SLM CORPORATION

2016-02-23

Colts Neck, NJ

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: Yes Timely Response

2016-02-22

Albion, NY

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

2016-02-22

Greenwood, CA

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Non-federal student loan

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: Sallie Mae, took a scheduled payment out on the wrong day, I called and let them know. They looked back to the phone call where I scheduled the payment initially. They acknowleged they were in the wrong. Refunded me my payment ( which took over a month to get back as a check in mail ) Then apologized and said they 'd make a " case '' with customer service to bring my account up to date and just move forward with my auto debit payments. 4 Months later I start recieving multiple phone calls a day collecting for the payment they assured would be resolved. I told them to look at their contact records and notes on my account. Surely they 'd see that they told me theyd resolve the issue. The costumer service rep agreed that theyd told me prior that theyd attempt to fix the issue but that it wasnt guarantied. I was upset and told them I wasnt going to pay 4 months later for their mistake and that they can continue to auto debit from my account. Now one of my loans shows past due each month because of that payment. Now theyre calling my cosigner ( Grandparents ) every hour on the hour 7 days a week till late in the evening. It 's borderline harassment.
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-12

Salt Lake City, UT

Received a loan I didn't apply for

Consumer Loan: Pawn loan

Company Response: Company can't verify or dispute the facts in the complaint Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-12

Pardeesville, PA

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

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

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-11

Brooklyn, NY

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

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

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-11

MO

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Non-federal student loan

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: I am a co-borrower on a student loan through Sallie Mae. I find their collection tactics deplorable. My son is a month behind in payments and their " automated '' system calls more than 3 times a day ( just received the 5th call today, every hour since XXXX ). The problem is there is no way to stop the automated calls, even if you return the call. 1. Call is a recording with a specific person asking you to return their call. There is no person on the line, and no option to get to a live operator. 2. You call them and ask for the person who was in the message, as requested, but you do n't get that person and there seems to be confusion on their end. Since I 'm a co-signer, I have to guess what it 's about. 3. You can tell them it will be caught up by specific date, or whatever, but the multiple calls will continue until the next payment is made. I can understand a call a day until you contact them, but really, every hour, for the co-signer?
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-10

Oxford, GA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: As a young person in today 's rapidly growing world I took it upon myself to get a degree to better my chances at having a better future. Unfortunately during my time at XXXX College and XXXX University I found myself, like most blue collar students, having to borrow money to make it through. I was told that not alot of places will lend to a student who does not have a high credit score, this made things more tense, until I was told that Sallie Mae could help. This was not really a blessing but a curse in disguise. At this time I was working a part time job as a XXXX not making anything and still had to work there even after my graduation in XXXX 2015 because the economy is bad and it became harder to get XXXX even after getting a degree. So a few months before my loans were due XXXX found myslef worrying about how can I be more proactive about getting on top of things and making my life easier. Well the answer I was looking for was never found. I called Sallie Mae about two months before and spoke with a representative about what i could do because it seemed like every loan I used from them was separate and had its own minimum payment and interest rate. I thought to myself this could not be right because that would mean i would have extremely high minimum payments and I would never pay this off living on a XXXX salary. Unfortunately my doubts were actually reality! The representatives I spoke with the first time told me that I was correct and that there was nothing they really could do at the time to consolidate them. At this time i was mad as all get out because how is that we go to college to become better yet we get stuck with tremendous amount of debt and hold us back from continuing our pursuit in academia. After speaking with a few representatives I get ahold of a different person they tell me that they can lower my payments from about XXXX to about XXXX. I am at this point tired of trying. They would never consolidate nor offer me the ability to add a cosigner. After this occured I gave up. I tried finding different loan companies that would consolidate but because I had so much debt no one would touch it because the loans ruined my credit score. Now at this time I am stuck and do not know how to fix my situation. So I call them back and ask again and i still do not get any help. Now remember, I started this way before they were due and now it is past due. Now it is almost two months past and they threaten me with collections. My credit score has dropped tremendously and now they tell me we can give you 2 % interest rate and a payment of XXXX per month. Um, excuse me but why did you not help me before when you knew i could not afford the original payments and now I have a XXXX credit score and stuck with a financial burden that already adds stress to my already stressful life seeing how my job is not particularly liked at this time. It has caused an undue hardship on me and my family and quite frankly it is not fair. I can not find anyway to get out or get help. So maybe this rant can help others and maybe bring attention to a problem that needs a lot of help fixing!
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-09

Austin, TX

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Don't agree with fees charged
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-08

Milwaukee, WI

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: I do not receive statements/bills or any other documents from SallieMae. This has been going on for a year and is still not fixed. My XXXX 2016 statement was not even sent or generated on my account in a PDF for me to view, so my payment was late. I 've called numerous times and the customer service people just ask questions, procedure I get it, but after that tell me everything looks fine. I 've changed how I receive information to paper form and that has not helped, in fact XXXX 2016 should have been the first paper form and as I said, that was never sent. The representatives become rude when I get upset and it seems that they no longer want to help me. They just tell me to pay my bill, even though my date was changed with my XXXX loan and I was not notified. My tax for went to my co-signor instead of me which I was told should not happen. I should receive statements, no questions asked. I was not charged late fees, but am still upset.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-05

Gloucester City, NJ

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: I just started working 2 months ago. I consolidated and adjusted to government student loans. But the private student loans wanted money before I even got paid my first check. So I was in the rear from the beginning. They would not let me defer for another month, they will not change the due date or adjust the amount that I am able to pay. Even with a second job on weekends, I do not earn enough to pay the rent and the student loans. Are there any laws that they have to make some adjustments?
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-05

Glen Mills, PA

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 monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-02-03

Ganister, PA

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

2016-02-01

Raymond, NH

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

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

2016-02-01

Davenport, IA

Getting a loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't qualify for a loan
Complaint: I applied for a bar study loan with Sallie Mae, the representative ran my credit report and stated that I qualified based on the information in my credit file however because I did n't have a job offer yet, he could not approve me. I have a non-traditional name and I believe that the representative knew that I was not XXXX based on my name and used that to discriminate against me. I know several people who have been approved for the same loan who did not have a job lined up at the time of their approval. I attended XXXX University in XXXX XXXX, Iowa.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: Yes Timely Response

2016-01-31

Grovespring, MO

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't temporarily postpone payments
Complaint: I called Sallie Mae to request forbearance while I change jobs, battle with medical issues and bills, and come up with a plan to repay my loans that will be effective because I am experiencing a current financial hardship. I spoke to a gentlemen who said he could do nothing for me unless I paid {$800.00}, that day and then he would help me. I could not afford to do this, which was the reason for my call in the first place. I eventually spoke to another gentlemen who said he could do a 1 month forbearance for me while I tried to get my feet back under me. Everything went normal and he took my good faith payment of {$150.00}. He told me that I should see the forbearance on my account withing 24 - 48 hours. It has now been 120 hours and no forbearance. In addition, Sallie Mae 's policy is that if you are denied forbearance, they will apply the {$150.00} to the loan. This still has not been done. I have also not received any information regarding if I was accepted or denied for forbearance. Essentially, they have just taken my {$150.00} and done nothing with it.
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-01-30

Nashville, TN

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't temporarily postpone payments
Complaint: On XXXX/XXXX/16, I contacted Sallie Mae to attempt to place my loans into temporary forbearance and was met with extreme indifference to my financial hardship. I work as a XXXX and have been unable to find work for approximately two months ( in or outside of my field, despite actively searching throughout my entire period of unemployment ). This has unfortunately led to a state where I have had to live exclusively off the meager amount of money I had been able to save over the previous year. This bout of unemployment was extremely unexpected and a large percentage of my disposable income from the previous year had been channeled into paying down my student loans, far exceeding the minimum monthly payments. Knowing that I would be unable to make my XXXX payments I placed my federal loans into forbearance, without issue, and had hoped that Sallie Mae would be as willing and flexible with helping me avoid falling into delinquency on my account. Upon contacting the company and explaining my situation, I was given the option of forbearance on the stipulation that I would make a " Good Faith '' payment, equal to XXXX % of my monthly minimum payments. I explained how I am not in a financial position to make any payment of any amount at this time and inquired about further options that the company may be able to offer. The second option I was given, was to put in a retroactive forbearance by using my previous month 's payment as the " Good Faith '' payment. Thus negating any progress I had made on my principle and interest for the previous month. While XXXX supervisors I spoke to made this suggestion, my first representative ( who also checked to see if this could be an option ) explicitly told me that it would be illegal for the company to use a past payment in such a manner. Upon raising this concern XXXX supervisors gave unclear, vague and dismissive explanations as to why the first representative made such a statement. With both options being unviable, the first of which I am financially unable to comply with and the second I felt extremely uncomfortable about due to conflicting information, I inquired further for any other options or exceptions that could be made for my particular circumstance. Specifically noting that : # 1 I have, multiple times in the past, paid in-excess of my minimum payments, ( which I was explicitly told could not count towards reducing future payments, despite their website clearly stating otherwise ( XXXX ) ) # 2 My account has never been delinquent and # 3 I have been in good standing since beginning to repayment of my loans. Despite pleading my case, I was told that there was absolutely nothing else the customer service department could do for me, and that the only other avenues for relief options would arise only if my account fell into delinquency and was sent to the collections department. Who, as I was told, have more flexible means of dealing with those who are unable to meet their financial obligations. Leading me to believe that both supervisors were essentially implying that becoming delinquent was the most viable course of action in my situation ( which I was trying to avoid by contacting Sallie Mae in the first place ). I am appalled that Sallie Mae treated me with such blatant rigidity regarding this " Good Faith Payment '' policy, especially in light of my payment history with the company ( should that not prove my " good faith '' to repay these loans? ). And feel like I am being extorted for what little money I have so that my credit ( which was severely burdened by taking these loans out in the first place and has taken extensive effort to repair ) is not damaged by delinquency/collections. I sincerely hope others may read this and take it as another reason, and another warning as to why they should not do business with Sallie Mae.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-01-29

NM

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Don't agree with fees charged
Complaint: My private student loan ( Sallie Mae ) is at 12.75 % yet on the web site they offer student loans from 2.5 % to 9.59 % i have called numerous times to try and get my student loan interest rate reduced so that i can afford making the payments each month.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-01-28

San Francisco, CA

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Trouble with how payments are handled
Complaint: I went to the XXXX University ( XXXX XXXX ) and had to pull out loans through Sallie Mae. Its really hard to now pay these bills which is hurting me financially. I need help and need to refinance them but no one can help and sallie mae is horrible and does not want to help.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-01-25

Marshallton, DE

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

2016-01-22

Columbus, OH

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Having problems with customer service
Complaint: I XXXX in four years from XXXX University with a XXXX in XXXX in 2014. The financial aid department did n't do much to prepare for what comes after graduation. Each year I would get a financial aid package from XXXX outlining the scholarships, grants and loans needed to go to school for that year. I was later told by Capitals financial aid office that they could not recommend any loan company to students but somehow I got stuck with Sallie Mae loans every time without any input from me. My parents paid for the first 2 years with parent plus loans and grants. I continued the last 2 years and paid for it on my own. My parents took out loans through XXXX using XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. This has been a great experience for them with adjustable payments and low interest rates. My loans, however, are with Sallie Mae and that is where I would like to file a complaint against. It has been 2 years since graduating, my experience has been nothing but a nightmare. I have XXXX private loans with Sallie Mae, totaling about {$56000.00} with a 9.250 % interest rate. The bills started coming 6 months after graduating and at this point, I still had not found a career in my field and was working for just a little over minimum wage. Sallie Mae was expecting me to be able to pay over {$700.00} a month, when I was barely bringing home $ XXXX monthly. After SEVERAL phone calls with Sallie Mae 's very rude staff and being told that I had no options to help reduce or defer this payment, I was finally able to speak to a reasonable staff member who told that they do, in fact, offer forbearance. There is no reason that this fact was n't brought up to me during my first phone call with them. Instead, it took about 2 weeks to get this answer and for someone to be willing to help me. So, I went into a year of forbearance. During this year, I began working in my field of study. After the year of forbearance was over, the statements started coming in again. Although, I was working in my field, I still found these payments that Sallie Mae was asking for to be very unreasonable. Sallie Mae 's payments alone are taking HALF of what I bring home every month. On top of my federal loans ( which have been reasonable ), and my monthly rent and utilities, I am struggling to get by month to month. This should not be the case for someone with a degree who is working a reasonably paying job in her field. I should not have to worry about how to get by every month and how I am going to ever afford to buy a house, get married, or have a family and kids of my own. Something needs to change. I have tried working with Sallie Mae asking if there is any way to reduce my payments and change to another repayment method, but according to them, I have exhausted all of my options by using up my one year of forbearance that they offered me all at once. I have been told by some at Sallie Mae to stop making payments and then after some missed payments they could help me. According to Sallie Mae I have to destroy what little credit I have in order to receive help. This is what is so frustrating about dealing with this company. I have considered consolidating my loans, but I do not want to put the burden of cosigning another loan on anyone in my family, and my credit score is not quite where it needs to be to do it all on my own. I really want to get the word out on Sallie Mae and how they treat their customers, so that hopefully we can put a stop to this someday. I have written letters to my state Senators and Representatives and anyone who I think can help in this matter. The more we get the word out there, the better. I understand That Sallie Mae is a business and needs to make money. The problem I have is that they are making money by destroying the futures of young people like me. I want to pay back what I owe but not 10 times what I owe. Please HELP me.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: Yes Timely Response

2016-01-22

Winston Salem, NC

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't decrease my monthly payments
Complaint: I have about {$40000.00} total in private loans through Sallie Mae. My interest rates range from 9.125 % -9.875 % ( averaging to about 9.5 % ) among the XXXX loans, resulting in payments of $ XXXX/month. Unfortunately, I only make XXXX a year as a XXXX and I also have federal loan payments to make along with rent and insurance, so {$550.00} a month is pretty unmanageable. This issue with Sallie Mae is that I brought this information to their attention and tried to get them to work with me in some way, but they stone walled me at every turn saying they can not do anything for me, except a 0.25 % decrease by signing up for auto-pay. I asked if I could be transferred to another department ( collections ) and they stated that they can not transfer me and I ca n't even speak with collections " until my account is delinquent ''. I even tried to extend the length of my payment period, but again I was met with a firm and absolute " no ''. I have attempted to refinance my loans through other agencies, but my debt/income ratio is too high, so I am essentially stuck with Sallie Mae and their bullying. Overall, I am between a rock and a hard place in that Sallie Mae has backed me into a corner and wo n't budge unless I become delinquent resulting in late fee buildup, interest accruing on the loans, and sacrificing my credit score. Even if I do become delinquent I have no reason to believe Sallie Mae will do anything other than destroy my credit score and assess fees to tack onto my already difficult payments.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-01-20

Gainesville, FL

Dealing with my lender or servicer

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Received bad information about my loan
Company Response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error Closed with non-monetary relief

Disputed: No Timely Response

2016-01-20

Portland, OR

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

2016-01-20

Lewisville, TX

Can't repay my loan

Student loan: Non-federal student loan

Can't temporarily postpone payments
Complaint: I lost my job in XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ). On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a letter to Sallie Mae stating I was unemployed, and was seeking employment. I stated that I had no income and was forced to move back in with my mother ( at her house ). I could not afford the {$50.00} payment they were demanding I make just to defer my loan. I stated that as soon as I would gain employment, I would contact them. They have refused to deal with me and refuse to accept my situation. They do not seem to understand that I have no money and no income. I have applied for several jobs but am still waiting to hear back. I have also applied at XXXX Universities ( XXXX departments ) in order to return to full time classes XXXX and resume my graduate studies. I have done all I can do for now and as I stated I have no money and no income. Sallie Mae just refuses to listen or to deal with me.
Company Response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law Closed with explanation

Disputed: Yes Timely Response