Date Received: 2018-02-27
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Trouble with how payments are being handled
Consumer Complaint: Dear Consumers Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) : In submitting this complaint, I feel the need to share just a brief history of my story. I grew up on welfare and barely made it through high school. I had a rough home life that I was always trying to overcome. I worked hard for everything I had, but struggled emotionally. In XXXX, at XXXX XXXX XXXX, I decided to get help for my drinking. This is the way I coped with my life. I began recovery for XXXX. As a result, my whole life turned around. After a few years into sobriety, I found out that I could go to school with the help of financial aide. What a dream come true! At age XXXX I began that journey. I went to community XXXX for a few years then transferred to XXXX, where I worked on my XXXXr 's in XXXX XXXX. A vocation that later realized barely paid. I had a specific job that I was interested in, but they increased the requirements to a XXXX XXXX level degree. At XXXX, I went back for my XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had never married nor had kids. I met my current husband at XXXX, married at XXXX. Soon after we were married I unexpectedly I got XXXX. I was so happy. I didn't think this was possible. He is now XXXX and finishing high school. I graduated with my XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX at XXXX. I am now XXXX XXXX XXXX and have 30 years sobriety. " My loan servicer is Nelnet. I seriously don't remember consolidating. I had XXXX XXXX initially. I remember XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX stating they weren't working with them anymore, but my memory escapes me on the details of the switch. " I am not sure where to start? I have 20+ year old loans nearing {$200000.00}. Larger than our home loan. We are not extravagant. " I have a XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX and have worked at non-profits for years with low pay. I finally worked my way into XXXX XXXX and started trying to pay. I set up an income-based plan. This was difficult because I am in XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) with contractual staff, so it is more complicated. What my business takes in and what I am paid is different, so It appears as though I make more then I really do. They are constantly trying to hold my spouse accountable. He did not co-sign the loans and in Michigan we are a non-community property State, plus they are not his loans. " I have been paying fairly steady since XXXX of XXXX. As of XX/XX/XXXX - current I have paid {$26000.00}. " From approximately XXXX in XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX, I began receiving harassing phone calls several times a day, even though I had continued to pay almost XXXX. Since this amount was based on income eligibility, they had considered me late for a portion of what they determined I owed. Initially I was confused about this and thought I had resolved things, at least for a bit. I found out that I needed to resubmit Income based information every year for that too. Each time they would demand my spouse 's income, which I wound refuse to provide. Each time I had to do this the process got drawn out further, then showing I very delinquent for the portion that they felt I owed. All the while I continued to pay $ XXXX. " In XXXX of XXXX, I finally called them, because I couldn't handle all the calls. They called my office several times a day and left VM 's on that phone, where my colleagues and contractual staff had access. They called my cell phone several times a day with random unidentifiable numbers. I didn't feel they were working with me and refused to stop the calls until I resolved things. There appeared to be no solution. I was so upset from sobbing that I made the statement, " It makes a person want to commit XXXX. '' I hung up feeling defeated and exhausted. At the time we were packing our vehicle for a family camping vacation. A Michigan State Policeman pulled into our driveway. Nelnet had called them. They stated that if I didn't go to see someone to be evaluated for XXXX they would handcuff me and take me. My 16-year-old son and his friend were in the house waiting to finish packing for the camping trip. I and my spouse reassured the police officer that it was a figure of speech and I was just very upset. I explained that I myself was therapist and I was not going to attempt XXXX. He still refused and threatened to handcuff me unless I see someone before we leave town. He finally agreed to let me see one of my contractual therapist at my office. I did so while everyone waited in the car to drive up north for our camping trip. I have not been the same since. I can't talk with them on the phone because I have XXXX XXXX and sob. There never seems to be a solution. " At the end of XXXX, I began paying {$1000.00} per month. Shortly thereafter I requested a short forbearance because my spouse was laid off. I was denied. So, I just didn't pay as it was the house payment, our healthcare and needed bills ( or ) the student loan. Just FYI - In XXXX our healthcare costs had risen to $ XXXX through XXXX with a high deductible. In XXXX, XXXX raised our premiums to $ XXXX. We finally had to switch to a different insurance with an even higher deductible to get premiums down. " In XXXX of XXXX, they reported me to the credit bureau for the first time. My good standing credit plummeted. I had never defaulted, never not tried to communicate with them outside of being a late in making contact or some payments. Because I have a difficult time talking with them without breaking down, I sent them an email requesting them to tell me what they need me to pay and sent my income amounts. I told them I would continue to make the {$1000.00} payment until they told me otherwise. They continued to tell me I failed to provide proper information, because I did not provide my spouses income. I kept paying and would again send my information. I am not eligible for any forgiveness, even though I have always worked with the disadvantaged/indigenous population in some capacity, even in my XXXX XXXX. I have been in forbearance for years, not really understanding how easily my loan were increasing. I am a smart and knowledgeable woman. However, I was very nave as to what was happening, especially in the beginning. I was just trying to make my life successful and make a difference. I have never intended not to pay. However, it is impossible to meet their demands. " I have been paying {$1000.00} since XXXX of XXXX. I missed my XX/XX/XXXX payment which I fully intending to pay, got busy and keep forgetting. " On XX/XX/XXXX I made a {$1000.00} payment. Later that evening I opened my mail and received a letter from Nelnet requesting that I pay the full amount of my note, {$190000.00}. If I did not pay or try to resolve within 30 days from the date of the letter, they would consider me default, garnish my wages and take our taxes. The letter was dated XX/XX/XXXX. I received it on XX/XX/XXXX. This gives me approximately 2 weeks to figure this out. I am scared of losing everything I have worked so hard for. I have a successful XXXX XXXX with on-going wait list, that I love. The dream I had has turned into a complete nightmare that is slowly beating me down. The dream of my XXXX son going to college is also gone. I don't want him to go through the same thing I am, which for a parent is very is sad. I don't know what to do?? I am going to try to consult an attorney for a better understanding of the legalities of this. I need some guidance and clarity as to how to deal with all of this. I am finding so many that are going through the same thing on the internet. I continue to look for information, but I have to come up for air and set aside now and them. If there is guidance you can give me to help me deal with all of this, it would be greatly appreciated. XXXX
Company Response:
State: MI
Zip: 48813
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-27
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: My total school debt is $ XXXX ; XXXX with XXXX and one or two semesters with XXXX that was not completed due to medical issues. Later found out I had have a XXXX removed from my XXXX. My loans were deferred and forbearance due to hardships. But, I kept up with my servicer until XXXX XXXX sold my loan to XXXX XXXX. My loans were consolidated under XXXX XXXX. However, XXXX XXXX broke up my loans when it was sold to XXXX XXXX. At this point, my loans were report as $ XXXX. This amount is incorrect. It appears it is " estimated interested '' already added to my loan. I did not learn of this until some of my loans were reported in default and XXXX XXXX came after me wages by attempting garnishment. I got my lawyer involved and then they agreed to put me in a repayment plan. However, even though I was paying them as agreed XXXX XXXX was still reporting me as default. The rest of my loans were with XXXX in good standing. After the " rehabilitation period '' was over XXXX XXXX sent me to Nelnet. They are charging {$20.00} interest day ; $ XXXX monthly or $ XXXX annually. This is just in interest. My monthly payment is {$690.00}. So that is a total of {$1200.00} per month. I was told an additional 30 % would be added for the life of my debt with Nelnet. There is no way I could ever pay this loan off. I don't make enough to keep up with this outrageous predatory lending tactic towards graduate students. These terms were not agreed upon when I took out my loan or exited my school process. I need help to protect my credit. Interest monthly should never exceed my monthly payment. Nelnet and XXXX XXXX are one in the same. I contacted XXXX XXXX and it gives me XXXX, as well. I feel trapped and need help fast! Every day is costing me {$20.00}. I want to pay what I owe, not 3x 's plus 30 % " insurance '' for the life of my debt with Nelnet/XXXX. HELP!!!
Company Response:
State: GA
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-26
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Subissue: Account status incorrect
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2017 I deferred my student loans with Nelnet to avoid any late payments while my payments where being recalculated we went back and forth many times they had lost paperwork and and not contacted me back. I was during this time in deferment. But to my surprise my credit is showing late payments from XX/XX/2017 through XX/XX/2017! I need this off my credit immediately due to Nelnets error and faulty reporting to the credit bureau.
Company Response:
State: OK
Zip: 740XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-26
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-26
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Problem lowering your monthly payments
Consumer Complaint: I was told by XXXX that I would have a monthly payment of {$84.00} after trying for a month to get them to put me on an income based repayment plan. The lady helping me asked what I needed my payment to be at after I had given her my financial information and I replied stating the payment needed to be under {$100.00}. I was told I would receive my new payment within a week, but it took them a month and I just received a message on my account that my payment was put at {$130.00} for the next 12 months. I feel this isnt right because I was quoted what my payment would be and now it is applied to my account that I will repay an amount that I communicated to them that I can not repay.
Company Response:
State: MO
Zip: 64081
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-26
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Subissue: Account status incorrect
Consumer Complaint: I have 8 loans in 1 account. Two of the accounts are report as " collection ''. After calling Nelnet they said the accounts are not in collection, and that they do not send accounts to collection. They would not change the status until I made the account current. From a consumer perspective, I make 1 monthly payment, into 1 account. It looks and feels like 1 account. When the account falls delinquent, they report all 8 accounts to the credit bureaus as delinquent. Every loan in the account has different payment structures and the way the payments are applied are very confusing to the consumer. I called into Nelnet for an explanation and frankly it is not remotely similar to any experience consumers have with other creditors. It unfairly reports these delinquencies as multiple delinquent accounts causing severe damage to a consumer 's report. I believe this puts the consumer at a disadvantage. The account manager ( I have the name ) admitted to me that the accounts are very difficult to understand unless you do it every day. He also said the DOE 's billing and payment methods are very different than that of other creditors. I work in financial services, and that just sounds very suspicious, and misleading to consumers. Please feel free to reach out for specific detail and examples.
Company Response:
State: NJ
Zip: 088XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-23
Issue: Communication tactics
Subissue: Called before 8am or after 9pm
Consumer Complaint: I keep regular contact with my student loan debtors and they have all my updated contact information however, of late I've had severe financial duress and was XXXX for a whole month with the recent XXXX going around, so I had to put them on hold. I've since sent them the required documentation for IBP. In the mean time, on XX/XX/2018, at XXXX in the morning, Nelnet called my elderly father who is XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and very XXXX XXXX XXXX. That phone call almost sent him to the emergency room. Nelnet called him to get my updated contact information, which they already had, and he thought there was some emergency. He though I was in some hospital XXXX. No one calls anyone at XXXX unless it is an emergency! He doesn't give out anyone 's personal information over the phone, so they called him in vain. They did cause him a great deal of distress. After that call he immediately called me to see if I was okay. ( NelneXXXX, XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Fax : XXXX ) Thank you, XXXX XXXX
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 77375
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-22
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Received bad information about your loan
Consumer Complaint: XX/XX/2017 I had called about my student loan payments inquiring why they were taking {$79.00} one day of the month and XXXX $ another day. I was discussing with them my financial situation ( in terms of I want a one month payment possibly lower than the {$180.00} ) and the " loan professional '' suggested income drive based payment plan, which honestly sounded good since I was paying {$180.00} a month and I had recently lost my job. So they explained its based off the income NEVER that I was going to pay NOTHING towards my principal for almost a year. I am beyond myself, how could they not tell you " hey by the way you are only going to be paying interest are you sure you want to do this? '' I opted for auto debit therefore not looking at the breakdown until I did my taxes this year. I don't understand how they can suggest something like this when they are supposed to be helping my debt situation not making it worse. I requested a lower interest rate considering I wasted almost a year at paying interest only ( not even XXXX $ towards the principal ). How is that even a thing? I should have known better they these people are snakes but they do not teach you this stuff in high school, which is sad because hard working people like me get taken advantage of. Super frustrating and honestly sad.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 12302
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-22
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Subissue: Don't agree with the fees charged
Consumer Complaint: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NE XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Above I am starting with the contact information I received from the dispute I filed for XXXX. I attended college for XXXX XXXX and did not get to finish the program because the school shut down when XXXX colleges took over XXXX college. They committed fraud and lied to their students about the school shutting down including me and got me to spend more money knowing the school was shutting down. I did not get to finish school and should not have to pay for these loans. They expect me to pay around 6 grand a month but I did not finish my degree so I do not have a good XXXX job to pay like I would have if I would have got to finish school. I found a website online last year and finally got a mailing address to mail papers in to detest the student loans but never heard anything back. Tried to research number s to get ahold of them and nothing ever went through and no one got back to me. I need help getting justice for the loans that I should not have to go back. They are destroying my credit and I can not and will not pay the loans back for a degree I did not get to complete I will eventually have to file bankruptcy if the loans aren't forgiven. Many students got their loans forgiven because of the fraud XXXX colleges committed and I should be one of those students.
Company Response:
State: NV
Zip: 89103
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-23
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Subissue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Consumer Complaint: I submitted a loan discharge application to nelnet on XX/XX/18. I have an email confirmation they received the application. However, I have received no additional response back other than them providing me a hardship deferment. I previously mailed documents to them per the department of education and apparently they never got them, but reported negatively on my credit report. I told the dept of education they don't listen and they have my payments too high. I discussed a criminal record with the department of education and was told about the loan discharge paperwork. I was advised to send the paperwork to nelnet. When I called nelnet they denied knowing what it was and told me it was not then that handles it. And that I needed to reach back out to the dept of education. Everything in the dept of education site states it should go to your loan servicer who is nelnet. I emailed the documents and uploaded them in my account for review. I feel like I am being ignored yet again. I want to know this is seriously being reviewed. This last representative told me I could upload documents to my account as I do not go on the site because it never recognizes my password and I have to reset it everytime. This becomes very annoying. This time I uploaded the application to prevent them saying they didn't get it and I emailed it to them.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 76039
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-02-22
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Subissue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Consumer Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX I received notification from XXXX that my Income-Based Reduction payment plan was expiring. When I attempted in XX/XX/XXXX to re-apply I was denied an IBR plan and the reason stated was that I no longer qualified because the loan had to be paid off. I was told that I had 10 years to pay off the loan and that I'd actually been given 17 years - thus, I'd been " paying on the loan too long. '' The new monthly payment amount was set at over {$70.00} a month, which is on top of the {$250.00} a month payment that I make to XXXX for the bulk of my remaining student loan debt. On XX/XX/XXXX I again requested some repayment option that would reduce my monthly payment. I informed XXXX at that time that my spouse had become unemployed and I was unable to make the monthly payment of $ 70+ a month. Again I was told I had " no other options '' but to make that payment and pay off the loan in full. In the process of that call, I requested to be placed on a forebearance until my husband could reestablish employment. XXXX says ( on XX/XX/XXXX ) that the call was disconnected in the process ( I was told the forebearance was in place during that call before it became disconnected ). I received another letter the following month saying my loan was past due, so I called Nelnet again on XX/XX/XXXX to request a forebearance until my husband could reestablish employment and was granted two months - I was told my next payment due would be XX/XX/XXXX. I received a letter this week, dated XX/XX/XXXX, that stated that my loan was past due. Upon calling Nelnet today ( XX/XX/XXXX ), I learned that a wrong forebearance code had been placed on my account which allowed for a " reduced forebearance payment '' of {$71.00}. I called to dispute the fact that I had a forebearance, and also stated that I was told in XXXX that my forebearance could be retroactive to when I had initially requested it in XX/XX/XXXX. Today, I was told that no retroactive process could be put in place for the XXXX payment but could be applied to the XXXX payment. When trying to dispute reporting of late/past due payments the customer service representative informed me that they were unable to dispute EITHER month 's negative reporting to the credit bureaus. No reason was given. To date, Nelnet has refused to offer me reasonable repayment options for the loan, which they bought from another servicer XXXX years ago, and have now demanded payment must be completed on. My husband and I are unable to make that monthly loan payment in addition to the monthly loan payment that we make the other servicer of my student loans and the monthly payment we make for his student loans as well. Nelnet has given me no opportunities to rectify my account, and in the process, is responsible for damaging my credit due to their errors, which they will not correct.
Company Response:
State: MI
Zip: 48307
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-02-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A