Date Received: 2022-03-30
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: In XXXX of XXXX, I believed I was in a forbearance/deferment of my student loan with a total of {$5600.00} through Firstmark Services as requested, as I had newly started a XXXX program. Unfortunately, in XXXX of XXXX, in checking my credit report, I realized I had multiple payments that were late ( dating XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX ) and that I was in fact not in forbearance as I requested in XXXX of XXXX. This resulted in late fees. In XX/XX/XXXX, I received a phone call that I had missed payments and needed to make my account current. I made a payment on XX/XX/XXXX for {$400.00} and noted to the representative that I believed I was in a forbearance due to my enrollment status in my XXXX program, but didnt want a negative impact on my credit so I would make a payment, but I asked to speak to someone about why my forbearance was not in effect. I was told that someone would contact me, but did not hear back in any forms of communication. In XXXX of XXXX, I double-checked on my account, and realized I was again not in forbearance as I had requested. I made a payment on XX/XX/XXXX as to not receive negative remarks on my credit report. Again, I made a call to Firstmark Services ( date unknown ) to check in to see why my account status was not in deferment/forbearance. I was told it would be taken care of, as they saw my request in XXXX of XXXX and were confused themselves, given my enrollment status in my XXXX program. I did not receive a call back from Firstmark, and went on to believe that my payments were deferred, given my last conversation with the representative in XXXX. After checking my credit report in XXXX, I saw the derogatory remarks. Immediately, I contacted Firstmark services and inquired on this. To not impact my credit any further, I made a payment on XX/XX/XXXX for the total of {$320.00} to make my account current. The conversation at that point is detailed below : Firstmark claims to have contacted me via phone and mail regarding late payments in XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, but I did not receive any of the communication ( phone, email or mail ) that they claimed to make. In XXXX, I requested to reverse the missed late payments and remove derogatory marks from my credit reports in all of XXXX, as I was told misleading information about the status of my account. Repeatedly, my request was denied. I continued connecting with Firstmark three different times with requests to remove the derogatory marks, and they persisted that I was to blame, that they had done their part to contact me. I have since paid the loan in full so I no longer have to deal with Firstmark Services. The full payoff was made on XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response:
State: WI
Zip: 540XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-30
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-30
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Subissue: Problem with personal statement of dispute
Consumer Complaint: I submitted a Debt Validation Request to Nelnet, an email confirmation was sent to me XXXX/XXXX/2022. The email stated that my request was received and to allow up to 30 days for a response. On XX/XX/2022 I received a letter from Nelnet stating that no adjustment was needed for the alleged account due to their research. THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW! I requested that the original contract with my alleged signature be sent to me, or drop the debt to a XXXX balance and cease and desist all collection practices. However, they never sent anything aside from the email confirmation, and letter stating that the alleged account is accurate based on their investigation.
Company Response:
State: GA
Zip: 30328
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-30
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-29
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Problem lowering your monthly payments
Consumer Complaint: I have a Nelnet student loan. I am XXXX years, in very poor health requiring XXXX of XXXX XXXX hours a day. I am retired, but can not afford repayment. I have tried to file a XXXX discharge request. They require XXXX certification through social security, the military or XXXX XXXX . I do not qualify to file with SS or the military. My dr. and insurance company will not certify lack of ability to work ( XXXX ). Nelnet tells me this has been a problem always. Without being able to file in order to try to discharge my loan, I have trouble paying.. My medical bills are very high -- thousands of dollars a year. Nelnet wants to refigure the repayment based on regular expenses. I also have responsibility for some of my grandchildren 's care which they do not allow. I guess I should just let them go without books etc.. If I begin repayment, I will be repaying for the rest of my life. While I do not expect to live too much longer, I would love to work this out.
Company Response:
State: CO
Zip: 80227
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-29
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-29
Issue: Improper use of your report
Subissue: Reporting company used your report improperly
Consumer Complaint: I have been paying my student loans since Before I graduated and also because of covid, all accounts were put on forbearance yet theres a demarcation on my credit report which is affecting my ability increase my credit and Ive been making payments as well since.
Company Response:
State: MD
Zip: 21133
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-29
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-29
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: I went back to school during the COVID forbearance ( in XX/XX/XXXX ) which put me into an in-school deferment. This can be confirmed by the notice I received from Great Lakes on XX/XX/XXXX which I've attached to this complaint. The notice states, " Your request for deferment has been approved and has been applied to your accounts through XX/XX/XXXX. '' Towards the end of the letter it reads, " You can cancel this deferment at any time by calling us. '' Given the ongoing COVID forbearance, I have looked into the PSLF program and its temporary waiver. I understand that time spent in an in-school deferment does not count towards PSLF-eligible payments XXXX I have been working full-time for a PSLF-eligible employer since XX/XX/XXXX. I want to take advantage of the PSLF program and hopefully get these 2+ years to count towards the 10 years needed for forgiveness in the PSLF program. Today, I called Great Lakes to ask if they could remove the in-school deferment on my account. I spoke with multiple people and each one told me they could NOT remove the deferment on my account. When I asked why, I got different reasons, including : - I needed to be in an in-school deferment period in order for them to remove the deferment on my account ( I told them that according to the communication I received in XX/XX/XXXX, I should still be in an in-school deferment period - they said I wasn't anymore, even though I never received any updates or communication about this change in status ) - They can't retroactively remove the deferment on my account, even if I was still in an in-school deferment period ( The notice I received clearly states that I could call them at any time to remove the in-school deferment status ) Based on the communication I received from Great Lakes back in XX/XX/XXXX, I should be able to remove this in-school deferment status at any time, which is what I'm trying to do, but the representatives I have spoked with told me that they can not.
Company Response:
State: WI
Zip: 53704
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-29
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-29
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Subissue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Consumer Complaint: Nelnet has been reporting to my consumer report without disclosing to me that I have option to opt out of. I currently requested for them cease and desist. I told the company not to contact me on all mediums. In addition, I have been requesting NelnetXXXXDept of Edu XXXX to remove these accounts from my consumer report, their response to me is '' by law they have to report it. '' I am requesting for Nelnet/ department of education to show me LAW where they HAVE to report. According to 15 USC 6802 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( B ) ( C ) ( b ) Opt out ( 1 ) In general A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless ( A ) such financial institution clearly and conspicuously discloses to the consumer, in writing or in electronic form or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title, that such information may be disclosed to such third party ; ( B ) the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party ; and ( C ) the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option. Nelnet was suppose to disclose this information with me giving me the opportunity as a private Consumer to publicize my information to a non-affiliated third party like the CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY ( XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX ) I was never disclosed this information. According to ( A ) I was never given anything in writing or electronic about the disclosure. According to ( B ) I was not given an opportunity to decided whether I wanted these accounts to be publicized to a third party like the Consumer reporting agencies. According ( C ) I was never informed by NELNET/DEPT OF EDU that XXXX had the opportunity to exercise my CONSUMER RIGHTS to opt out. I am demanding that you remove these accounts immediately from my Consumer report, I also have a right to privacy. I will exercise my rights if this is not removed from my reports. I addition, according to 15 USC 1681a. ( 2 ) ( b ) ( 2 ) Exclusions.Except as provided in paragraph ( XXXX ), the term consumer report does not include ( B ) any authorization or approval of a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly by the issuer of a credit card or similar device ; During this transaction my social security Card and ID was requested for this extension of a credit transaction. There was an approval given with no discrepancies of using these cards also know as a " CREDIT CARD '' as pursuant to 15 USC 1602. ( L ) ( l ) The term credit card means any card, plate, coupon book or other credit device existing for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services on credit. My social was used for an approval so I have every right to exclude this from my report. Clearly you are in violation according to the Federal Consumer Laws that protects me. you need to remove immediately. If this is not taken into consideration, then this will be an act of willfully not complying to the laws written by CONGRESS. THERE IS NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE YOU GUYS USE THAT STALL TACTIC ALL THE TIME, THAT I AM FULLY AWARE OF. REMEMBER THAT CREDIT INFORMATION WITH MY ACCOUNT NUMBER ADDRESS AND ALL DETAILS ARE NOT PUBLIC
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 10459
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-29
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-29
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: As a result of the ongoing COVID forbearance, I'm now considering pursuing forgiveness through the PSLF program. During the COVID forbearance, I went back to school and enrolled full-time. I was also working full-time at a PSLF-eligible employer . I asked Great Lakes to remove the in-school deferment on my account and they said that they can not remove the in-school deferment status since it has already ended. I am frustrated because I want that year of non-payments to count towards PSLF like it would had I not gone back to school.
Company Response:
State: WI
Zip: 53704
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-29
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-28
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Subissue: Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Consumer Complaint: I currently have 5 federal students loans that are so large, I needed to enter into an income-driven repayment program. I started that immediately upon graduation in XXXX. I have 2 major difficulties. The most pressing is the second, but I will provide details on the first here because it impacts the second. XXXX ) My first difficulty is that my student loan servicer, Nelnet, did not adequately disclose certain things about this program : A. They indicated that, provided payments are made and the account is kept in good standing, any remaining loan balance would be forgiven after 20 years in this program. They only just recently informed me that certain accounts ( which coincidentally make up the majority of my loan balance ) will not go into forgiveness status until 25 years of payments. So after making payments for 6 years and believing I had 14 years remaining, I was informed that I still really have 19. B. They did not indicate to me the extent to which I would be accruing interest that would be capitalized onto my loans. I have already accrued an additional {$30000.00} in interest that has been added to my principal. That accrual has occurred even with XXXX interest for the last 2 years due to COVID forbearance -- meaning that interest accrued all within the first 4 years of repayment. At this point, it will only accrue faster because I now have an even higher principal amount my rate will be applied to. ( This accrual of crippling amounts of extra debt is in spite of the fact that I was paying back close to {$10000.00} a year in student loan payments ). It is this additional {$30000.00} in capitalized interest that has caused my second issue : XXXX ) Starting in XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX started reporting my student loan accounts differently. They now indicate that, because this interest has been capitalized and my principal balance is now higher than that of the original loan disbursement, my accounts are effectively over their credit limit. This is not true and Nelnet has indicated to me that the account is in good standing, the current principal amount is not higher than an allowable balance and the loan origination amount is NOT accurately indicative of a " credit limit '' or " high credit '' as XXXX is currently using it. Despite indicating this to me, they refuse to send any documentation to me stating as such and XXXX refuses to make any changes to my credit report without explicit written instructions from the creditor ( they also refuse to speak to the creditor on the phone in a conference call ). The result of this new and incorrect representation of my federal student loan accounts on my credit report is that, between last fall and now, my credit score dropped from XXXX to XXXX. A XXXX point drop in my credit score is debilitating. I had sold my car during COVID because I was working from home and got an excellent offer for it. But my job is returning to office and if I can not purchase another car because I can not get a car loan, I could lose my job. And I have already been denied a car loan application from both my current credit card bank and other major lenders. The attachments indicate the way this content is being mis-represented on my credit report.
Company Response:
State: MD
Zip: 212XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-28
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-27
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Subissue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Consumer Complaint: XXXX is reporting outdated inaccurate and incorrect information on my credit report. I have contacted Nelnet and XXXX numerous times and disputed this information. They say that the information is verified with no explanation of where they are getting this information or why they continue to report it. They refuse to delete it as asked. The account has been closed, outdated and, exceeds the statue of limitations. All Nelnet accounts they are reporting are over 20 years old.
Company Response:
State: LA
Zip: 70058
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-03-25
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: Throughout the life of my student loans I have had several years that I was encouraged to go into forbearance by the loan provider, as I couldnt afford payments. Now I am learning that throughout that time frame, had I even made partial payments they would have counted towards my 120 months for my public service loan forgiveness. I feel as though I was misguided with this and in the long run jipped of a huge amount of time that could have been taken off my loan payment time!
Company Response:
State: IN
Zip: 46815
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-03-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A