Date Received: 2023-07-15
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Consumer Complaint: I received federal loans from XXXX - XXXX to finance both a XXXX and a XXXX from Mississippi XXXX, a private XXXX XXXX. Since XXXX, I have intermittently struggled financially and have had difficulty paying back my student loans at many points in the last 18 years. I have had the occasional late fee, but Ive never missed a payment. My loans were consolidated thru Navient years ago. Each time I was having difficulty paying the loans I would call Navient & discuss my options with them. I always assumed that they were working in my best interest and giving me advice that would help my financial stability and not harm it. I was never given reason by them or the government to believe otherwise, or that they could instead be working in their best interest to trap me financially for life. Ive only recently become aware of some of the deceptive tactics and self-aggrandizing behavior of Navient. Over the past 18 years, I have been placed on forebearance 4 times, sometimes for years at a time. Overall Ive spent more years on forebearance than not. See attached documents for further info. At no point was I even told about income based repayment options. I am certain that I would have qualified for these because there were points where I qualified for food stamps based on my income and the nature of my family ( I was the single parent of XXXX XXXX for many years ). I believe I was deceived by Navient and the government and harmed by their practices. I believe that as students taking money from the federal government, there is a common assumption that the handlers of the loans are working in your best interest when I now realize that this is a flat out lie. I am furious to find out that I wasnt even told of my options at any point by Navient, despite me calling them dozens of times over the years. It angers me to learn that forebearance is a short term solution, one that shouldnt be used for more than 6 months, when I have spent the majority of the past 18 years on forebearance alone. I even had to file for bankruptcy in XXXX. Of course my student loans werent included in what could be filed, despite my lawyer requesting this in writing to Navient. Despite never missing a payment, I now owe considerably more than I did when I started paying these loans. There has to be some illegality here. Someone should have to answer for these deceptive tactics on the part of servicers of these federal government loans. I believe I should be repaid for all the interest accrued during my over 10 years time on forebearance. In fact, I believe the loans should be forgiven entirely, as I was given faulty information from the start and never fully understood the system. I now realize that this was done to me purposefully, to confuse and annoy me to a degree that I came to believe there was no solution to the large monthly payments, which interestingly always paid interest only. The largest monthly payment Ive ever had that went to the principal was {$16.00} a month. That is absurd. Ive questioned this with Navient for years, knowing that there must be a better way. Ive always been counseled by them that they were doing everything that they could to lower my payments and pay down my loan. My goal has always been to pay off my student debt as its presence in my life, just the knowledge that its there and increasing over time not decreasing, has caused me significant XXXX and distress. Ive almost drowned at various points over the years, having to choose between making my loan payment or feeding myself and my children. I always chose to make the payment, believing that the cost Id pay for missing a payment was too severe and would affect me too severely financially in the long run. I believe that the system is irreparably broken, and a new system should replace this purposefully confusing and deceptive mess. I would like for the wrongs of yesterday by Navient that have harmed me to be repaired immediately. Im demanding recourse. I would like to speak to someone who will advise me truthfully and be able to offer me real guidance here about the best way to proceed. Ive never been one to sue at all and rarely think its the solution. But at the same time I believe ligation, in the form of a class action lawsuit against Navient, is often one of the few things that successful companies take seriously and try to avoid at all cost. I know Im not alone in my experience.
Company Response:
State: AL
Zip: 357XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-15
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-13
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Subissue: Investigation took more than 30 days
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2023, my private student loan provider Navient, was supposed to take a scheduled payment from my bank account as they have in the past. Navient sent 17 test payments to our bank account to confirm there were funds available. There were funds available in the account. This is verified by our bank statements. The company Navient never completed the transaction. I called the company and ask why they did not take the payment. They said there was an issue at our bank. I contacted my bank and talk to the bank manager XXXX XXXX, who confirmed it was not an issue on the banks en, that the issue was the company Navient never actually pulled the funds. As a result of Navient not pulling the payment this is now reflecting as late on my credit report. I have attempted to talk to Navient several times to resolve this issue, they have not been able to resolve after being told there were retractions to credit reporting. The retractions have not taken place. It has been roughly 6 months and my credit is effected by their error. I have documentation from my bank including a statement from the bank manager stating the issue was not mine or the banks but the issue was with Navient not taking the payment from my account. Attached are bank statements showing Navient sent test payments to my bank but never pulled the payments. Navient admitted THEY MAY HAVE HAD AN INTERNAL ERROR ON THEIR END by not pulling the payments. This is something I have no control over and should not be responsible for their internal errors. Once I submit the payment it is up to the company to take the payment from my account. My account reflects available funds. Also attached is a short summary from my bank manager who also confirmed our bank account was active and did have the funds but it was Naviant who neglected to actually pull the payment.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 456XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-08-13
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-13
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Subissue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Consumer Complaint: Navient is trying to collect a private student loan that should be discharged. There was a lawsuit that I should have qualified for but didnt. This loan is for a for profit closed school. The loan is predatory. I had an approved borrower defense application from the federal government about this same school and the loans were discharged. These should be as well regardless of the type of loan. This company is a legal loan shark and should be put out of business. I also have asked them more than once to only contact me by email and only me and they have called relatives and my job. Once again these are predatory loans meant to keep you in debt and they need to be discharged now.
Company Response:
State: PA
Zip: 19148
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-13
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-13
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Subissue: Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed
Consumer Complaint: Navient claims that " It is our position that your loans were qualified educational loans as defined in section 221 ( d ) ( 1 ) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ; therefore, the loans are not discharged in your bankruptcy filing ''. However, that statement is out of context because once a debtor proves to the court that if the debt is not discharged, it would would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor 's dependents I submitted all the documents required by the court to substantiate the hardship and a federal Judge ordered discharge of the debt. Navient was properly included in the bankruptcy petition and in the creditors matrix. Navient did not initiate an adversarial proceeding within the time frame required under the law to prevent the debts from being discharged. The facts are very clear in this case : 1. Navient was included in the bankruptcy filing 2. Navient failed to initiate an adversarial proceeding as required under the law to prevent discharge 3. The undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor 's dependents test was met as determined by the court 4. Discharge was granted. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act forbids Navient from collecting on a debt that has been properly discharged by a court. Navient must act swiftly to remove these accounts from all applicable consumer reports. This is my formal notice to Navient to cease and desist from all collection efforts related to this account because in the United States, it is illegal to attempt to collect on a debt not owed. Lastly, Navient my XXXX 's request for documentation from Navient proving that the debt is valid, and that Navient has a right to collect on it. Additionally, Navient has failed to provide documentation showing the validity of the debt including original promissory notes with my signature on it
Company Response:
State: MN
Zip: 55303
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-13
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter for a private loan from NAVIENT. All of my private loans were paid in full by my grandmother ( my co-signer ) upon her death. NAVIENT just informed me there is a loan not paid. I have requested all documents in regards to this loan with all the details and NAVIENT states they can not provide me the documents for me to prove it has been paid.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 127XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Improper use of your report
Subissue: Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize
Consumer Complaint: XXXX XXXX last 4 SSN XXXX Adress : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Michigan,XXXX Dear Customer Relations : This letter is in reference to a late payment with the account I have with your company Last year due to extreme financial hardship and medical problems, I became seriously behind on several of my bills. While I normally make great effort to honor my debts and fulfill my responsibilities, at the time of the late payments I was simply financially not able to pay my bills I have since gotten back on my feet and brought my account up to date with your company. 1 am now trying to buy a home, however I am having difficulties receiving an affordable rate due to the impact of having a late payment on my credit file. I am hoping that your organization will consider removing this late payment from my credit report as a gesture of goodwill. This kind gesture would sincerely be appreciated and an invaluable gift to my family and I. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX
Company Response:
State: MI
Zip: 484XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-12
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Problem lowering your monthly payments
Consumer Complaint: After graduating college in XX/XX/XXXX with the effects of the XXXX recession still in full force, I was not able to start paying the full monthly payments. Instead of being offered options when asked, I was told only forbearance was possible. After using up all my forbearance, I asked again if there were any programs available to help with lower payments and was told there was. In between these times, Id have Sallie Mae agents calling me and telling me I owed a payment in harassing ways, even though I was on forbearance. Between the harassment and lack of help while on forbearance by Navients former company, Sallie Mae, I have paid around {$150000.00} so far with almost the same amount still owed. Four loans accrued anywhere from $ XXXX in additional interest. Ive paid in good faith for a long time, but due to not being helped when asking for it initially and what feels like purposely pushed into the full use of my forbearance, this was done to take advantage of me and create a never ending cycle. I currently pay {$1700.00} a month and the balance doesnt go anywhere.
Company Response:
State: NJ
Zip: 07753
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-12
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-11
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Consumer Complaint: I just went through a bankruptcy and have been trying to get my payment deferred or lowered while I am working with my attorney to discharge these loans. These loans are predatory and have doubled from interest over and over again. One loan originated at {$3200.00} and I still owe {$19000.00} after making {$7800.00} in payments. The other loan originated at {$4900.00} and I still owe {$30000.00} after making {$12000.00} in payments. The interest rate is at 18 %. My student loans through the government are being discharged because the school that these come from are XXXX XXXX XXXX and the school is no longer.
Company Response:
State: OR
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-11
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-11
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Keep getting calls about your loan
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX of this year, I sent a Cease and Desist letter to Navient to cease communication with me regarding my private loan and to also cease collections efforts for my private student loan. I did receive a response from them stating that they would temporarily cease collection efforts, yet I continue to be billed. I again took out my private student loan from XXXX XXXX XXXX Bank in XXXX in the amount of {$10000.00}, which exceeded the amount of my tuition and the funds were sent directly to me. According to your press release bulletin on unfair billing practices as well as several recent court rulings, my type of private loan is in fact dischargeable and no longer requires any payment. Navient continues to bill for payment and refuse to acknowledge my XXXX XXXX discharge order dated XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response:
State: GA
Zip: 30034
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-11
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-07-11
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Problem with customer service
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX I found out about the Navient Attorney General settlement. I had subprime private loans taken out with Sallie Mae which while attending XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX between XXXX and XXXX. My loans had since been transferred to Navient by Sallie Mae. Per the Navient AG Settlement website my private loans qualify for discharge from Navient since I have subprime private loans due to having low credit during my school enrollment, had more than 7 consecutive months of delinquent payments prior to XXXX of XXXX, attended a for-profit school XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ran by Career Education Corporation & my mailing address on file with Navient has been in Ohio where I've resided for as long as I've been living minus the time I was attending this for-profit scam school. I've tried calling Navient between XX/XX/XXXX & today with no help from any of their customer service reps. If I ask to speak to a supervisor I get transferred back into the call que or they try to transfer me to a collection agency. When I am able to talk to a rep at Navient, they keep telling me that it isn't their decision to determine if I'm eligible, but it's up to the Ohio Attorney General who makes that determination & they should've sent me something. I reached out to the Ohio Attorney General 's office yesterday & the rep told me that isn't true & they don't have any of my information. Navient is supposed to get in contact with me about my private student loan discharge. Navient keeps giving me the run around, won't answer my questions, won't connect me to upper management, or they keep hanging up on me. I know I qualify for this private student loan discharge & should've been included in the settlement. Navient does not help me at all & I need someone to intervene. Thank you!
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 443XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-11
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A