SLM CORPORATION

2017-01-05

Milwaukee, WI

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2017-01-05

Austin, TX

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: I have had XXXX private student loans with Sallie Mae since XXXX. These loans were reportedly, by Sallie Mae, paid on time, until late XXXX. Payments of {$50.00} a week were sent, which more than covered the agreed amount due each month. For 6 years, Sallie Mae only applied the exact amount due each month to the loans, and placed the residual funds in some sort of overpayment account. The loans, for some reason, started to turn up past due, and I discovered that more than five thousand dollars were sitting with their company and not applied to my loans. I was charged interest on a higher principal amount than I should have had. Their company promised that the payments would be corrected, but only after mailing a notorized letter to their company. The excess funds have been applied, after much time spent working with the company to fix the issue, but the problem still persists with my payments showing up as past due. I now would like to pay these loans in full, which Sallie Mae requires contact by phone to receive a payoff quote. I have tried to call for 3 consecutive days, and have been on hold for over 4 hours, and I have still not been able to speak to anyone with their company so I may pay these loans off.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2017-01-04

Bedford, TX

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't temporarily postpone payments
Complaint: I applied for student loan forgiveness on the form sent to me for such purpose by Sallie Mae. I sent the completed application to the proper address per the instructions given by Sallie Mae for XXXX unemployable veterans because of a XXXX service connected XXXX. Sallie Mae 's instructions for XXXX veterans that came with the form state that no physician 's statement is necessary to be completed in the case of service connected XXXX veterans. However, the only part of the application that I did not send to Sallie Mae via certified mail was a physician 's statement. I completed every line of the application other than the physician 's statement. Sallie Mae wrote back in response to my application that it could not review my application at this time because my application was incomplete. My first payment is due in four days which is not enough time to resubmit another application no different than the one I have already submitted. Please help me.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2017-01-03

Scottsdale, AZ

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2017-01-02

Williamston, MI

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Non-federal student loan

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: Messages by an automated machine have been left 3 times today already. This is despite a previous call where I specified that I would call back in a few days to resolve the issue. Messages were left at XXXX, XXXX XXXX. It should be noted that more calls are possible.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2017-01-01

PA

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't temporarily postpone payments
Complaint: I applied for a student loan deferment on XXXX XXXX, XXXX they took my payment on the XXXX of XXXX from my XXXX bank account. They lazy agent said they were gong to put through a deferment. I am still getting phone calls and the deferment has not gone through.. I am not able to get a job due to my health problems. I can not get a appointment till XXXX of XXXX.
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-29

Sherman Oaks, CA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about my loan
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-28

Cleveland, OH

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Company Response: Company believes complaint represents an opportunity for improvement to better serve consumers Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-28

Chicago, IL

Getting a loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't qualify for a loan
Complaint: Applied as a co-signer for my son and the application was stilled denied. I am XXXX and retired, but carry an impeccable credit score / FICO ( XXXX, XXXX, XXXX ). Plain and simple - age discrimination and work ( retired ) discrimination, against SallieMae.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-27

Greenwood, CA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Keep getting calls about my loan
Complaint: When I made large, principle only payments on the loan prior to payments becoming due, they did not allocate the amount to the principle. Rather, they apportioned the amounts out as payments for when the loans became due after I graduated. Additionally, they send excessive mail and make too many phone calls. For instance, they called my mother, who is also my cosigner, three times within an hour this morning ( XXXX/XXXX/16 ) alone. They also send both of us communication via phone and email in excess. They threatened my mothers credit, and were rude to her when they called. I have told them that a payment for the full balance of both loans is in the mail and they still persist. Checks for full payouts on both loans should reach their officers tomorrow or the next day at the latest.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-23

Parlin, NJ

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-22

Springfield, MO

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't get flexible payment options
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-22

Magnolia, TX

Getting a loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't qualify for a loan
Complaint: Granted, my credit profile may not have been eligible to carry my Sallie Mae loan independently, however, my co-signer has an impeccable credit rating and I was turned down. This needs to be investigated.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-22

Fountainville, PA

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: I recently graduated from XXXX University with a degree in XXXX. I recieved information from Sallie Mae not long after informing me of my loan payment requirements, which I quickly realized I can not afford. I immediately called Sallie Mae to discuss my hardship in hopes for a solutions due to my promptness in attempting to sort out the issue before I end up in financial trouble. In the first phone call Sallie Mae simply informed me that they have no options for me at this time and my only option is to default on my loans and that at that time collections may have more options for me. Unsatisfied with this solution, I called a second time and in that call I was told that they can offer me an interest only payment for 12 months, essentially delaying my monthly payments not adjusting the actual amount in any way. In doing this it reduces my monthly payments in total by about XXXX dollars, however, the total payment due is still not affordable. So at this time, they will not consolidate my XXXX loans, they will not lower my payments every month, they will not work with me to prevent going to collections and defaulting and my only option is to default on my loans to get assistance. I found this experience totally overwhelming and frustrating. Unlike many financial institutions, where they work with you to avoid collections, Sallie Mae is forcing students to go to collections or file bankruptcy.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-19

Feasterville, PA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-13

Forest Heights, MD

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't get flexible payment options
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-13

Itasca, IL

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: I am having trouble making student loans payments, due to the high cost. I have tried to call to lower the payments but have been required to have my co-signers call in to submit a financial statement before this would be possible. I have XXXX co-signers on my loans, XXXX is my mother XXXX is my brother. My brother has been out of the country and was unable to make a call for the finanical statement, however my mother did call in to give hers in XX/XX/XXXX. Upon my brother returning to country in XX/XX/XXXX he called to give his statement, I was then told that my mother had to redo her statement since it was a new month. That was the first time that dealing with Sallie Mae became difficult. Upon my mother calling in XX/XX/XXXX, the man named XXXX XXXX, received to allow her to give a financial statement instead badgering her to make payments on my behalf. My mother is going to be out of a job, and is going to be unable to make payments soon. The company had continuously told me to have my co-signers call in to make the statement so I was able to lower my payments, instead they have taken advantage of my co-signer and made deceptive claims to myself. The process to lower payments is extremely difficult and burdensome making it nearly impossible to complete the process to achieve the end result of lowered payments. On top of this during the process of working to figure out how to repay the loans I was consistently called and harassed about being delinquent on the loan.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-12

Hamilton, NJ

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Having problems with customer service
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-12

Scottsdale, AZ

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: I was referred to Sally Mae to assist me with paying tuition. With my grandmother being a consigner I was approved right away. I have a total of four loans with Sally Mae. After graduating from college and trying to find employment Sally Mae started sending threatening letters and harassing phones call to me and my grandmother. They even went as far as calling my grandmothers place of employment harassing her. They are wanted almost {$1000.00} a month for payments. As I explained to them I was only making a certain amount an hour and it was impossible to pay what they were asking for. I agreed on my own to pay what I could and they stated " because it is not the amount we want we will still call you ''. I know it is against the law for them to call after I requested not to. However they continued. They said that they do not offer any Income Based Repayment Plans. Sally Mae has called my parents, my aunts and my siblings trying to get ahold of me. This is absurd. I am filing a formal complaint against Sally Mae for harassment. They do not care that I have to survive on my own and can not pay {$1000.00} a month for four loans. The economy is not the greatest and companies are not paying college grads enough money to even pay their bills. Sally Mae is a bully.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-08

Wallington, NJ

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Need information about my balance/terms
Complaint: I currently have a student loan account with the lender Sallie Mae in the amount of approximately {$27000.00}. Since my loans have come due, I have made timely and consistent payments on my account and have kept my account current and in good standing. I have contacted their customer service department multiple times in an attempt to gather information as to what repayment options are available to me in the event that my employment status changes or my income significantly changes, causing me to no longer have the ability to afford my current minimum monthly payments. I have been told by multiple representatives, including my loan supervisor, that while my account is current the only option they can discuss with me is the option of a hardship forbearance. I have explained that I would like to avoid this option, and have requested information regarding any other options which may exist, but have been told that until my account is past due or defaulted upon they will not disclose information pertaining to any other options available. They have indicated that were my account to become past due or defaulted upon, their collections department would contact me to discuss available options for adjusted repayment, but so long as my account is current they will not. The explanation I received as to why no further information could be provided was that providing such an explanation may motivate customers to purposefully default on their loans to take advantage of these repayment options. As a customer in good standing attempting to take a proactive approach to my loans in a time of uncertainty with regard to my employment and income, it seems rather counter-intuitive that I can not receive information regarding my repayment options until I am in default, because providing me with the information they are withholding may cause me to purposefully default on my loans. It seems that the only way to obtain the information I seek is to do exactly what the lender is supposedly trying to prevent, and allow my loans to become past due. I would really like to avoid any delinquency on my account, which is what spurred my contacting Sallie Mae regarding this situation in the first place, however it appears that their repayment system is designed to reward borrowers who fall delinquent and punish those borrowers who find themselves in uncertain circumstances who yet wish to remain proactive in their repayment with a lack of information and a firewall of bureaucracy and policy.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-07

Primm Springs, TN

Account opening, closing, or management

Bank account or service: Savings account

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

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-07

Carson, MS

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Non-federal student loan

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: I am receiving between 5-10 calls a day at all times of day and night, during work hours, at night during dinner time, weekends, on XXXX during church service. When trying to communicate with callers, I am shamed or blamed for preexisting & new medical issues and confitions that prevent me from working and having a steady income.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-07

Andalusia, PA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Trouble with how payments are handled
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-06

San Francisco, NM

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Having problems with customer service
Complaint: I have want to remove a co-signer from a private loan that I got through Sallie Mae to go to school and they have refused to do so. I followed THEIR guidelines for doing so by obtaining my degree and sending them a transcript, showing that I am financially able to pay the loan, and made XXXX non XXXX late payments as they requested after my disenrollment. I am not sure what else I am to do if they do not follow their own guidelines. I believe that they, Sallie Mae, for whatever reason are not following their own guidelines in reference to my account. I have no issue with continuing my agreement without my co-signer and I am unsure why Sallie Mae has not allowed me to remove the co-signer as the reason to have a cosigner is for that fact of being financially secure. Also on a side not they apply a {$10.00} charge to my account if I make my payments one or more days past the payment due date. For example the payment is due on the XXXX of every month, if I make a payment on the XXXX I incur the fee, which is fine as a business practice but I am unsure if because of that they are unable/unwilling to remove my cosigner. I have made no XXXX late payments to Sallie Mae and that is reflected in my credit reports as well. I seek to remove my co-signer because when my account does come due on the XXXX, they begin calling my co-signers home and work multiple time a day after he has asked them to stop, it places an undue hardship on my co-signer being on the loan. I understand that I must make an effort to make MY payments on or before the due date but also according to " standard late '' guidelines I am not late. As I said I am not 30, 90, or 120 late to Sallie Mae therefore I am unsure why they prey on my co-signer as they do. To reiterate the point I followed THEIR guidelines and would like my co-signer removed.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-12-06

CA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: For the second consecutive month, Sallie Mae has incorrectly and falsely reported my payment status to the credit bureaus that they report to.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response