SLM CORPORATION

2016-09-02

NJ

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Keep getting calls about my loan
Complaint: I was five days late on making a {$55.00} payment to Sallie Mae and they began to harass my husband at work, calling XXXX to six times a day and telling him he needed to make payment immediately. They have NEVER contacted me and I am the loan-holder. Additionally, I made payment seven days ago using online bill pay, which generally takes one day to go through as it is merely a matter of transferring funds from XXXX back to another. On the most recent call, I was with my husband when he answered the phone ; I got on the line and explained to the customer service agent that no one has ever called me about the loan and I 'm the person who holds it. He claimed that people had been calling me for days, which is not at all the case. I went on the Sallie Mae website to ensure my phone number is correct, and it is. My address is also correct, though I have not received any type of correspondence from them. They will not stop calling my husband, even though I 've made payment and my husband is not the loan-holder. They wo n't listen to anything we tell them on the phone ; the only thing the customer service agents will say is, " You must pay immediately '' and " How would you like to pay? '' I am concerned my credit may be negatively affected if they report non-payment ; I am similarly concerned my husband will lose his job because of all the calls he is getting throughout the day at work.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-31

Las Cruces, NM

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Keep getting calls about my loan
Company Response: Company disputes the facts presented in the complaint Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-31

Soquel, CA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Keep getting calls about my loan
Complaint: Sallie Mae has been harassing me since the day my grace period on my loans ended. I have received calls as many as five to ten times a day, and I have discussed how I am unable to make payments due to financial hardships and lack of help from my parents. They refused to work with me, so I stopped answering their calls and changed my number. Eventually, friends and family members expressed their concerns over my loans and told me Sallie Mae kept contacting them about me. Sallie Mae now calls my work, and when my coworkers hang up on them they call back in a rude tone, demanding to talk to me. They have even talked to my Human Resources manager. It is not okay to mix personal issues with work issues.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-30

Oxford, GA

Improper use of my credit report

Credit reporting:

Report shared with employer w/o consent
Complaint: I recently received a copy of my credit report. The credit report showed a credit inquiry by Sallie Mae Bank that I do not recall authorizing. Sallie Mae should contact me before placing an inquiry on my file. I am fraud victim and my credit file indicates to contact me before pulling my credit file. Sallie Mae should n't be allowed to put an inquiry on my file unless I have authorized it. Please have this inquiry removed from my credit file. I have spoken with Sallie Mae representatives to remove inquiry and they agreed to remove but I did not receive any letter from Sallie Mae to indicate that.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-30

NY

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Non-federal student loan

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: Sallie Mae continues to call me every hour on the hour for an account 30 days past due.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-29

Phoenix, AZ

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't temporarily postpone payments
Complaint: At Sallie Mae, they offer 3 month forbearance periods for struggling loan receivers that ca n't afford to pay back the debt. On XXXX XXXX, I called Sallie Mae to ask for a forbearance because i couldnt make the payments. My account was up to date, no past due payments. My payments are due on the XXXX of each month. So through out XXXX im still being harassed by sallie mae every day, waiting for the forbearance to be processed. This is a normal occurrence by the way, at least 8-10 calls a day. Its harassment and it should be illegal to bother my family and I so much. So after a few phone calls, i find out that the forbearance wasnt input correctly. So they had to restart the process again. So after that was over, i thought that this was taken care of. What I found out today is that the person I talked to in XXXX put in a 1 month forbearance. Which I did not ask or pay for. I paid XXXX dollars to have my loan in forbearance for 3 months. Now, im recieving harassing calls again from early in the morning to late at night. The times are outrageous. Sometimes as early as XXXX and as late as XXXX So now, they wont even transfer me to customer service because my account is overdue? It wouldnt be over due if they didnt input everything properly in the first place. This whole ordeal is so frustrating. No one can do anything for me at the office anymore.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-27

Erie, CO

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 explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-23

Philadelphia, PA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: I was speaking with Sallie Mae on repayment options, as I was unemployed following graduation. I was unable to meet the $ XXXX+/month payment and was asking what my other options were. I was specifically advised to let my account run over, as in not meet the payments, because Sallie Mae would not work with me on changing payment options until I was overdue. After two months I tried to reach customer service once again and was directed to Collections, who informed me that I had to make my loans current before I could begin any sort of payment change option. After explaining the advice I was previously given, I was given a sorry and an adamant ultimatum that they needed to make the loan current first before anything could be done. I was forced to borrow money from my parents and then was explained the options available to me, neither of which greatly affected my payments. I was also reported to the credit bureau due to the non-payment of the loan, which has affected my credit score, making it difficult to now find an apartment.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-22

VA

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

2016-08-20

CT

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: When I was XXXX I was pressured by my parents to find a college and attend it. I found a college and we took out a student loan, the whole year cost me about {$20000.00} of private loans and {$9000.00} of federal loans. I did not go back my second year because my dad ( my consigner ) would not sign for another loan ... .so now can I not only attend college because I have no money, but now I have to pay back {$29000.00} of loans at only XXXX years old. I am now married and have XXXX kid and I am working part time making only {$.00} over minimum wage because I do n't have a degree to get a better job or have the money to put my son in daycare to work full time. I just do n't see an end to this money struggle and I ca n't get my loan payments lowered because of being married. i am the only one paying off my loans right now and I should n't have almost {$0.00} at the end of the month trying to help support my family and pay these astronomical student loans. My recommendation - do n't go to college unless it 's free or you KNOW you can get an amazing job to help you pay your loans right when you get out.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-19

Clarkesville, GA

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Federal student loan

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

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-17

Manhattan, NY

Taking/threatening an illegal action

Debt collection: Federal student loan

Attempted to/Collected exempt funds
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-17

Manhattan, NY

Taking/threatening an illegal action

Debt collection: Federal student loan

Attempted to/Collected exempt funds
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-15

Louisa, VA

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: I have several student loans through Sallie Mae called the " smart option '' student loan. We have tried multiple times to consolidate these loans or get the payments lowered. As of right now they want us to pay almost {$600.00} per month which is not even feasible at the moment. We were at one point put into a program which lowered the interest rates from almost 11 % down to 4 % for 1 year and then down to 2 % for 1 year but we were only allowed into that program because the loan had defaulted. The loans have been paid for 3-4 years without missing a payment and they wo n't let us consolidate or lower the interest payment. The last person I spoke to told me that the only way they could help us with anything would be to let the loan go to collections/default. Of course then it would hit our credit and hurt other things leaving only one choice, to pay. For student loans only totaling {$36000.00} a {$700.00} a month payment is just a bit much. All we want is a fair rate and a fair monthly payment. Do n't get any student loan through Sallie Mae unless it is a government subsidized or unsubsidized student loan.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-14

Medford, OR

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

2016-08-13

Greenwood, CA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: SALLIE MAE IS THE WORST. My loan is now in default because I have called every single month about not being able to afford my loan payment due to being unemployed and finding work has been difficult, though I have been actively searching every day. A few days ago the guy from sallie mae said that he could help reduce payments, but then harassed me about being able to pay it if he did. I explained my dad is already broke and has been giving me all the money he can to help with bills, but he has no more money left to give. I told him everyone else I have called says that they do not care and wo n't help. Then he said well we are only calling all the time to get you out of default, I then told him I would n't be in default if someone would have helped me in the first place instead of saying they do not care. Sallie Mae should not be allowed to call more than 10 times a week max. They call about 20 times a day. I feel so harassed. Because of them I ca n't support my own son because all the money I do get has to go to trying to get out of default so I am back at my dads. They are the worst company to work with. Not even XXXX or XXXX is doing this.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-12

Boston, MA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Having problems with customer service
Complaint: I changed my bank account in XXXX 2016 and alerted Sallie Mae and changed my bank account number in their system and deleted the old account. I updated all auto-debit setups. First, in XXXX 2016 XXXX student loans went to the old account ( auto-debit ) and were declined. Now in XXXX 2016 the XXXX student loan ( also auto-debit ) went to the old account and was declined. I received notification on XXXX/XXXX/2016 that the charge did not go through and started receiving collections calls the same day ( even though I immediately paid all that I owed and the next month ahead as soon as I was notified ). I called customer service the same day ( call was recorded ) and the customer service rep admitted she could see no record of this other account and could n't understand why this other account had been charged. She helped enroll me in auto debit again and yet still my account does reflect the accurate information. There is no record of my pending payment, nothing ( even though the customer service rep could see I had a pending payment ). Sallie Mae 's systems are woefully out of date and the customers should not be punished for their shortcomings.
Company Response: Company believes complaint represents an opportunity for improvement to better serve consumers Closed with monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-11

Goose Creek, SC

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 explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-11

Key Biscayne, FL

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: When a borrower pays the monthly loan amount in excess of the minimum payment requirement, Sallie Mae " holds '' the excess money and applies it to the following month 's minimum monthly payment ( which reduces the amount owed for the next month ), as opposed to applying excess funds to the priniciple balance of the loan as the website states. In order for Sallie Mae to apply overages to the principle balance, one must be enrolled in automatic debit. However, this is not conspicuously explained on the website, nor does the payment allocation example provided mention this requirement. I have been paying a little more than the minimum monthly payment under the assumption that the excess would be applied to the remaining principle balance of the loan, hoping that my little overpayments will decrease the balance of the loan slowly but surely. To date, I 've re-paid over {$5000.00} on a {$15000.00} loan, yet have a remaining balance of almost {$17000.00}. This payment allocation system deceptively allows for only accrued interest to be paid on the loan, keeping the principle balance high and untouched, which allows for more interest to be added onto the loan balance. This is unfair, egregious, and unconscionable.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-10

Gr, MI

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

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

2016-08-10

East Windsor, NJ

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: Despite consistent contact with Sallie Mae and efforts to negotiate affordable payments with them, they continue to use hostile collection tactics with me. They refuse to even attempt recalculating my monthly payment after submitting paystubs that show my monthly income to be around {$2000.00}, while the monthly payment they are requesting are over {$260.00} per month. This is well over what I can afford, and they refuse to negotiate an affordable payment in any way, while repeatedly calling and asking for immediate payment while redirecting me to numerous collection agents as I attempt to find someone to negotiate affordable payments with. I understand the obligation of this debt, and wish to honor that obligation, but I can not sustain the payments they are requesting without placing a severe financial burden on myself and my family.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-09

Arlington, VA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

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

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-07

CA

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't get flexible payment options
Complaint: I went to a XXXX school for my XXXX and had the opportunity to attend university abroad to obtain a XXXX. This option was more affordable than to stay local and attend my same school so I took a Sallie Mae Loan. Sallie Mae unfortunately does n't offer income based enrolment programs so come 3 years after graduating with XXXX degrees, I found myself unemployed and {$180000.00} in student loan debt. But Sallie Mae was not understanding or accommodateing. In fact, they have not only harrassed my mother and myself by calling 14 times a day each, they attacked my co-signer, my XXXX XXXX XXXX grandmother. They sent her to the hospital with an XXXX after calling her one Sunday, telling her that if she did not pay my balance of {$85000.00} within three days, they would take her home and social security. I am continually given false and misrepresented information from Sallie Mae representatives. I also came to find out the University in which I attended is no longer in existence. XXXX XXXX University XXXX. There are also class action cases against my school for misrepresentation. I am at a point where I do n't know what or who to turn to. Please help
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-08-05

Marina Bay, MA

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: Yes Timely Response

2016-08-04

Bemiss, GA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Received bad information about my loan
Company Response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response