account would be in " good standings '' on my credit report. In XX/XX/XXXX, I reran my credit to find that no payment information was ever recorded or reported to the credit bureaus. I called the U.S. Department of Education to find out why and they said I needed to fill out a rehab form and they would backtrack everything and it would be in " Good Standings '' once they processed the signed document I returned via mail. On XX/XX/XXXX I noticed no change, so I contacted them again. I spoke to XXXX ( XXXX ), she was very rude and explained that because I never filled out the form initially, which I never received, back in XX/XX/XXXX that it would be another 30-45 days from the day they received the form on XX/XX/XXXX before it would be placed in " Good Standings '' on my credit report. Ive already been reassigned to XXXX and told not to continue payments to the US Department of Education. This whole process has just been exhausting, Especially when I never received the form initially and when i brought up their mistake I was talked down upon and forced to wait even longer for this to come off my credit.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-14
CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: The loan servicer is Great Lakes. On XX/XX/XXXX, I made a {$3000.00} payment on an account that is in a paid ahead status through XXXX. The account has five " tokens '' with a different balance that make up the total balance due on the ascount. I directed 100 % of the {$3000.00} payment to a specific token number on that account. However, not all of the {$3000.00} went towards that token ( it went towards other tokens too XXXX. I called Great Lakes and the representative and supervisor said that my payment was applied to satisfy my minimum monthly payment of {$740.00}, and the remainder went towards the specific token. But my minimum monthly payment is {$0.00} because I am in a paid ahead status ( I have been in a paid ahead status for well over two years on the account ).
I can understand this to be the rule if the borrower is not in a paid ahead status, so in that case, the borrower would have to satisfy the monthly payment first before applying the rest of the money as he wishes. But when a borrower, like me, who has no minimum monthly payment and still can not apply my money as I wish is nothing but a penalty for paying early. It is a penalty because the {$740.00} first went to pay the interest of other tokens before the interest and principal on the token I applied it to. This means I can not satisfy more of the principal on the token I am targeting, which in effect, ends up costing me more money. Thus a penalty.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-14
Colts Neck, NJ
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted by XXXX XXXX of XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX Fl. XXXX. At the time of phone contact I was beginning the process of discharge with XXXX. XXXX. My daughter receives federal SS XXXX as she is permentanly XXXX. XXXX indicated she knew of my situation and she worked as an agent for 1 ) XXXX the lender.2 ) The US Department of Education . She represented that the ONLY way to receive a discharge was to FIRST consolidate the loans. I subsequently received a federal form via email that had filled out by XXXX. I signed electronically and forwarded to the US Department of education. In XX/XX/XXXX Great Lakes loan servicing XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX Wisconsin XXXX allegedly sent me t a form via email that was the autorization to consolidate and select them as servicer. I DID NOT SIGN because I did not see it in my emails. When I received a statement from Great Lakes in XXXX. I called and was informed that I was now ineligible to apply for a discharge BECAUSE of the consolidation. When I explained I had not signed the autorization and would not have if I knew of the inelligibility to file a discharge Great Lakes indicated that because I DID NOT SIGN they were automatically selected and the consolidation completed and could not be reversed. I called XXXX and asked her how this could be. She was silent. I asked who paid you? She said the lender. I spoke to XXXX ( XXXX XXXX the lender they stated no they do not pay third parties. I allege that XXXX was paid by Great Lakes and is running a criminal kickback and fraud. Why is Great Lakes permitted to assume servicing absent an affirmative autorization from me? I have been unjustly denied the right to apply for a discharge because of XXXX and Great Lakes. I have filed with the FTC and the US department of education. This requires investigation. XXXX on her web site claims the lender pays. She claims 15,000 satisfied students. She lied, misrepresented and should be held accountable.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-14
Gpt, MS
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Private student loan debt
Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-03-13
KY
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Problem lowering your monthly payments
Complaint: I got a XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX in XXXX. When I graduated, I didn't know my options were limited to making about $ XXXX to pay off my debt, not allowing me to pay rent or other bills. So, I went to XXXX school and got a XXXX XXXX in XXXX. I went on to become an XXXX XXXX, not realizing that the pay was so poor. Not only were the chances of getting a full-time job teaching college in my field slim, when I finally did get one it paid only $ XXXX.
Fast forward to XXXX - I got laid off from that job and ended up getting a job in XXXX XXXX that paid $ XXXX. I eventually switched careers to XXXX in various fields. I decided to go to XXXX school for XXXX XXXX to get my credentials in order to make more money. Fast forward to XXXX - I make $ XXXX a year, but now I'm about {$250000.00} in debt, a debt I never imagine ever being out from under. Lesson learned? I was daft to never realize ( 3 TIMES ) that actual college credentials would never afford me a job that would get me a high enough wage to pay off my debt and make more money. Now, I'm sacked with debt and wish I'd never gone to college. Now, I XXXX " XXXX over student debt '' and think about ruining my credit and/or having my wages garnished because that seems like a better option than continuing to pay this possibly for the rest of my life. What happens when I can't afford to pay it? There goes my chances of getting forgiveness - I take out a forbearance only to increase the debt and have that 25 year clock start ticking all over again once I do start paying it. 25 years is a long time. I'll be paying this well into retirement, possibly the rest of my life. I think of giving up. It's just not worth it anymore. Slave to debt.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-13
FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Debt was paid
Complaint: I DENY I owe XXXX XXXX XXXX for this alleged debt. Please see attachment that explains my position. My response to XXXX XXXX XXXX was sent Registered Mail on XX/XX/2018.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-13
Raymond, NH
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I have about half of my student loans with Great Lakes. I am always checking on my loans so I can keep up with them. My payments are right around XXXX per month and I also have private loans with another lender also reaching XXXX per month. At XXXX per month just to make my minimum payments I am limited in what I can afford ( transportation, housing, etc. ). I read as much information as I could on ways to pay down my debt quickly without putting myself at risk for not having money for food and other basic living expenses. On the great Lakes website they discuss excess payments and how they are allocated.
First off the website states that any over payments will be automatically applied to your loans with the highest interest.
That's great.
Except that is exactly what wasn't happening on my loans for almost 9 months. I thought okay shame on me for not noticing this. Time to do something about it.
So I found on the website where I could choose which loans received the excess payments. Perfect. I chose, to start, my two loans with the highest interest both at 6.8 %. Around the same time I was eligible with my employer to start receiving assistance from them on said monthly payments. So now with my monthly payment of XXXX my employer was sending XXXX automatically every month. Such a relief. After one or two payments from both my employer and I, I checked online and noticed that their payments were putting me ahead. Great. But I also noticed that the two loans I chose were still not receiving excess payments. I called into the service center for great Lakes and the associate I spoke with agreed that it should've had any excess just on two out of my XXXX loans with them. She said she would put it in a request. Later that day all was well the amounts were adjusted. I went about paying those loans as usual and kept an extra eye on any excess payments.
Again I noticed that when a payment from my employer came in after a full payment made by myself the excess was applied evenly to all loans. So again, not only against what I manually selected but also against what the website claims it will automatically do. Now I call again expecting a similar outcome as before. This time I'm placed on hold multiple times for almost a half hour total. The associate then comes back with an explanation that is so long and convoluted that not only was I confused but I felt the person working for great Lakes was completely unsure of what he was telling me. During this call a part of the explanation included telling me my extra payments were essentially in a " holding account '' and wouldn't be applied until my next payment was due. Infuriated I hung up. Not only did I feel that I was speaking to someone who was not confident in what they were telling me but also making up what I hoped were just examples to help understand the excess payment method. I called again later that day and spoke with another associate. I explained briefly my situation and what I had been told and she agreed with the first rep ( surprise ). Calmer this time I said okay what he explained did not make sense to me, can YOU explain it better so I can understand?
She went on to fumble over her own words and again I received an over complicated explanation that left my head spinning. I said to her that what she said was still not making any sense. So to help myself understand I asked her this.
" Ok. Currently the website says I am paid ahead until XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/2018 it currently says I will then owe 70 ( and some change ). We are currently in XXXX. So this means my full month of XXXX is also paid. Yes? '' She tells me yes.
" So, here is my question. If I pay for example XXXX $ right now. And of course given any interest will come off that amount first. But can you tell me approximately how much will go to the two loans I have selected to receive any excess? '' She was quiet for a while and was clearly trying to calculate this. Then finally she comes back to me with okay if you paid 100 ( keep in mind we were still in XXXX and I was paid ahead until XX/XX/XXXX ) then XXXX ( and some change ) will go towards the XXXX loans.
So I asked why.
She said oh the XXXX from here and then this that and the other thing.
So I say " do you understand my confusion? We are NOT even in XXXX yet. And you are telling me even if I make a SECOND excess payment in XXXX ( because both myself and my employer had already made payments in XXXX ) that because of the amount you are saying I do not owe until XX/XX/XXXX only XXXX will go to the XXXX loans?
She responded with oh. And then more silence.
I never received a solid confident answer and did my own research between the XXXX calls. The website 's example of excess payments is expained exactly how I would think they would work. Yet somehow these phone reps are trained to over complicate and confuse the answer.
I plan on calling again and speaking with a manager because I also work in a call center and maybe this is what they are trained to tell you. But it is not matching up to what the website says and also to just basic logic.
I've seen similar complaints on excess payments and am frustrated that my {$23000.00} loan will end up adding up to almost double that in what I pay. I am young and struggling to even live on my own because of this. Every tiny thing I can do to impact how much I ultimately pay on these loans matters and makes a difference.
The overall student loan/debt situation we are currently in is so disappointing and disheartening that I constantly question why I went to college.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-11
West Palm Bch, FL
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-11
West Palm Bch, FL
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-09
PA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-08
OH
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 like XXXX accounts showing as negitive on my credit report and I only got XXXX loans XXXX are in good standings. XXXX are negative. No one wants to help me out. I keep getting the run around when I call to get this resolved. I also did not go to school in 2014 like it says when it was open. I feel that my rights have been vilotated.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-08
CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: On or about XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, my student loan server. Originally, I was calling because I had questions regarding how filing jointly or separately with my husband would impact my income driven repayment program. At that time, however, the customer service agent informed me that Great Lakes had placed me on the incorrect repayment plan. Initially, the agent informed me that switching back to the REPAYE program would result in the capitalization of any unpaid interest. After determining that the switch was Great Lakes error, however, I was told that interest would not be capitalized.
On or about XX/XX/XXXX, I followed-up with Great Lakes to confirm that I had been placed back on the REPAYE program. Unfortunately, at that time, a different customer service agent informed me that Great Lakes had simply updated my PAYE program. Consequently, I was required to re-explain the situation to that agent who, after an hour, assured me that she would switch me back to the REPAYE program. During that time, obviously I also wanted to confirm once again, that I would not be penalized for switching back to the REPAYE program, because it was a result of Great Lakes error. It was at that point, that the customer service agent informed me that interest would not be capitalized as a result of switching me back to the correct repayment program, however, interest would be capitalized because, at that time, they determined that I did not submit my repayment application on time. After reassuring the agent for more than an hour that I had submitted my application on time, which is why interest had previously not been capitalized, she determined I was correct, and again I was told interest would not be capitalized. Further, regarding the above late renewal application, Great Lakes records will show that I contacted them in XX/XX/XXXX and was informed that my renewal application was due in XX/XX/XXXX. In addition, I never received any prior communication from Great Lakes stating that my renewal application was not timely, and thus up to that point interest had not been capitalized.
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email from Great Lakes stating that all unpaid interest had been capitalized. Obviously, this email prompted me to again contact Great Lakes. At that time, I was told that capitalization is the automatic result of switching back to the REPAYE program. That being said, because the capitalization was a direct result of Great Lakes error, they would go back and manually remove all capitalized interest. At the end of this conversation, I was told to follow-up with Great Lakes after XX/XX/XXXX to confirm all capitalized interest had been removed.
On XX/XX/XXXX, I followed-up with Great Lakes regarding the above. At that time, I was told that Great Lakes had removed less than {$1000.00} of capitalized interest. Remembering that the original total was approximately {$8000.00}, however, I questioned the amount that had been removed. In addition, I referred to my account to confirm the amount was approximately {$8000.00} as of XX/XX/XXXX. It was at that point, that I discovered Great Lakes had changed the interest capitalization dates from XX/XX/XXXX for an amount exceeding {$8000.00} to XX/XX/XXXX for a capitalized interest in the amount of {$5700.00}, and XX/XX/XXXX for a capitalized interest amount of {$1000.00}. It was at this point, I was again told that Great Lakes retroactively capitalized interest as of XX/XX/XXXX because I allegedly submitted my repayment application late. Unfortunately, however, although I again informed yet another customer service agent that I did not file my application late, I was told Great Lakes would not remove the above-capitalized interest. Instead, I was informed they would only follow-up regarding the remaining {$1000.00} that still reflects the XX/XX/XXXX date.
Clearly, given the above, I am filing this complaint because I do not believe I should be responsible for any capitalized interest currently on my account. With that said, I am also motivated to file this complaint for several other reasons. First, I must believe I am not the only person who, through no fault of their own, has been incorrectly assigned the wrong repayment program. Further, because correcting this issue results in the automatic capitalization of any unpaid interest, I am also certain I am not the only person who now has interest capitalized on their account as a direct result of this accidental reassignment. Second, although Great Lakes had the opportunity to resolve all of the above, they instead decided to take that opportunity to change the source of the capitalization to allegedly filing my renewal application late. An occurrence which they did not determine until this incident occurred. Third, {$1000.00} of capitalized interest which Great Lakes now attributes solely to the switching of my repayment program still remains on my account, and although Great Lakes agrees I am not responsible for this amount, it is unclear if they intend to remove it.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-07
Santa Barbara, CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I started additional principal payments about 2 years ago. A year ago I realized Great Lakes was not applying the additional principal payment to the principal. They were instead keeping it as a prepayment. I called and was informed I had incorrectly set up the payment options. I changed the payment options to what customer service advised me, so that excess payments would apply to principal and not just be held as a prepayment. Tonight in checking my account I see that I still haven't gotten any credit for the excess payments and over {$1000.00} is being held as a prepayment while I'm accruing interest on my loan balance.
As a college grad I find it unacceptable that I am not able to pay off additional principal due to confusing online payment options and inaccurate direction from customer service.
https : //mygreatlakes.org/XXXX XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-07
Holiday Hills, IL
Incorrect information on your report
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Information belongs to someone else
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-06
CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: Recently, I was contacted by my current universities financial aid department in regards to an inability to obtain funding for me due to a previous loan being in default. This came as quite a surprise to me as I've been in deferment these past few years. My default status is not accurate and, as such, I feel as if I've been wronged. I understand the responsibilities of being a federal student loan borrower ( and I've no problem meeting my obligations if they're accurate ) however, I do believe this situation to be an oversight. I've been shuffled about to various 3rd party collection agencies today and not one of them has given me a satisfactory answer as to why they have no record of my forbearances. My email address is XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-05
Arlington, MD
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account information incorrect
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-05
Navasota, TX
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-04
CA
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account information incorrect
Complaint: I was a student at XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX. The school opened up our financial aid accounts and loans and was later on shut down for financial aid fraud. I have written to great lakes loan company and eventually received a letter that my loans would be dismissed. The loans keep showing up on my credit report along with late payement remarks. As far as the loans go Great Lakes refuses to do anything about the issue. As far as the late payments go I ask that those be taken off as I had no idea payment should be made due to my loans being taken off. XXXX frauduantly opened these accounts. Who is to say I received all the money I should have received or it went to the right places? I would constantly get emails that payment was submitted to me and the financial aid office would say nothing was there. it was very shady. I refuse to pay these loans as they are involved in a fraudulent service and I never got what I paid for.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-03-02
Minneapolis, MN
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-02-28
Bancroft Hall, MD
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I had an agreement that automatic payments were to be withdrawn the XXXX of every month. The payment was withdrawn after the XXXX resulting in the more interest being paid.
Also, the company cancelled our agreement without proper notification and explanation of cancellation 2 years after payments had been made. They have since placed my account in default and have significantly impacted my credit standing due to an error on their part.
Company Response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding Closed with explanation
2018-02-28
Urbana, OH
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
2018-02-28
Lynchburg, VA
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