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 27
2018-01-09
North Prosser, WA
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: Great lakes borrowing service keeps emailing me telling me I need to pay but I dont have a job, haven't had 1 since leaving college 2 years ago, and have submitted the deference paperwork to them on their app, it's like they're purposefuly losing it so they can XXXX me more.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-08
Baton Rouge, LA
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
2018-01-08
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
2018-01-08
Medina, NY
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Private student loan
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: I just do n't make enough money to repay these loans. XXXX made me take out loans against my better judgement as a XXXX XXXX XXXX child with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and Great Lakes Student Loans.
To XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX i owe - {$23000.00} To Great Lakes Student Loans i owe - {$49000.00} This was all for a XXXX XXXX XXXX no one will even look at because it says XXXX on it. Please help i am getting physically ill from the stress of dealing with these people.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-05
Trenton, NJ
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
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-05
Wesley Chapel, FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Debt was result of identity theft
Complaint: A student loan from the US Department of Education was taken out in my name in 2012. I contacted the US Department of Education about the loan and after a lengthy back and fourth struggle, they took the loan off my name.Once I obtained my credit report I noticed a derogatory mark on my name. It was from the US Departments loan that was fraudulently put in my name. Since the loan was removed from my name, all marks and wrongful accusations should be removed also. It is bringing my credit score down because of its negative remarks.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-05
Federal Way, WA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: My loan it seems was transferred from XXXX to Great lakes in XXXX of XXXX. I have never once received information pertaining to this via email or phone until XXXX. Now it seems I am 4 months late with my payments which have been automatically paid through XXXX XXXX for the last 11 years without a hitch. Not only will Great lakes fail to acknowledge that the y may have bade an error but are trying to charge me 2.75 % instead of the 1.75 % I had been paying for the last 9/10 years. This is a scam that must be addressed.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-05
Richmond, KY
Incorrect information on your report
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Account status incorrect
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2018-01-04
IA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I make monthly payments of {$370.00} to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, automatically set to deduct on the XX/XX/XXXX of each month. XX/XX/XXXX I had my monthly payment deducted from my bank account. On XX/XX/XXXX I made a phone call to Great Lakes to make and excess payment on my account. I asked the representative if I could make a payment to completely pay off my remaining three loans sitting at 6.550 % interest. She stated that this would be no problem and that my payment would be {$2800.00} to completely pay off the three separate loans at the interest rate of 6.550 % ( loan # XXXX, # XXXX, and # XXXX ). The excess payment of {$2800.00} was taken from my bank account on XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I received an email from Great Lakes stating, " Your Excess Payment Preference Has Expired. '' Due to the holidays I was unable to contact Great Lakes until XX/XX/XXXX. I called Great Lakes customer service on XX/XX/XXXX to question what had happened with my excess payment. They stated that my excess payment of {$2800.00} had not been correctly applied to the three loans ( loan # XXXX, # XXXX, and # XXXX ), and had instead only payed off loan # XXXX completely and partially payed off loan # XXXX and # XXXX. As of XX/XX/XXXX loan # XXXX still had a balance on {$110.00}, and loan # XXXX still had a balance of {$190.00}. I questioned how this could be as I specifically stated which loans I had wanted my excess payment to be applied toward. She responded that part of the excess payment had in fact gone to loans that were not those that had been request and that she would correct the problem and I would be able to see this correction within the standard 2-3 business days. I received a phone call from Great Lakes XX/XX/XXXX to which they explained that the excess payment of {$2800.00} had to first pay off my scheduled monthly payment of {$370.00} before any excess could be used towards the loans of my choosing. This confused me as I had already paid my schedule monthly payment of {$370.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. They said that it was my XX/XX/XXXX payment that had been deducted before any excess payment could be applied. I then asked if I was still scheduled to pay my XX/XX/XXXX payment and they said that I would still be expected to pay {$370.00} as schedule on XX/XX/XXXX. This in my eyes did not add up. While discussing this on the phone I logged into my online account at Great Lakes to look at my loans myself. It was then that I noticed loan # XXXX now had a balance of {$0.00} when just the day before XX/XX/XXXX it had been XXXX ( confirmed by a Great Lakes representative on the phone call placed XX/XX/XXXX ). I then opened loan # XXXX and saw that the balance was now {$300.00} when just the day before XX/XX/XXXX it had been {$110.00}. This was very alarming to me and it had occurred to me that a representative of Great Lakes that I had spoken to XX/XX/XXXX moved {$190.00} from loan # XXXX to loan # XXXX thus putting the loan balance of # XXXX to {$300.00} ( not correcting the error at all, just moving money from one account to another ). I believe that this is fraud. I never once authorized money to be moved from one loan to another. This is alarming to me that Great Lakes would make such changes to loans that were taken out separately, signed for separately and should never be combined or moved without consent of the holder. When I stated my concerns to the account representative from Great Lakes she said she was unable to see if money had been moved from one account to another. She stated that she could only see the current balances of my accounts and unable to see what the balances had been just one day prior. She danced around my questions and tried to make it seem like I was the one who was not understanding the situation. I am concerned that if this is happening now, how many times has it happened without my knowledge? How many times has this happened to other students? I do not agree with any of the practices that have taken place on the part of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX over the passed 7 days and I would like this matter to be looked into immediately.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-04
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Need information about your loan balance or loan terms
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-04
Bon Air, SC
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-03
Reidsville, NC
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: I am currently enrolled in a XXXX 's program at a school where I received a XXXX 's ( this is important ). I already have an up-to-date student loan that I make auto-payments for each month. I decided to pay for my XXXX 's out of pocket. There was an opportunity to XXXX XXXX next year and my Advisor told me to apply for FAFSA to see if I qualified for a scholarship for that program. I knew I would not qualify for FAFSA, but he told me to fill it out anyway as a step towards the Scholarship application. Next, I logged onto my account online for the school and there was a disbursement of over {$10000.00} for each semester this year. Luckily I did not have my bank account information loaded, so the funds were not deposited into my bank. However, they were showing online for the school as a, " refund '' - an unsubsidized loan. I sent in an email on XXXX declining the loan - per their instructions.
After some struggling, the school corrected the issue on their website. However, a check was sent to me on XXXX. I shredded it and looked online and found that the loan amount for this semester has been tacked onto my student loan through Great Lakes Borrower. It is showing that I owe this amount, plus interest, and a {$100.00} fee. This is baffling to me, how they have the ability to add this to my bill without any confirmation or agreement. I never asked for this loan. I never signed a paper agreeing to receiving it. I only applied for FAFSA as a step to apply for the Scholarship.
Per the school 's Financial Aid Office, I signed a Master Promissory Note in XXXX. This means that they do not need to discuss loan disbursement with me for each school year. It is supposed to make things easier on students. However, I graduated in XXXX - this should cause that note to expire. According to XXXX, because I signed this note back then, it is good for 10 years - despite the fact that I already graduated and have started a completely different program.
I am confused as to how they can do all of this without a signature or approval, and I am afraid that it may be showing on my credit. I am going through the steps to get the money taken off of my student loan account, but I need to make sure this does not affect my credit. This is not something I asked for. I have lots of emails for correspondence to show that they did it without my permission and that it should have been taken care of.
This could have been resolved with a simple email asking if I wanted the loan or not. Instead, it was processed. A check was sent to me. It was added onto my current loan along with fees and interest. I 've had to file two complaints for the loan company and now the school. There have been countless emails among the staff and myself. This situation is baffling. Please let me know if you need more information.
Thank you for your time, XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-02
Las Vegas, NV
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: I am {$35000.00} in student loan debt. XX/XX/XXXX, I signed up for student loan forgiveness with a servicing company : XXXX XXXX.
I was told my loan application for the Department of Education will be sent off for student loan forgiveness and I would be charged a {$190.00} fee for the initial start up.
After, I would pay {$49.00} monthly, to have my student loan account oversaw at all times.
I have since found out XXXX is a scam and a dishonest company.
I have called them to cancel and they have told me I can not cancel and have to pay the full amount owed to them, to settle payment.
They took out a {$49.00} fee from my account XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX.
The initial company that contacted me with XXXX has told me several times they sent XXXX a cancellation email regarding my account. The latest time was XX/XX/XXXX. EA has continued to send me emails stating my payments are passed due and if I do n't make payments soon, they will put derogatory marks on my credit score.
I realize that student loan consolidation is something I can do on my own and they do not get student loans forgiven, as told.
I am awaiting to hear back from the initial company to confirm XXXX 's response regarding my cancellation. However, the initial company told me if XXXX cancels my account, I will still have to contact them about cancelling my finance contract. I will still owe XXXX and this will affect my credit.
I want to know what my options are. I am not letting XXXX get away with scamming individuals. I see their reviews online and they ALL express the scam in this business.
What business emails clients and threatens them??
This is absolutely absurd and I do not believe I should be penalized for wanting out of a scam. This company needs to be shut down and legal action needs to be made against them.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2018-01-02
Bear, DE
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
2017-12-30
Itasca, IL
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: My balance should be less than $9,000 they charge me the wrong interest. They have not resolve this matter. Great lakes and XXXX college XXXX XXXX XXXX The begin and end dates for all terms.
The enrollment status during each term as either half-time or full-time. Please note, we cannot accept part-time as a valid status.
An authorized officials name, title, signature and signature date.
This documentation can be returned by email to the address listed below, uploaded through the forms section of your mygreatlakes.org online account, faxed to telephone number XXXX, or mailed to:
Great Lakes Borrower Services XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, WI XXXX
Upon receipt of at least half-time certified enrollment verification from your school, your request for deferment will be evaluated, and you will be advised of any change to the status of your account. If necessary, the deferment will be applied retroactively to the date you began attending at least half time, as provided by your school.
We hope the information provided is helpful. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our Borrower Services Department by telephone at XXXX XXXX (Please note that some calls may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance purposes), or by email at XXXX.
Sincerely,
Complaint Resolution Team
Original Message From: "XXXX XXXX" Received: XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX CST To: "Great Lakes Borrower Services" Subject: RE: School and financial aid : I'm currently in school or going back to school, and I want to know why I'm getting billed
The did already
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, "Great Lakes Borrower Services" wrote:
Hi XXXX,
Thank you for your recent email.
If you were still attending school as of XX/XX/XXXX. Please have your school send us a complete enrollment history, which should include all of the following:
The beginning and end date for all terms (month/day/year).
Your status during each term, specified as either a full or half-time student (we cannot accept part-time).
The name, title and signature of an authorized school official.
If you still have any outstanding questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
XXXX
Borrower Services Department Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. [XXXX XXXX|tel:XXXX] or [XXXX XXXX|tel:(XXXX] TTY XXXX Monday Friday XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Central time
Residents of CA, CT, DC, IA, MI, NC, OR, and VT: Under the law of these states, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-29
Naples, FL
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I previously filed a complaint against MyGreatLakes.org, the company that the Federal Dept. of Education assigned to manage my loan.
There is nothing in it for these private companies to assist borrowers with loan forgiveness as they make Monty from the interest collected. The loans are not like any other fair practice loan program terms that a sane, educated consumer would agree.
My repayment plan amount was to have increased to {$280.00} in XXXX, XXXX. However, XXXX increased my payment to {$300.00}, in XXXX, without consulting me. When I contacted them, I was informed they needed to do that so the loan would be paid off on time. In addition, my payment due date keeps changing without notice, it was and has been the XXXX of the month.
I also question their algorithm for payment application bc they applied all payments I made between XXXX and XXXX to interest. It isnt the first time. I think there should be an audit of these loan administrators because they are likely the same kind of lenders that are considered predatory for students applying for student loans.
Each time they arbitrarily change the payment, the due date changes as well.
It is bad enough that my original loans in the amount of $ XXXX ballooned up to $ 54K in 7 years when I consolidated and then again almost doubled after consolidation despite making payments. My Pell Grants, Perkins And Stafford Loans combined to this total amount of over $ 90K, and MGL considers all of the amount principal. Ridiculous!
I worked in the XXXX sector for over 6 years and qualify for the Public Service loan forgiveness except the XXXX time had to occur after XXXX. As a single mother I couldnt afford to work in the XXXX sector after XXXX.
This company isnt transparent, there is never any end to their shady payment application and total lack of respect for the customer. The government has given them carte blanche to make as much money as they want to collect on student loans. The loan shark program that is the student loan program has a middle man to collect and in my case, its XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX, FL XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-29
Rochester, WA
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
2017-12-29
Lithonia, GA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Problem with customer service
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-29
Collinsville, IL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-29
Polson, MT
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Private student loan
Received bad information about your loan
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-28
FL
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: To whom it may concern, I attended XXXX university back in 2001 formerly named XXXX. I received my XXXX in XXXX XXXX I was so happy as a single mother with an XXXX XXXX little that I know it will be hard to find a job with my degree. I went back and received my XXXX in XXXX XXXX XXXX, after I graduated it was still hard to find a job with my degree. I went to a XXXX college none of my credits were transferred due to XXXX not accredited. XXXX has a problem with omissions. For instance, they say they are accredited. They are, but only for a couple of schools. Many schools, including major universities and colleges, will not accept credits from XXXX.Myself and dozens of other students who attended XXXX College were told that the student loan monthly bill would be not be that much however it turns out that it is approximately {$800.00}. Also, prior to signing the loan agreement, the recruiter told myself and other students that we can transfer our credits to any college of our choice after we graduate from XXXX University however it turns out that XXXX University is non-accredited and credits can never transfer. That a was a big FAT LIE now I have a degree that I can not utilize and owing {$84000.00} or more in student loans please help.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-28
Conway, SC
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Other debt
Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-27
Sm, KS
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
2017-12-27
Reidsville, NC
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: Good Evening, I am currently enrolled in a Master 's program at a school where I received a XXXX XXXX ( this is important ). I already have an up-to-date student loan that I make auto-payments for each month. I decided to pay for my Master 's out of pocket.
There was an opportunity to Study Abroad next year and my Advisor told me to apply for FAFSA to see if I qualified for a scholarship for that program. I knew I would not qualify for FAFSA, but he told me to fill it out anyway as a step towards the Scholarship application.
Next, I logged onto my account online for the school and there was a disbursement of over {XXXX} for each semester this year. Luckily I did not have my bank account information loaded, so the funds were not deposited into my bank. However, they were showing online for the school as a, " refund '' - an unsubsidized loan. After some struggling, the school corrected the issue on their website.
However, now a check was sent to me today, XXXX. I shredded it and looked online and found that the loan amount for this semester has been tacked onto my student loan through Great Lakes XXXX. It is showing that I owe this amount, plus interest, and a {XXXX} fee. This is baffling to me, how they have the ability to add this to my bill without any confirmation or agreement.
I never asked for this loan. I never signed a paper agreeing to receiving it. I only applied for FAFSA as a step to apply for the Scholarship. I am confused as to how they can do all of this without a signature or approval, and I am afraid that it may be showing on my credit. I am going through the steps to get the money taken off of my student loan account, but I need to make sure this does not affect my credit. This is not something I asked for. I have lots of emails for correspondence to show that they did it without my permission and that it should have been taken care of.
Please let me know if you need more information.
Thank you for your time, XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2017-12-27
Sm, KS
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