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 9
2019-03-23
Milwaukee, WI
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Keep getting calls about your loan
Complaint: Hello, I believe that I was victim to a fraudulent phone call regarding my student loans. I received a call from XXXX XXXX, stating there were some recent changes to my federal student loan that needed to be discussed. I was given reference number XXXX and asked to call back at XXXX, the originating call was in Kentucky XXXX. The prompting system I received sounded very legitimate and was like that I have encountered in the past when calling fafsa. However, I left a message and never got a call back. This took place on XX/XX/19. I know there have been scams like this in attempts to get a voice recording that can be used for fraudulent activity. At the time I was not thinking about it and I have had changes to my financial student loan repayment recently, so I was not suspecting anything. However, when I didn't get a call back I was thinking about it and remembered hearing about a similar scam. What can I do to help protect myself and my accounts moving forward?
Thank you.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-22
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
2019-03-22
PA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Keep getting calls about your loan
Complaint: I received a voicemail asking me to call back to talk about changes to my student loan repayment options. The woman who left the message said her name was XXXX XXXX and said I could reach her at ( XXXX ) XXXX. I believe that this is a scam because the woman did not say my name or the name of my loan servicer in the message that she left.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-22
Wilmington, MA
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: I do not know
Debt is not yours
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-22
Rocky Ridge, MD
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: On XX/XX/2019, I requested a new payment schedule change from my borrower, Great Lakes. The change was approved, and I entered my new payment schedule. However, after, I noticed that my " paid ahead '' status was now gone. Upon contacting my borrower, I was informed that a change in payment schedule results in a forfeiture of any " paid ahead status. '' Nowhere during the process of requesting this change online was this mentioned. I requested documentation of where I might find such information on two different occasions ; once on XX/XX/XXXX, again on XX/XX/XXXX, and finally on XX/XX/XXXX. Today, on XX/XX/XXXX, I received the following response : Thank you for your patience.
I apologize for any frustration this may have caused. After review of our website, I too was unable to find any information regarding the paid ahead status during repayment changes. A request has been submitted to update the website to provide more information regarding the effects on your paid ahead status during repayment changes. Thank you for bringing this to our attention!
To rectify this situation, we have reinstated your previous payment schedule as requested and you can continue to take advantage of your paid ahead status. You are currently paid ahead {$1500.00}. As a reminder your next auto pay withdrawal is scheduled for XX/XX/2019 in the amount of {$260.00}.
Please note that you can view all of your account details online at any time by using the following steps : Log in to your account at our website, mygreatlakes.org.
Click on My Accounts in the Navigation Bar at the top of the page.
Select Account Summary from the drop down-list.
Click the Account and Loan Details link in the Account Summary section.
Click on Choose an Account to view the individual account specifics.
You can also order a full account statement using these steps : Click My Accounts in the Navigation Bar.
Select Student Loan Obligation Statement from the drop-down list.
Click Printer-friendly View.
If you have any outstanding questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX Department Supervisor Great Lakes Educational Loan Services , Inc .
( XXXX ) XXXX or ( XXXX ) XXXX TTY XXXX Monday Friday XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Central time Though the issue has been rectified- I am concerned as to how this practice has adversely affected other borrowers, and the procedures/ policies Great Lakes has followed in revoking other borrowers ' " paid ahead '' statuses.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-21
Hampton, VA
Incorrect information on your report
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Information belongs to someone else
Complaint: I pulled my credit report on XXXX XXXX. And found a student loan to Great Lakes. The student loan was in Georgia I have never been to Georgia and no one I know goes to school there. The rep at Great lakes gave me address of person XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, ga XXXX and email XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-21
Lewes, DE
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
2019-03-20
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
2019-03-20
Wesley Chapel, FL
Struggling to repay your loan
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Complaint: My student loan debt has tripled. The payments I have made feel like im throwimg money away because of the interest and fees. I dont feel the amount owed is correct. Ive tried to argue this but XXXX took me on an emotional roller coaster on these fees. Im trying to understsnd how i borrowed XXXX and now owe over XXXX??? Please help
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-20
Montevallo, AL
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: Beginning in 1997 I attended a public university and student loans were an option for financing. Prior to acquiring a XXXX XXXX XXXX degree, the XXXX XXXX Alabama at XXXXXXXX XXXX financial aid office said student loans were easy to repay and the loans had no interest or very low interest rates. I also took out a loan to attend a XXXX degree program at the XXXX XXXX XXXX and the loan advisor explained that loans would be easy to pay and the most affordable option.
I currently have loans financed with Great Lakes Loans and/or the US Department of Education, and I think the the Truth-In-Lending Act is not followed by the institutions. The organizations changed interest rates from fixed to variable. If I had known student loans interest rates would be variable, capitalized, and difficult to pay, I would have applied for more scholarships or attended a different program. In my opinion, these changes and proposed changes do not comply with the Truth-in-Lending Act.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-18
Ann Arbor, MI
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
2019-03-18
NC
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Need information about your loan balance or loan terms
Complaint: I am an XXXX XXXX military member. Been working towards being eligible for PSLF program. I graduated from school in XXXX. Consolidated my loans and it was serviced by Great Lakes from XXXX. The loans is being serviced through XXXX currently. When the loans was transferred from Great Lakes to XXXX XXXX, that payment history was lost. I have been trying to get my payment history from Great Lakes since XXXX, but always get automatic replies. I am almost at the 10 year mark of XXXX XXXX service, but am unable to get that history from Great Lakes. Without it I would essentially lose close to 2 years worth of eligible payments. I need them to give me that payment history.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-15
Allenwood, NJ
Incorrect information on your report
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Information belongs to someone else
Complaint: I wasn't in school at this time In XXXX and I just noticed that I never Borrowed XXXX for XXXX University to me this looks like fraud I just noticed this now.
Total Borrowed : {$27000.00} Outstanding Principal as of XX/XX/XXXX : {$34000.00} Outstanding Interest as of XX/XX/XXXX : {$1800.00} Interest Rate : 7.00 % Cumulative Payment Amount : {$390.00} Date Entered Repayment : XX/XX/XXXX Most Recent Payment Effective Date : XX/XX/XXXX Loan Period Begin Date : Loan Period End Date : School : SCHOOL CODE FOR CONSOLIDATION LOANS Enrollment Status : GRADUATED as of XX/XX/XXXX Loan Disbursement Date Disbursement Amount XX/XX/XXXX {$1.00} XX/XX/XXXX {$27000.00} Loan Status Status Effective Date IN REPAYMENT XX/XX/XXXX FORBEARANCE XX/XX/XXXX DEFERRED XX/XX/XXXX IN REPAYMENT XX/XX/XXXX FORBEARANCE XX/XX/XXXX IN REPAYMENT XX/XX/XXXX FORBEARANCE XX/XX/XXXX IN REPAYMENT XX/XX/XXXX FORBEARANCE XX/XX/XXXX DEFERRED XX/XX/XXXX FORBEARANCE XX/XX/XXXX IN REPAYMENT XX/XX/XXXX FORBEARANCE XX/XX/XXXX IN REPAYMENT XX/XX/XXXX Also devry is charging me for 2 classes that I withdrew from.Devry couldn't get it correct the first time with the paperwork of when I changed my major and they still had me in two classes of.
ECT-125-0 Electronic Systems II w/Lab Credit Hours : 4 Final Grade : W Posted : XX/XX/XXXX ECT-125-0 Electronic Systems II w/Lab Credit Hours : 4 Final Grade : W Posted : XX/XX/XXXX
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-14
TX
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: My student loans should be in income based repayment status, but Great Lakes refuses to update. Each time I call to get this corrected or request additional information - I am told to have my attorney reach out. I do not have an attorney and have advised Great Lakes of this on multiple occasions. I am not in bankruptcy and do not have an attorney. I mailed in my IBR recertification over a month ago and Great Lakes acknowledged receipt.
What they are doing is unlawful and predatory. They're unwillingness to update account to {$0.00} payment in income based repayment is costing me multiple months towards my repayment calculator.
I again spoke with XXXX ID # XXXX today and nothing changed. This company needs to be investigated and a class action consumer lawsuit filed due to their illegal ways.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-14
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Complaint: Back in XXXX I decided to go back to school for XXXX through XXXX University Online. I received my Associates degree in XXXX of XXXX and since then it's been a total nightmare. XXXX College, part of XXXX Colleges, was a network of for-profit schools charged with systemic fraud by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education.
XXXX left me deeply in debt for a worthless degree. XXXX may have filed for bankruptcy protection, but students can not declare bankruptcy on their loans. I am still liable for my XXXX debts, despite the fact that XXXX broke the law : the school stands accused of false job placement statistics, securities fraud, and the unlawful use of military seals in advertisements.
It was clear from multiple government actions and investigations, dating from as early as XXXX, that XXXX was rife with deceptive and unfair business practices. Despite this, the Department of Education continued to allow over {$1.00} billion a year to flow to the school.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-14
Discovery Bay, CA
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: In XXXX, I consolidated my student loans into one payment. In XXXX, when the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program was announced, I contacted my lender to ensure that my loan would qualify. I'm a XXXX and was elated to learn that it would qualify especially after having been given wrong information by my college ( University of XXXX ) and therefore not qualifying for the XXXX XXXX XXXX. The University failed to inform me that you couldn't have an outstanding loan balance prior to XXXX XXXX. I went to XXXX XXXX - XXXX and had approx. $ XXXX in loan debt prior to attending grad school for the XXXX credential and XXXX XXXX program. Had they properly informed me, my parents and I would have found a way to pay off the relatively small amount of loans so I'd qualify. Anyway ... .MyGreatLakes, my loan servicer assured me I was in the right program so the other day when I logged in to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Tool to begin processing the paperwork and find out that my loan doesn't qualify and in order to qualify I need to re-consolidate again from an XXXX to a new consolidation loan and my 10 years of payments starts all over again!!! After researching options online, I found many stories just like mine with my same loan servicing company. This is entirely unacceptable. I did what I was supposed to. It's not my fault I was given incorrect information yet I'm the one paying the consequences while the loan servicer gets off with no consequences. I was assured by my loan servicer that I'd qualify for forgiveness. If one can't trust the people whose job it is to provide proper information, who can we trust and how do we know what to do? Unacceptable.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-12
Manhattan, 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
2019-03-11
Rochdale, NY
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Federal student loan debt
Debt was result of identity theft
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-08
Bellerose Manor, NY
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Federal student loan 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
2019-03-06
ME
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I am supposed to pay {$230.00} per month on my federal loans to Great Lakes. I have been paying {$250.00} or more and have the excess go towards the highest interest rate ( XXXX % ). I called at XX/XX/XXXX to pay off the loan. On that date it was {$690.00}. I asked about transferring the excess to the next highest loan ( XXXX % ) and was a told to do that now because the XXXX would have a {$0.00}. So I did. A week later ( I checked my account daily ) I received a message from Great Lakes telling me they deducted the {$230.00} payment 1st ( even though not due till XX/XX/XXXX ) and then the remaining amount on my loan where I wanted the excess to go ... .they put the on the XXXX % because I was told to change as soon as I got off the phone on XX/XX/XXXX. I called XX/XX/XXXX and told them the {$690.00} went on the wrong account. They told me the {$230.00} had to come off 1st ( even though I am paid ahead ) and they would credit the other loan. They did not tell me this on XX/XX/XXXX. More than 48 hours have passed and they still not have corrected the payment. I called them again XX/XX/XXXX and they said there was a request in but it had not gone thru yet. I was told the only way to have the payments done correctly is if they do it on the day the loan is due ... .however ... they do not apply the payments that day so they don't even know what is due.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-06
Vallejo, CA
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
2019-03-05
Clermont, FL
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
2019-03-04
Dallas, TX
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
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
2019-03-04
Shalimar, FL
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Private student loan debt
Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Complaint: called Great Lakes Servicer to ask if the loan was government or private but was told that the account was handed over to XXXX which is a collection agency and explained to Great Lakes that this is no longer a government loan but a private loan and was explained to me that they are working for Great Lakes Services to collect the debt. but according to my credit report will show that the account is up to date and paid on time. XXXX back in XX/XX/XXXX and did a back ground check on the School which is XXXX College had shut its doors due to accreditation making students pay for loans knowing that the process that they used is waste fraud and abuse knowing that the classes that were taken could not be transferred to a regular college or university. Since this school has closed its doors no student should have to pay back this loan and therefor should be permanently discharged whether the student graduated back in XX/XX/XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX. This loan should not have been handed over to a collection agency knowing good and well the account was being paid up to date as noted on the consumer credit report which will be mailed to the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau as evidence. The consumer asks that the loan be completely discharged and reported to all three Credit Reporting Agencies as such due to school disclosure.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation
2019-03-02
Naples, FL
Dealing with your lender or servicer
Student loan: Federal student loan servicing
Trouble with how payments are being handled
Complaint: I believe Great Lakes intentionally misapplied my monthly payment.
I have XXXX XXXX Loans. I XXXX Tokens/Loan types. I am currently signed up on an extended level monthly plan of {$870.00}. The {$870.00} payment I make each month is more than the amount of interest that the accounts accrue and thus, should cover the principal accrued for each month, with some left to go to principal.
It was my belief that the {$870.00} would be applied among the XXXX tokens, with the amount first going to each token 's monthly accrued interest and any excess towards the principals.
On XX/XX/2019, I made my {$870.00} payment for the month of XX/XX/2019. However, when I reviewed how my payment was allocated on my online account, I saw that Great Lakes did not allocate it properly to Token XXXX. I owed at that point in time about {$22000.00} on Token XXXX. From XX/XX/2019 to XX/XX/2019, I accrued {$130.00} of interest on Token XXXX. Yet, of my {$870.00} monthly payment, only {$18.00} went to Token XXXX. That left {$120.00} of unpaid interest on Token XXXX. Great Lakes reallocated the remaining {$850.00} towards the other XXXX tokens, and applied {$450.00} of it to Token XXXX, although that token had only accrued about {$220.00} in interest that month.
I am very concerned that Great Lakes is not allocating my payment to cover all the monthly interest accrued on Token XXXX. As stated in the beginning, my monthly payment of {$870.00} is more than enough to cover the interest accrued monthly on all XXXX tokens. It is also my understanding that my monthly payment would cover the interest accrued monthly on all XXXX loans. I am confused and perplexed as to why Great Lakes would not apply my payment to cover the interest accrued for Token XXXX. I am concerned going forward, because if they are not applying my monthly payments are not going towards all the monthly interest accrued for Token XXXX, then that interest will accumulate and it will be harder to pay it down in the future.
It is my belief that Great Lakes intentionally misapplied my payment. On XX/XX/2019, I made a second monthly payment of {$5000.00}. The second {$5000.00} payment was suppose to go straight to the principal of XXXX XXXX.
It was my intent to pay {$870.00} as my monthly payment ; the {$870.00} would cover the monthly interest accrued for all XXXX tokens, including the {$130.00} of accrued interest on Token XXXX. Afterwards, I was going to make a second payment of {$5000.00} to that would fully go straight to the principal of Token XXXX. I was allowed to do that as long as I made my required payment of {$870.00}.
Instead of applying my monthly payment of {$870.00} to all the interest accrued on the XXXX tokens and then applying the full {$5000.00} to the principal of Token XXXX, Great Lakes applied only {$18.00} of the {$870.00} to Token XXXX.
It then used {$120.00} of the {$5000.00} to pay the remaining monthly accrued interest of Token XXXX, and then the remaining {$4800.00} went to the principal of Token XXXX.
I believe Great Lakes is doing this because it is intentionally trying to delay me from paying down my principal.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation