Complain about a product or service

Sallie Mae

Shavontae of Hawthorne CA (07/02/08)
I was granted a loan through Sallie Mae Inc in March of 2005. I attended Maric College in Carson,Ca. Upon completion of the Medical Assisting program I was informed by Maric College that I would have to start payments for the loan in May of 2006. But everytime I called Sallie Mae to inquire about my loan, I was told by several representatives that I didn't exist in their computer base. I called for a loan consolidation in October of 2006 and was given the same information, I didn't exist. This issue has resulted in Sallie Mae defaulting my loan.

I am continuously denied employment because the loans appear to be past due on my credit report. I am unable to futher my education because I'm not eligible for financial aid. I am unable to apply for credit. I have also been denied by certain appartment homes, while trying to find a place to reside.

James of Moreno Valley CA (07/02/08)
I have had prety much all the same problems with Sallie mae reps that I have read about. Never before have I encountered such a group of unhelpful, rude, lieing, backstabbing bunch of people in my life. I can not believe how this company treats is customers.

I even asked for a corp. number to speak to someone that could help me with my situation and they flat out refused teling me that there is no one else that I can deal with other then there crappy dept. I did not accept this anwser and found the corp. number and was connected to the advocate dept. where the lady was helpful and able to do for me what I orignaly wanted to do.

Sandra of Broken Bow OK (06/30/08)
I have been trying since Friday, June 27, 2008 to log onto my Sallie Mae on-line account and pay my bill. When I try to long on, I receive an error message that says We're unable to locate an account for you at this time. Please verify your information or call. After several more attempts to log on, I called Customer Service. The gentleman I spoke with verified my account information and said he would send me a temporary password by email. He verified my email address. I never received the email. I checked my junk mail box and my server's spam filter and found nothing from SallieMae.

The next day (Saturday) I changed my password online. When I tried to log in I received the same error message. I tried using my old password and received the message that my password and user ID didn't match the information they had for my account. So on the one hand, they have account information for me, but on the other they are unable to locate the information. I tried calling again and received a recording that said they were having phone troubles. I tried a few more times, receiving the same recording. I tried to log in again on Sunday, June 29 and received the same error message as on June 27. I tried calling and received a recording that stated the number had been changed. The new number was exactly the same as the old number.

The phone rang twice, then a recording said they couldn't take my call and to call back in an hour. When I did, I got a busy signal. On this same day I received a do not reply to email from Sallie Mae stating that my bill was now available on-line. By this time, my payment is late. It would have been on time if I'd been able to log in on June 27. I sent a fax asking someone to call me. I have received no response.

Today, Monday June 30, I tried again to log in and received the same error message. I tried to call and received the message that the number had been changed and, again, the new number was the same as the old. I was told to call back in an hour. Again, the line was busy. FINALLY, at about 3:00 pm CDT I was able to get through to SallieMae's automated phone system. I had to schedule a call-back because of the high volume of calls. It is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2 at 1:00 pm. I have little hope that they will actually call. One of the selections on the automated phone system was to go ahead and pay my bill and bring it up to date. Instead of allowing me to pay what was due on June 28, they now want two payments plus late fees - even though the July payment isn't due until July 28. My payments are over $700/month. I can't afford to pay them $1400.

The amount of the late fees were not itemized. I suspect they are levied against the entire loan and tacked on to the end of the loan. I currently owe $95,000+ to them. I had some financial difficulties several years ago and had to declare bankruptcy. It was a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I could not write off the student loan, but it was put into forbearance by the court until the agreed upon payments were completed. At the end of those 5 long years, SallieMae tacked on $30,000 in Capitalized interest to the $65,000 original debt. My husband and I are retired. We are able to make the payment every month, but it is usally payed very close to the due date because I have to wait until his Social Security check is deposited into his account.

I've noticed that even when I pay the bill on time, it often takes SallieMae a few days to post it, which makes the payment late. All I want to do is log on to my account and pay my June bill. SallieMae is preventing me from doing that. They did not send me the temporary password so I could access my account. Now my payment is late and they've added late fees. I can't get through their phone system to communicate with them. What is my recourse? I want to take care of this as soon as possible before I start receiving harrassing phone calls.

Gerardo of Pomona CA (06/29/08)
About a year ago I took out a school loan that was through Salle Mae and it went Directly to Silver State Helicopters. The loan was a Secondary Loan that was never used. A year later Silver State Helicopters Files for Bankruptcy. Sallie mae still make me responsible for a loan that was never used and was suppose to be returned. I made payments on it in case I used it. But with all the leagal fees of hiring a lawyer for what happen to silver state I fell behing Sallie Mae. They would not except partial payments or work with me. My loan is about to default a loan that was stolen by Silver State Helicopters. I called sallie mae for a help once again and everytime I call they refuse to help me and they get verbaly abusive. They threat me with placcing a refusal to pay.

sallie mae always threat me with taking me to court and that I will have to pay back the loan with 125% intrest. They are an eduction leander. The money was never spent it was suppose to be returned if not used. I have tried to work with them but everytime I call It gets worst!

Wil of Orlando FL (06/28/08)
SALLIE MAE has the WORST customer service! You cannot understand their reps, they have no clue about what they are suppose to do. The do not apply their payments to the right loans and send you correspondence for a past due when you had already paid the bill!

Louvenia of Baton Rouge LA (06/20/08)
I have been having trouble with all kinds of people calling my house from sallie mae. They call every day morning til night all during the day. They call from all kinds of numbers from different states, one hundred numbers and straight long distance numbers as well. They first use to call for my son who had a loan from them for school. That was a everyday call night and day and all through the day. Even though I would tell them he was not here they would question you as to where he was when will he be back did he have another number to be reached at and so on until I just hang up. They would call right back about few minutes later. Sometimes longer but they were sure to call back.

My son finally got a loan to consolidate the loan with them, but the calls never stopped coming. Several months ago they started calling my house for someone who gave my son's name as a reference sometime back. I have told them over and over that he did not nor did he ever lived here but they just want stop calling for him.

They first lied and said my son had co-signed I called the so called office of Sallie Mae direct and spoke to someone who said he was manager and he asked me for my phone number and pretend to looked it up and said that the phone calls was a mistake and he was sure to remove my phone number and he promised me that I would recieve no more calls. About an hour or two later I recieved non other then a call from sallie mae asking for the same gentlemen that I have told them over and over again that he do not live here.

I waited a couple of days before calling the company back and got another man who suppose to have been a manager also, after I explained the situation to him and that I had called days ago and that I was told that the calls would stop and they hadn't his reply was that he apologize but they should have told me that it would take 72 hrs. for the number to be removed and the phone calls to stop. He assured me that after 72 hrs. I would not recieve no more calls. He must have meant 72 months because they calls never ceased.

They calls and sometimes just hang up when I answer they talk smart on the phone and gets me so upset. When I tell them to stop call my house they thinks it a joke and start questioning me. Some say things like I will remove the number right now and hrs. later they call right back. I have contacted my phone company and also use call trace. I am so tired and drained with the harrasing phone calls sometime I just have to go and sit down to catch my breath because I be so upset, I have highblood pressure and I'm sure that's not good for me to get so upset. I put up with them calling my house for my son like they where crazy but I should not have to endure the harrasament for somone else who is no kin of mine and does not live here. How can a company get away with such poor customer service. I sometimes just don't even answer the phone. Is there a solution to this problem?

Jill of Huber Heights OH (06/19/08)
The customer service representatives are very tough, if not impossible to understand. I'm trying to get my payments lowered so I can get out of forebearance and can get almost nothing done. In the mean time I rack up late fees, and who knows what else and each time I call I have to get the canned message about how I owe $600, 900, 1200!

I called them about this and they said no, I was up to date as of last month (as it should be) and the next minute said I owe $900. HUH? And all of this while I'm saying I cannot understand you, please speak slowly, clearly and loudly and asking them to repeat every other phrase. Forms don't get sent to me, we go round and round and get nowhere. This is ridiculous, something has to be done.

Aurelia of Carson CA (06/18/08)
In June 21, 2007 i applied to get a student loan with SallieMae, but its was not approved. SallieMae approved a loan to someone under my information, I've requested their attention to correct this problem but they keep giving me the run around and this is affecting my credit! They are fully aware that the person making the payments to them is not me, the signatures don't match, and the papers have been altered. They help someone get a loan with my information!

Afew months later, I needed to refinance my home, and I wasn't able because I have a delinquent accout with SallieMae, for over 20,000.00! I contacted them and they have been so rude and all the documents they have with my signature are a fraud! ecxept for my application in june 21,2007, but this loan was approved on October 16,2007. Its not me! And all the documents SallieMae has showed me are altered and they even have payments from another person who is accually using this loan with my information.

Tatiana of North Bergen NJ (06/17/08)
I have very high adjustable interest Private Student Loans with Sallie Mae. Since they did not give me a good interest rate when I tried to reconslidate I took my business to Citibank. (Sallie Mae thought I had poor credit, my credit score is 720 and I just bought a small studio so I don't know where they got that information.)

Prior to the payment being sent from Citibank, I emailed Sallie Mae giving them detailed directions to which loans to apply the payment to. I also called a few days prior to the check getting there to make sure a note was placed on my account that loan 11 should be paid off in full. I have had many issues with Sallie Mae so I thought I would take all precautions. Of course they applied my payments how they saw fit, paying down a little for each loan, even the federal loans with low interest rates.

I called to clear everything up, after hanging up the payments were still misapplied. So I called again a few days later when I noticed the mistake. This time the payments were all applied correctly and I even saw the updates immediately online. The account I wanted paid off was at $0. Later on that month I checked to make sure my payments had gone down for the month, that's when I noticed that once again my payments had been moved around and the loan that had been paid in full once again had a balance. And once again my federal loans had been paid down.

I really feel like Sallie Mae is doing everything in their power to make a buck from me. Maybe if I'm slow enough, I won't catch the mistake and keep paying my life off in interest. Their interest rates are insane, the calls are routed to India and I can barely understand the person's name that I'm speaking with and they almost never have a solution to any of my questions. Please avoid this company at all costs. I have had much better experiences with Citibank, KEy Bank, and NJClass loans.

Tatiana of North Bergen NJ (06/17/08)
I have very high adjustable interest Private Student Loans with Sallie Mae. Since they did not give me a good interest rate when I tried to reconslidate I took my business to Citibank. (Sallie Mae thought I had poor credit, my credit score is 720 and I just bought a small studio so I don't know where they got that information.) Prior to the payment being sent from Citibank, I emailed Sallie Mae giving them detailed directions to which loans to apply the payment to. I also called a few days prior to the check getting there to make sure a note was placed on my account that loan 11 should be paid off in full.

I have had many issues with Sallie Mae so I thought I would take all precautions. Of course they applied my payments how they saw fit, paying down a little for each loan, even the federal loans with low interest rates. I called to clear everything up, after hanging up the payments were still misapplied. So I called again a few days later when I noticed the mistake. This time the payments were all applied correctly and I even saw the updates immediately online. The account I wanted paid off was at $0. Later on that month I checked to make sure my payments had gone down for the month, that's when I noticed that once again my payments had been moved around and the loan that had been paid in full once again had a balance. And once again my federal loans had been paid down.

I really feel like Sallie Mae is doing everything in their power to make a buck from me. Maybe if I'm slow enough, I won't catch the mistake and keep paying my life off in interest. Their interest rates are insane, the calls are routed to India and I can barely understand the person's name that I'm speaking with and they almost never have a solution to any of my questions.

Kathleen of Northridge CA (06/17/08)
I am being harrassed by Sallie Mae. I am current on my loans, I have a forebearance until December, 2008 for all but one loan - which I am paying on and I get multiple daily calls. Last night they called me at my home and then asked me for my address and phone number to verify who I was. I said that the request violated everything we are told not to do for security.

He then told me I was seriously past due and would not listen to me when I said I was not. I then hung up the phone only to have 7 more phone calls last night. I get calls at work and at home during the day - everyday. This has resulted in my entire family not wanting to answer the phone at all.

Helen of Lyndhurst NJ (06/15/08)
For over a year they cash my checks but don't credit my account then charge me bogus late fee and harrass me. I talked to several people but got no where. I must have written over 50 letters also sending them copies of my bank statements proving I paid the months they say I didn't pay. they said i signed up for electronic payment and i never did. I never do that with anyone. I write a personal check for everything. They also refuse to send my my new payment book that I should have had months ago. They call like 10 times a day harrassing me but won't listen to me when I tell them they are wrong and I don't know why. When we call they are extremely rude saying I am telling a lie I didn't pay it they hang up on me They will NOT help me but keep saying im behind in my payments when i am not. they will not listen to anything i say they just keep calling me a liar. No One Will Listen or HELP Me !

DEDUCT ALL LATE FEES AND INTEREST Over $100.00 Plus interest.

Joel of Avondale AZ (06/14/08)
Sallie Mae has become confused about my forbearance status. I have a hard copy letter from them stating I am in forebearance until May 5, 2008, yet they claim that I am delinquent in paying April's bill which I do not owe due to the forebearance. Since May they have continually harrassed us by calling every 40-60 minutes using two different numbers. They have called friends of ours to harrass them about our delinquency. We have attempted to explain the mixup and they have not changed their behavior. Yesterday they called and without using any profanity, I emphatically asked/told them to stop this harrassment which caused them to hang up on me. Later, when my wife called they hung up on her, telling her she was being abusive, which she certainly was not. Supposedly, I was transferred to a supervisor today by the name of Anthony employee (who hung up on me earlier today). Anthony verified that his records showed that we had become upset with them on the phone. Evidently part of their policy is to harrass you until you get upset, then not communicate with you to resolve the issue, but continue the harrassing phone calls.

We will resolve to never use this company again, and to advise everyone we know to stear clear of it. We would also like to pursue legal action against this company for predatory behavior and harrassment. This company should be made a public example.

Silvia of Arlington VA (06/13/08)
I have a student loan with Sallie Mae. Due to a recent move and job loss, I have been unable to make payments and I am behind. Sallie Mae calls every day and is rude. Further, every time they call, they tell me something different. For instance, a few weeks ago they told me that I could get a forebearance if I paid them $150. So, I scrounged the money in an effort to save my credit and called in to pay it. Once on the phone, the person who answered passed me to a manager who yelled and screamed at me. He told me that I could not have a forebearance until I pay all of the past due amount. He then accused me of lying about trying to find a job and proceeded to lecture me about moving WITHOUT SALLIE MAE'S PERMISSION!!!!

These calls are very upsetting and difficult. I am afraid to answer my phone anymore because I don't want to be screamed at by some Sallie Mae employee. These phone calls on top of my difficulties in finding work keep me up at night and make me angry and upset. It also affects my mood and my relationship with my husband.

Helen of Lyndhurst NJ (06/11/08)
They will not help me but keep saying im behind in my payments when i am not. I have the bank statements to prove it but they don't care and will not listen. They call like 10 times a day harrassing me but won't listen to me when I tell them they are wrong and I don't know why. they cash my checks but don't credit my account then charge me bogus late fee and harrass me.

talked to several people but got no where. I must have written over 50 letters. they are extremely rude say I am telling a lie I didn't pay it they hang up on us and then they said i signed up for electronic payment and i never did. I never do that with anyone. I write a personal check for everything. They harrass me and my mom so bad and just hang up on us when we try to explain that they are wrong and I have the bank statements to prove it. I have even mailed them copies of the statements. They also refuse to send my my new payment book that I should have had months ago.

Ryan of Merrionette Park IL (06/11/08)
I receive 7-8 harassing phone calls a day even after arrangements have been made on my account I asked that my phone not be called anymore and I am still being harassed on a constant basis

Maureen of West Lafayette IN (06/11/08)
As usual, we have been paying on this loan for 4 years ($17,000) and only $2000 has gone to the principal. Most recently, we have paid before the due date and of the $125 payment, $98 goes to interest! I don't understand how you can pay before the due date and the earlier you pay, the more it goes to interest. You can never speak to someone in this country, UNLESS you press the I want to defer payment button, then they are there for you.

At the rate we are going, this loan will take years to pay off and our son would like to go to culinary school and I don't see how he can afford to get another loan. Financially, this is the one bill I do not see a light at the end of the tunnel. It's not right when you pay $200/month and only a fraction goes to the principal and that amount changes every month.

Joseph of Federal Way WA (06/10/08)
On several occasions I have approach Sallie-Mae on repayment proposal each time I want told it wasnt enough eventually, my account was move to there collection agent General Revenue Inc. they demand (595.00) which was about $150.00 more than I expected, well in a matter of weeks that had started garnishing my check for each pay peirod not monthly.

With current state of the economic this has been huge impact to my ability to maintain any credit, house payment, car, health. will continue to fall behind....

Helen of Lyndhurst NJ (06/09/08)
they cash my checks but don't credit my account then charge me bogus late fee and harrass me. talked to several people but got no where. I must have written over 50 letters. they are extremely rude say I am telling a lie I didn't pay it they hang up on us and then they said i signed up for electronic payment and i never did. I never do that with anyone. I write a personal check for everything. They will not help me but keep saying im behind in my payments when i am not.

I have the bank statements to prove it but they don't care and will not listen. They call like 10 times a day harrassing me but won't listen to me when I tell them they are wrong and I don't know why. They also refuse to send my my new payment book that I should have had months ago. They cash my checks on time but do not credit my account as paid. I don't know or understand why.

Straighten account, deduct ALL late fees over the past year. Over $80.00 Plus interest.

Helen of Lyndhurst NJ (06/07/08)
they cash my checks but don't credit my account then charge me bogus late fee and harrass me. talked to several people but got no where. When we call they are extremely rude say I am telling a lie I didn't pay it. they hang up on us and then they said i signed up for electronic payment and i never did. They will not help me but keep saying im behind in my payments when i am not. I have the bank statements to prove it but they don't care and will not listen. They call like 10 times a day harrassing me but won't listen to me when I tell them they are wrong and I don't know why.

They also refuse to send my my new payment book that I should have had months ago. I must have written over 50 letters. this is the second time they are doing this to me. tey pulled this last year ans i thought they fixed it byt they didn't. They are nasty and mean no matter who you talk to. the one woman said i don't want to talk to you and hung up another said we are wasting her time and hung up. they also said i didn't pay in advance or even pay at all,

Harrassment Mental & emotional distress waste of my time & money Over $80.00 In Bogus LATE Fees !

Linda of Columbia, MD (05/25/08)
SMae has been reporting my student loan since 1975!!!! This loan is paid and Sallie Mae tells me they have the right to keep this loan on my credit reports for another 7 years!

The statute is 7 years, not 33 years!!!

Brenda of Wilm DE (05/22/08)
I was called by this number about a collection for an EX brother in Law that i had not seen nor talked to in over 10 years. When I ask to speak to a supervisor I was told he was on a break and xferd to another person who was very rude and hung up xfere to another line who hung up. I was trying to find out why I ws being called at this number, It is a new number. I have only had for two months, I ws lied to they said he had given it out. Which is impossible, I have not talked to him he divorced my sister 10 years ago. when i told them that they hung up on me.

I finally called again got two more xfers until I got to Mike M, who said he woudl take my nnumber off, but when they get a file they tranfer the info again and the call start again. he gave me a number to call and it was a fax number for Sallie Mae when i called back he gave me the above address and that he got my number from Sallie Mae. I have recieved numberous calls to my answering machine about this debt, they leve a long winded message which i can not erase until it plays thru. that agency told me that got the number from Sallie Mae and would have it removed but seems they just transferd it to this new agency

These calls wake me up. and I have to deal with rude and uncaring people who lie about the information they have, This phone is only use for emergency calls so when it ring it upset me very much and makes it hard for me to sleep. It seems they have to problem braodcasting his personal information about his debt he owes and NO regard for my privacy. since I have not been related to him nor talked to him for many years over 10+

Jason of Philadelphia PA (05/20/08)
In short, like most of these stories my credit was horribly damaged because of five negative listings by Sallie Mae on my credit report. Basically I was still in school when they decided to send a bill for 64 dollars to an old address. First of all I was taking full time credits and should of never been billed anything yet. I have recently mailed them my transcripts proving I was in school and a copy of my credit report. We will see what happens. But these stories do not make me feel optimistic.

over 100 points lost on my credit report. high interest rate on my car.

Avona of The Colony TX (05/17/08)
I had taken a family leave to move to Florida for a short period of time in 2004 to assist with caring for my Father that was 91 at the time. I deferred my student loans with Sallie Mae for 12 months. I was not notified that my payments had started. I contacted Sallie Mae and worked out an agreement to consolidate my loans and they would remove the adverse accounts from my credit reports after 6 months of good standing of the consolidated loans. I wrote Sallie Mae requesting them to honor there agreement was told that they could not remove the adverse reporting.

So the end result is that I the loans being reported in both good standing and adverse. I have tried to get the account move to another lender and no one will touch Sallie Mae loans. Trying to go to school to better your self and needing loans, my recommendation don't not borrow from Sallie Mae, they are very difficult to work with.

This has put my credit rating in the toilet and I cannot even get credit to buy furniture, and other high dollar ticket items that need to be purchased.

Pamela of Gary IN (05/16/08)
I attended College in 99 to 01 and I had to withdraw due to illness.I had my salliemae loans deferred and in 2003 I had them consolidated with Direct Loans. I recieved a letter from salliemae that my loans were consolidated to direct and they were paid in full. I did not hear anymore until Sept.of 07 when my husband was arrested for failure to appear. Even though we did move in 03 I still had all my mail forwarded and salliemae did not ever send me anything. So we lost 2 days work and had to shell out $500. I have hired an attorney for chapter 7. Now I get a summons for court and they are planning to garnish my and my husbands wages. They now say they hold one loan not eligible for consolidation but will not say why.

2 days lost wages in Sept 07, $500 and mental stress due to impending garnishment, this would put a financial strain on us. $1300 to lawyer for chapter 7. Repeated harassment from courts and Attorney David Blaskovich.

Pam of Akron OH (05/15/08)
My fiancee had a major heart attack 3 weeks ago, he has been in intensive care ever since that. They are inserting a pace maker and a de-fib in hopes to get his heat regulated. Sallie Mae has called demanding to know who is taking care of his affairs, who has power of attorney to make the payments. No compassion what so ever, no understanding, all they want is their money, not caring that the man was on his death bed at one point. It is horrible how they treat ALL the people who intrusted them. Just tack on late charges, interest payments and make harrassing phone calls.

I urge everyone to contact them in one form or another letting them know about this site. I would love nothing more than to send this to them. We got a $2,000.00 loan and you would think we owed them a million dollars. NO ONE should ever take a loan from them and everyone should encourage their friends and family to stay away from Sallie Mae.

The harrassing phone calls did not help my fiancee's health at all..They are heartless and could care less that he is in intensive care. Yes, we are behind, but with the economy the way it is, my fiancee on total disability and only receiving SSI, he is in no condition to be harrassed when he does come home rom the hospital..

Alan of Santa Ana CA (05/14/08)
I had borrowed only one student loan with Sallie Mae. I paid off the loan 2 year ago. Before Sallie Mae have the direct deposit feature, i used to write lum sum check to Sallie Mae 10 months/check so i don't have to keep track of it every month. One time i wrote a 3 month lum sum check, Sallie Mae disregard my options and make it only months. ( this is 9 years ago).

Last month, i was trying to get a mortgate loan, my credit report popped up 2 degratory Sallie Mae account and 4 good Sallie Mae account. The degratory account have 90 days late with note ( account transfered). 4 good accounts are not over until 2017. I called Sallie Mae 3 times but all of the people i talked to, decline to help. They told me that i need to dispute to the bureau credit. I paid 39.99$ through Experian but Sallie Mae declined to correct their fault. Now i'm stucked in this hard place. I saved enough money but i can't buy a house because of bad credit. I feel so helpless because it is so hard to fight against the system.

Evidently, i have paid off my loan. I have only one student loan. But sloppy report from Sallie Mae lead lender to believing that have not paid off the degratory account ( transfered account). My credit was from 780 down to 667. I could not get a mortgate loan. I lost 5000$ deposit on escrow. I can't buy a house.

Deandra of El Paso TX (05/14/08)
I received a notification from Equifax on 5/9/08 that my credit score had changed. When I went to the site, I was shocked to see that my credit score plummeted by 67 points due to a derogatory reporting by Sallie Mae on my student loan. I was and still am in shock; I have worked so hard to improve my credit score over the last few years and was preparing to purchase a home. I emailed Sallie Mae through their Contact Us link on 5/10/08. I then called the 800 number on 5/13/08 only to be transferred to someone who I could not understand very well; he seemed to be reading from a scripted response.

What I did gather from the Representative as that Sallie Mae inadvertently made a coding error just this one time for any account that had a reduced payment plan; they were all coded as delinquent, but the problem would be resolved as soon as possible. They also coded my account with a new account number, and as making partial payments. I checked my email later on 5/13/08 and had received a response from Sallie Mae instructing me to send them a copy of my credit report as credit problems could not be handled on-line. My response email was not nice and I informed them that I would report this to every organization that I could until Sallie Mae corrected their ways. If it were not for the services of Equifax, I would never have known of this injustice.

To date, Sallie Mae has not notified me in any way of their coding error; if I had not contacted them, I would never have known. I informed Sallie Mae in my email that as a consumer, I am expected to be financially responsible in the use of credit and I expect them to be held to the same standards. If I defaulted on my loan with them, I am sure that there would be a little more urgency in your resolution plan. I further informed them that this is an urgent situation to me, and I do not appreciate being instructed to unworriedly write, mail, or fax documentation for something Sallie Mae not only did, but also is fully aware of. What I do expect is that the information submitted on my credit report be corrected expeditiously, not as soon as possible, or in the next reporting period.

The damage is astronomical. No one will provide someone with credit where my numbers are now, and the score is not correct but my creditors do not know this; all they see are numbers. Also, variable credit rates are tied to my credit score; I cannot imagine what is going to happen to all the hard work I have done. Regardless of whether I purchase a home or not, my credit score is now in one of the lowest categories. I am stressed, upset, and worried about the consequences this will have on my life. What makes it so bad is that Sallie Mae seem to they could care less about what has happened to me and apparently many others.

Shannon of Baltimore MD (05/13/08)
My husband and I had a small computer training loan from Sallie Mae in 2002. It had deferred payment for three months. When I received the first statement I called for the payoff amount and sent a check for the full payoff. Fast forward to April 2008 ... we start to receive letters and start to be harassed by phone calls saying that we owe $445.00. We called customer service (all 15 phone numbers and departments we were given and transferred to) only to find out they had applied my $11,000 payoff toward future payments. The negative balance accrued interest for six years. We had no correspondence or statements the entire time.

When we call to get help we are constantly hung up on and transferred to different departments. Most often times we are sent right back to the main phone number. We have faxed the cancelled check. We have been told to wait for a letter, and all we get are delinquent statements. Is there a class action law suit. This company is a scam and inherently why so many young people are worried about their future and the future of this country.

Michelle of Beverly Hills CA (05/12/08)
I recently was alerted by a credit score watch service that new derogatory information had been reported on my credit reports. As I am applying for my first mortgage loan, I knew that my credit had to be nothing short of stellar, so about three years ago, I began paying big chunks of my income and savings to pay my Sallie Mae Student Loan accounts down, if not pay them off entirely. To pay these loans down, I did not go on vacations, I scraped and I sacrificed.

When I graduated, I owed nearly $74,000 in student loans. Right now, I owe about $14,000, which is still alot, but I now feel that I have a good shot at paying it off and getting a good interest rate on a mortgage (or at least I had hoped.) Low and behold, when I got my Equifax credit report, Sallie Mae had added a notation on my credit report arrangement made with credit grantor to make partial payments. Apparently this comment/notation caused Equifax's computers to go berserk and my student loan account is now being reported as seriously delinquent and the ENTIRE LOAN amount is showing as past due. Yes, the entire loan balance is showing as past due, not the monthly payment of around $165. This is, of course, a joke, because I have been making larger than required monthly payments, aggressively paying down the principal. The account, according to their own website, is even in a pre-paid status, with the next payment due on April 2009.

I immediately called their 800 customer service number. I asked to speak with a customer service supervisor. She told me to fax her information, including copies of my credit reports, showing the drop in my credit score (my credit score dropped 110 points). She promised to return my call. As of this writing, I have not received a call back.

When I call their customer service number to attempt to confirm receipt of the information she requested that I fax, I am told that I cannot speak with this person, but that another supervisor can help me. I then have to explain the situation all over again. It is beyond comprehension to me that Sallie Mae can harass and call someone who is past due on their accounts repeatedly with impugnity. Yet, when they are wrongfully reporting you as being delinquent to the credit bureaus, when you are in fact, pre-paid and have never been late on your account, causing serious damage to your credit scores and impeding your ability to get a mortgage or any type of new credit, they do not make the promised return calls, nor do they respond to your correspondence. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. Any class actions going against Sallie Mae's credit reporting practices? (I know of the class action against them alleging discriminatory lending practices.)

I am currently applying for a mortgage loan. Because my credit score dropped by over 100 points (from mid 700's to low 600's) due their falsely reporting my student loan as seriously delinquent, I would be hard pressed to be approved for a loan, even with a subprime lender at double digit interest rates. The Federal Trade Commission/Dept of Education/States Attorneys General need to investigate Sallie Mae and their business practices and credit reporting policies.  I am still trying to deal with Sallie Mae to get this situation corrected. If not, I will sue them under FCRA. If I do not get approved for a mortgage, or if I get one at double digit interest rates, my damages will be tens of thousands of dollars (if not hundreds of thousands because I live in CA). All because of their negligence and carelessness in the way they report to the credit bureaus.

Matt of Chicago IL (05/12/08)
Well, I attended Full Sail and took out about $87,000 total for schooling through Sallie Mae. My monthly total comes to about $852/mo. I recently went through a child custody battle that cost me about $13,000 and has to be paid back by July 3rd, 2008 or it will hurt the two people that helped me. I've been trying to use my forbearance since January 29, 2008 and was told I make to much money to get a forbearance no matter my circumstances.

I don't have a problem paying them, but I can't right now until I get back on my feet...not to mention I am a single family income with a fiance and an 11 month old son. I submitted my forbearance request AGAIN for the 4th time, May 6, 2008 with 7 pages of legal documentation proving I can not pay them now. They keep pushing me back and back saying oh you'll get a notice tomorrow and when tomorrow arrives they say tomorrow again. I get harassing phone calls all day long (sometimes 10 calls a day even though they know I'm waiting for approval EVEN ON SUNDAY at 9PM!!!!!). I thought forbearance was there when you need it not based on how much money you make a year. I feel helpless and have no way out, but making my credit score drop like an anvil...

The consequences are becoming overwhelming. If I don't pay them my credit will go down, I don't feel comfortable even buying groceries because I have to pay them, if I can't pay and my credit goes down...I'll never be able to buy a home, I feel harassed and powerless almost abused would be a better term. Economically I make 60,000/yr: I have a car payment, mandatory insurance, $13,000 in lawyer loans that are in my mom's name and a friend's name, $800/mo rent, Utilities, baby food, formula, diapers. I am going insane and nobody can help!!!!!

Maria of York PA (05/11/08)
I moved to Atlanta, Ga in 2005. Three months later I began attending ITT Tech in Kennesaw majoring in Criminal Justice. I attended ITT for 16 months, I then transferred to Westwood College for the same program but under the assumption I would graduate sooner. During my time attending these schools I used Sallie Mae.

To make a long story short, I returned to PA. A few months ago, I began to receive statements from Sallie Mae for repayment status. When I seen the amount owed, I cried. I called ITT Tech about the loans I applied for and received, they told me that I applied for a certain amount and only received half the amount applied for. The loan amount I received from ITT was only $26,000. The loans with Westwood was only $4,000. I then spoke with a rep from Sallie Mae and he told me that I received 8 full loans and that my total loan amount is $38,000.

Due to capatilized interest and that from the day I signed the promissary note the interest has been accruing since that day, and the interest rates are variable. He then told me I would have 10-15 years to repay the loan(s) amounts and doing so the total amount I would have paid is $68,000 because of the interest still accruing on each individual loans I have.

Basically, each loan I received in a half amount, they considered a full amount and applied different interest amounts to each one of them. My monthly payments are $530.00 a month. I can't afford this. The messed up thing about this situation I didn't graduate. When I asked them about consolidating the loans, their response was 1) in order to consolidate my loans with them I would have to be a graduate, 2) have excellent credit, 3) have a co-signor with excellent credit.

The physical damage that can result from this is my credit. If I don't pay them my credit will be distroyed. A situation like such deters people for wanting to attend and/or return to school. When I spoke to the finanacial aid rep at ITT, she told me to call Sallie Mae and ask for a forebearance, return to school, graduate, work on my credit, and then try to consolidate. If I were to do this the interest on the loans will continue to accrue and I will end up paying the loan three times.

We as students need some type of advice on how to go about this. Because we will be in debt for the rest of our lives. How will we be able to plan and/or take care of ourselves let alone a family if there are businesses like Sallie Mae out there taking advantage of the student? I am willing to pay the amounts disbursed to me, because I know I did use the money for schooling, but I am not willing to pay the huge interest amounts that will accrue over the next 10-15 years. PLEASE I REALLY NEED SOME TYPE OF CONSULTATION AND A SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM.

Matthew of Ocean View NJ (04/23/08)
I took out a small loan with salle mae to attned Harris School of business. Ive paid of student loads with VSAC, so I knew paying back loans is something Im able and willing to do. My house burned down - I lost everything, including my little brother. A month later my job was terminated. I continued to pay sallie mae my monthly payments untill I eventually ran out of money. Ironicly at that point the bills stoped comming, I wasnt sure why. 3 months later I get a call saying I owe $600 dollers in late fees. They asked to verify my address, and they had been sending my bills to Maryland. I have never set foot in maryland.

Due to thier error I did not get a bill for 3 months - I paid them the $600 dollers, the last ammount in my bank account. The day after I made that payment they started calling me almost 5 times a day, it hasnt stoped. So it seems even when IM caught up with the payments they still call me and say I am late. My bill says one ammount while the agent on the phone says I owe a higher ammount. I want to pay this loan off, but IM still searching for a place to live, and finding work is proving to be a task of its own. I just cant believe sallie mae wont work with me to help me out. does anyone have any ideas?

I havnt slept more than 2 hours a night for the last 7 months, IM constantly feeling like IM failing at life. Every time I get one of those calls and a person tells me how much I owe and how bad of a person I am for not paying, Im starting to believe them. The moment I start to get paid they will too.

Carmen of Elizabeth NJ (04/23/08)
In 2006 I attended NJCU. In order to attend the university I had to apply for a loan through Sallie Mae. I submitted all the necessary paperwork to complete the loan process. In March, I was told to sign a promissory note to close the deal; so I did. Months later I received a notice stating there is a hold on my account due to non-payment. I then contacted the financial aid office; I was told the promissory note was not signed and the loan was canceled.

I now have a collection agency calling me demanding payment. I once again called NJUC and explained the situation; the financial rep. said to me the loan was canceled by Sallie Mae. I then called Sallie Mae and was told the promissory note was received on March 16th 2007, on July 1st the money was ready for disbursement and was put on a hold by the school, she then said on Sept 15 2007 it was canceled by the school without reason.

My situation now is the loan cannot be reversed, I have to pay 3,768.25 cash, and it is in collection due to lack of communication with NJCU. If I had the money to begin with I would have paid it; I have applied for school loans in the past and never had difficulties like I am having with NJCU. Please advise me on what can be done to satisfy this matter. Thank You.

I was reported to a collection agency due to NJCU incompetence.

Lisa of Phoenix AZ (04/21/08)
This was a salliemae services student loan that was paid off in jan 2007 (25,000 pay off). Somehow got turned over to diversified collections and they have been harrassing me for payment since march of 2007. I keep telling them to contact salliemae because this debt has been paid. I have contacted salliemae with registered mail to alert them that I am being harassed and explained my situation with no avail, even speaking to a customer service rep in the US. They cannot solve the problem and I am tired of them making 3rd party contacts to my relatives telling them I owe money.

My 90 year old grandmother was contacted and told that I am not paying my bills. She called me all worried and I had to explain it to her. They have called my parents and made it sound like if I didn't pay they would assume my debt. I don't know them any money. My credit has been ruined and I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how to solve this problem. I can't afford a lawyer so I continue to be harassed.

Teresa of Pleasant Prairie WI (04/15/08)
Capitalizing intrest is nothing more than compounding intrest. I was lead to believe that compounded intrest on a loan was illegal in the United States. If that is the case, how can Sallie Mae and other student loan companies get away with doing this? I originally took out several loans to finish school and the end total was around $35,000. When I had to consolidate the loans because there were too many from different sources, I did not have the capitalized intrest, but Sallie Mae bought the loans from the original company that I was doing business with and they capitalized the intrest without my consent.

I didn't even know that the company I was dealing with got bought out until I got a letter from Sallie Mae, at which time I called them to ask them why they said I owed them money since I had never dealt with them before. Now the intrest has compounded through this consolidation and my student loans now total $72,000. I believe this is wrong. I also believe it is wrong that Americans have to pay for college education to begin with considering all the people we have to deal with from other countries in our work place do not enter the work place in debt from college because their governments actually pay for them to go to school, but that is another complaint.

I have not been able to pay much on my student loans to begin with, but after the consolidation, there is no way that I can pay anything on my student loans. I can't find a job in my field, and the retail job I am forced to work to survive does not pay me enought to pay all my bills and my student loans. My loans are not in default that I know of, but they are definatly collecting more intrest as time goes on. I have no way to pay these student loans. I am just happy that they can not take anything I have away from me for owing them money, or can they? I am not too sure what to do.

Erik of Aptos CA (04/12/08)
I called for a payoff amount on my student loans. A check was sent in the amount quoted by Sallie Mae, and I later found out that I had made an overpayment of $4000 which was credited to my account. After requesting that the overpayment amount be returned to me via check, I was informed that it would take up to 30 days to receive my money. It has now been six weeks.

When I call to inquire about the refund, I am constantly given the run-around, and told that the issue will be looked into and I will be contacted within two to three days. Sallie Mae has never called to clarify why the repayment check has not been sent out.

My first issue with this situation is the fact that I was over-quoted by $4000 dollars. How can a Sallie Mae customer service representative make a $4000 error (four months worth of interest on my loan)? Basic math skills are generally required to work in finance aren't they? Consumers including myself are charged compounding interest on a daily basis, but no interest will be added to the amount owed to me. In my opinion they owe me $4000 plus four months worth of interest at 8% APR.

My second issue is the amount of time Sallie Mae has put off paying me what is rightfully mine. One month to cut a check? With a deadline that is about ten times what is needed to accomplish this basic task, they have already surpassed it by over two weeks. No explanation is ever given, and no clarification as to when the check will be mailed has been communicated.

Third, the constant promises of follow up. Sallie Mae representatives told me verbatim that they promise to call me with in three days. Two supervisors and one operator have made such promises, and not one has lived up to them. What kind of moral integrity do we have running our educational finance in this country? Overall I am absolutely discussed by the level of service and basic treatment (or lack thereof) of Sallie Mae customers by it's employees. If this were any other industry, offences such as these would not be tolerated. I am owed money plus interest. Sallie Mae should be scrutinized as much as Bear Stearns or American Airlines for their lack of decent business practices.

I am out $4000 plus interest with no idea when it will be returned to me. When asked to provide proof that an overpayment was made, my bank (Wachovia) faxed the canceled checks. Still, my phone calls are passed on to supervisors who promise to follow up. Needless to say, follow up never occurs.

Candice of Temple TX (04/01/08)
I have read many of the complaints against SallieMae on this website. I am a former employee of theirs and I understand the heartache of everyone on here. I don't like the way the company is being run and am so glad that I got out when I did. I went through extensive training for the federal loans that they provide but once I was put on the floor to help customers I was not given the opportunity to do what I felt was right. I left SallieMae in 2006 (I only worked there for about 8 months) because I couldn't take it anymore. There are some good people working there but they don't last very long and as I said the representatives aren't given much choice but to forward 'difficult' calls to someone higher (which are usually rude or just don't care). I wish I could help ALL of you guys with your problems.

Shame of working for this company is the only damage that has resulted. And I think that is horrible enough.

Andre of Inkster MI (03/30/08)
I called to see if we could come up with a settlement for my loan and they treated me horribly. After hanging up on me a few times we came to a settlement. It was for $2,900 and after I paid they stated that I was getting a fax letter but I never got it. They claim it was send out  but till this day I have never received a letter or fax in the mail or otherwise. When I call Mr Marvin Nickles he transfers me and then the line goes dead. Now they got their money and now they don't want to deal with me. I have been calling them everyday now trying to speak to a mgr/sup and have been getting the same runaround. The other day I was on the phone for 2 hours being transfered.  Is there any help out there?  Is there a corporate number where someone can help me with this?  I just want to get my settlement letter.

Zanna of Inola OK (03/26/08)
My adult son took out a student loan with SallieMae to go to welding school in Tulsa. He has since graduated and refuses to keep any job and stays in cognito most of the time. I never know where he is staying or who he is staying with.

SallieMae has began to harrass me because he used me as a reference. They call me constantly wanting to know where he is. They act as if I'm lying when I tell them that I do not have an address or phone number for him. Now when they call or send me letters, I've gotten to where I don't answer and the letters goes in the trash.

What is the use in wasting my time with these idiots? And I dare them to try and get me to pay his bill. He's an adult and on his own. I'm only his mother and I'm NOT responsible for his debts!!! I never co-signed for him. I knew he wasn't going to pay it back, I sure didn't want to be held responsible for it!!!

Brian of Indianapolis IN (03/23/08)
I have had nothing but problems with Sallie Mae since graduating college and paying on the loans I have through them. To begin with, I had a grace period after I graduated of 6 months and I was waiting for a bill to come in the mail. Well it never came. It was about 3 months later and I never got a bill from them and in that time racked up late fees. Now I have recently applied to have my loans consolidated so I could have lower monthly payments. Little did I know that I would be charged a 43,000 dollar finance charge for doing this on top of my original loan amount of $25,000. So I now owe them 68,000 dollars and this is on a variable interest rate. I have to pay interest on top of a huge finance charge like that? That is a scam if you ask me. I would never have consolidated if I knew this was going to happen. I didn't get a huge fee like that when I consolidated my fed loans with Chase Bank. I almost forgot to mention the fact that my monthly payment amount was about $410 and is now $290. So is it really worth consolidating? I say no.

This has put me in even more debt and I have had trouble sleeping because I can't stop thinking about all the extra money I will be paying them now.

Elenora of Vallejo CA (03/17/08)
I am a co-signer on a loan for my Granddaughter in 2004 and 2005. There were four separate transactions totaling $64,319. The total of these loans, as of March 2007, is $81,000. My Granddaughter has been allowed to and granted, Forbearance on at least two occasions, without my knowledge or approval. The amount that I signed for I felt I could handle. I am a senior on a fixed income, and this loan is growing beyond my means. My Granddaughter has been very uncooperative, and I only found out that there was a problem when she stopped communicating with me. I find there is a problem when the letters and automated calls begin arriving non-stop from SallieMae.

I know that I am responsible to make these payments, which have grown to $859.00 a month, and take up most of my Social Security check now, but what can I do to stop SallieMae from allowing her to avoid starting to pay off this loan by signing up for a few units? This activity seems, in my opinion, to alter the terms of the original agreement by adding thousands of dollars in interest. My contact with SallieMae representatives is frustrating to say the least. The only advice I get from them is that I should just make the payments regardless of the loan being in forbearance. That is not a solution, it merely lets the student off the hook and makes me the primary payer.

As stated above, I am a 70 year old senior on a fixed income. My phone started ringing at 8:00 each morning on Monday morning and continued each day for 8 days even after I called them to let them know I was trying to contact the student and her mother. Oddly enough, it was then that I found out that she had been granted another forbearance, and that the late payment would be taken care of when she returned the paper work. Mind you I had also received letters saying that they did not have current information for her. I have turned off the ringer on my phone and mailed them the amount overdue. I have high blood pressure, take medication for a rapid heartbeat,and have fought insomnia. I am already having bouts of anxiety over this growing debt. Once I make contact, I don't understand why the calls don't stop.

Catherine of Brooklyn NY (03/11/08)
I requested an increase of my monthly payments back in December 2007. I wanted to pay off my student loans faster. I got a notice in January saying that my payments were going to increased to $3,133 a month (my initial payments were $400/month and I wanted them increased to $550/month). I was shocked. I called Sallie Mae immediately and customer service told me it was a mistake and that the money would not get deducted. It was. It drained my checking account and caused me to get slapped with several overdraft charges. It's now almost two months later. I have not been reimbursed even though they say that I have. My Sallie Mae account indicates that I did not pay $3,133 so now I owe them twice. Sallie Mae is one of the worst corporations in America.

I had to drain my savings account to beef up my checking account as well as borrow money from friends to keep two rent checks from bouncing. I won't be able to pay next month's rent if I don't get reimbursed soon. It's been a real depressing situation. I feel like I am in school again - poor and scared.

Anthony of La Crosse WI (03/10/08)
Aside from the fact that the payments I have made account for only a small, small percentage of the principle, I am furious with Sallie Mae for having found me in default on the basis of identity theft. When I was going to Full Sail in Winter Park, FL, I had spoken with my co-signer (my dad) about applying for the second half of the loan which would cover the rest of the tuition. (Full Sail is extremely expensive and I regret going there.)

Jump to about a year or more after graduation: my co-signer (my dad) forgot that he approved this loan (which I took care of electronically) and filed a fraud report with Sallie Mae in order to have his name removed from the loan. This led to Sallie Mae sending me a letter completely out of the blue telling me that I committed identity theft and therefore am in default on a $31,000 loan. I have three loans with Sallie Mae because of Full Sail, with an original principle of around $84,000 without interest and a continually growing amount with interest of over $100,000.

Financially, I'm ruined. I'm stuck living with my co-signer (my dad). My relationship with my father has been pushed to the limit.

Antonio of East Haven CT (03/10/08)
Wow...I wish I had looked up this type of site, to start my complaint about Sallie Mae. I think they should pay for their own people to go to college. There is no common sense, anymore. This is because they are given some written "to-say" lists, and they don't need to use their brain cells. I have been in college for the past 5 years and had to deal with Sallie Mae quite a few times to incredible disappointment and shock  that these people could be so stupid. I didn't even get anywhere by speaking (after a billion requests) to a supervisor. One year before graduation, in the summer, they sent me the first bill. I called them, and they told me that I was in repayment because I wasn't attending college. Funny! 1) They just disbursed my loan to the college for me to attend classes; 2) At that time, I hadn't finished college, yet.

So, where is the grace period? I graduated in May '07. I called them in June to consolidate my loans. Spoke to someone in the US, and after playing with numbers I agreed to consolidate to a great interest rate, after (of course) all the discounts, auto-pay, etc. She told me it would be consolidated in July. Well, in August, I signed up for the MBA program, and Sallie Mae sent me a letter with all my loans. Guess what? No consolidation was done, and the interests were higher than originally. I called them and, of course, they give you these reasons that don't hold because of timing. In the meantime, I am the one paying for their mistakes, or better--for them not doing anything.

They are the worst company to do business with. The reps are lazy, management doesn't care, executives can't be reached, and students pay the price of a so-incompetent company. Forget escalating your issues. It will take you forever to talk to a manager, which would not take you anywhere because he/she is still reading a piece of paper and uncapable of using some brain. I will get my loans out of Sallie Mae.

Sarah of Norwood MA (03/10/08)
My problem with Sallie Mae Financial started on 2/25/08 when I received an e-mail stating that I was over $400.00 behind on my loan. I called that day and spoke with Dottie and told her that I am current with my loan and want to know why I received this e-mail. After doing some research, she stated that the payment were being applied only to one loan. (I currently have 3 loans with Sallie Mae). I told her that I only receive one bill and send in one payment and have been doing so for the last 8 years. She stated that she would send this to the research dept. and have it resolved. I then received a phone call from Joe on 2/26, and I relayed what Dottie told me on 2/25; and he said that the request was sent in and that it should be taken care of.

I then receive a call from Roslynn on 2/28, and she was extremely rude and unprofessional and told me that I needed to be specific about where to apply the loan. When I disagreed w/ her, she hung up on me. I immediately called back (and mysteriously it was down to $200) and spoke with Greg--and was hung up on by him as well when I stated that I have proof of the last 6 months of payment. I immediately called back again, and again he hung up on me. I immediately called back and finally spoke with someone who did not lack the basic customer service skills required for the job; her name was Rebecca. She stated that it was not in fact applied to just one loan and that the problem was that they don't have record of October payment. I spoke with several other people which I have record of, and what I owe changes with each call. I faxed in proof of Oct, Nov, Dec--which they said they didn't receive the fax.

Today 3/10 when I spoke with Malcolm (ID: LUMXA1). He stated that they have records of payments and doesn't know why I am receiving harassing phone calls. I don't know how many people they are attempting to rip off, but I for one will not stand for it. Also, I have demanded, several times that they send me a payment history, and they have yet to do so. It makes me wonder how many people they are doing this to and how often they are getting away with it?

This is possibly ruining mine as well as my co-signer's credit. I have proof of payments, and they also have it in their system and are still refusing to resolve it.

Latoya of North Charleston SC (03/04/08)
I went to a career training school that used Sallie Mae as their lender. I was misled from the beginning. While in school I was only supposed to be paying $10.00 per month, but shortly after receiving the loan my payments jumped to $30.00 per month. I have been paying on this loan since July 2006. I only received about $496.00 from Sallie Mae, but I have paid well over $1200.00 in repayments. I am a single parent and feel like I was taken advantage of. I advised Sallie Mae that I was having a financial hardship and needed to either reduce my payments or stop them.

No one was willing to work with me. I was basically told either you pay or my federal income tax was in jeopardy of being taken. I struggled to get the money up to pay them. On 3/1, I paid the amount online that I was told to pay to clear the balance and emailed Sallie Mae to send me a paid in full letter. I received a response telling me that I owe $17.00 more for March, and if that is not paid then I will be hit with a late payment fee. I feel like Sallie Mae is taking advantage of students and needs to be investigated.

I have been going through a lot of stress behind this situation. I have been put in the situation where I had to choose between meals and payment to avoid further harassment from this company. I will never recommend Sallie Mae to anyone.

Jenny of St. Louis MO (02/26/08)
I am at a total loss for words. I think my college might be more responsible for this (at least that's what SallieMae says). I was trying to get into school to become a paralegal. I chose Hickey College, which was a terrible mistake. First off, I did not want to use Sallie Mae because of all the horror stories. But my financial aid officer said I had to use them because Hickey will not allow me to use anyone else. That was a LIE. Then they tell me I need a co-signer because in the state of Missouri you must be 25 years of age to be able to sign for yourself. So after weeks of arguing with my single mother of 6 kids, she agreed to COSIGN. While in school, I was the only student to be kicked out of class and threatened to be expelled if I did not make my loan payments. I wasn't even graduated yet!? I had to borrow the money from my grandparents every month. Like I stated before, I was the ONLY student this happened to.

Then comes time to pay my loans after school. My interest rate is that of a mortgage payment, and worst of all, I get no credit for what I am paying. I am paying on 2 loans (I only took out one) and Hickey College went behind my back and changed my mother from co-signer to primary so I would be approved. Now Sallie Mae and Hickey College tell me I have to pay those loans or my credit will be ruined, yet I get no credit for it cause it's in my mothers name! I am furious and I want to sue! It is not about making the payments (which I can barely do), it is about getting the credit I deserve for something I did and am paying for.

I am totally broke for nothing. I cannot continue my education because I cannot get a loan. Meanwhile, my mother is getting the credit for all my hard work. Is there anything I can do?

Bianita of Hillside CA (02/24/08)
During my four years of school I needed loan assistance since my parents wouldn't pay out of pocket. My relative cosigned on my loan through Nellie Mae. My loan was bought a year later by Sallie Mae and I singed a new promisary note. Every year thereafter Sallie Mae dispursed loans to my college account for the remainder of my tuition balance after scholarships and such, without us needing to fill out any additional paperwork. The interest was deferred. When I graduated in June 06, I received my payment booklet in late July. My loan principal balance at that time was $19,241.41 My first loan payment was due on December 28.

On September 14th, I received a letter saying my loan capitalized to $31,468.83. When you finally get through on the line the best thing is to ask for a transfer to the US office, and you can speak to someone who speaks English. We managed to get the phone number of a US sallie mae person by saying my phone is about to die, do you have a direct line that I can call you right back? I've been transfered around a lot and finally reached you, who can help me. Another time we got a U.S. fax number and messed around calling numbers in succession until we reached a U.S. Sallie Mae person. It may be rude, but it works well when you get to speak to an American. Anyways, when I called and asked why this was, they told me it was outlined in my promisary note. The woman on the phone was very patient with me and we found together the paragraph on the pdf promisary note that states other fees as applies. One small line included capitalization fees. The reason for the high capitalization fee was because my relative who cosigned had just retired, changing their financial status (blah blah blah).

It was explained to me that because my loan was deferred that the interest would be added to my principal and Capitalized on the date of the year that the loan was first received. I thought it made sense and decided I could deal with it. In October I received another letter that my Loan capitalized once again. This time to $48,133.35. This freaked me out so I called them again. This was because my loan one year was received on the date that this capitalized. Putting two and two together, this meant I was going to have two more capitalizations? My family and I went to get an equity loan to pay the monster off but a two weeks later received another letter on October 31st. The loan had then capitalized to $64,286.11. The next date anticipated date for it to capitalize was Dec. 29.

My parents refinanced their home and paid off the debt before even my first payment was scheduled to be due! This is what we discovered in the process about how this was possible. In 1997 the president signed the Education reform act which would ensure any student who applied for an education loan would be able to receive a loan, which gave lending companies like Sallie Mae the special power to do this type of thing (short story but you can read more online about it). What I don't understand is why they needed to capitalize so much and second HOW they even calculated the fees. I couldn't even come up with a math equation to understand how they got their numbers. Our agent at the bank couldn't calculate these amounts either. My best friend from college was more unlucky than I, he ended up after all the fees owing $640,000+ from borrowing only $140,000 for school. His also capitalized before the due date of the very first payment. He has since given up on trying to attempt to pay it back.

My family had an exceptional loan rep at our bank who had dealt with SallieMae in the past. She estimated the daily interest and added it to the amount on the capitalization letter, then tacked onto that a thousand dollars extra to the fixed rate equity we finally received. Sure enough her expectations where correct and we were able to pay in full before the first loan payment was ever due. In just the time between October 31 and December 27 there was over a thousand in interest added. I just have sympathy for the individuals this happens to who do not have relatives with the financial capability to nip this in the bud. The bank told us it would have been cheaper in the long run to pay for school on credit card or home equity to begin with and we would have saved over $40,000 dollars.

Deborah of Glenshaw PA (02/23/08)
Two of my daughters attended New York University. They went to the student financial aid office to obtain student loans for 1 year. They were told that Sallie Mae was the best financial arrangement for their loans and that interest would not accumulate until they graduated. They filled out the paperwork and told us our signatures were required, and based on what they had been told, we signed. We did not read the papers closely, since they were voluminous and our daughters said that the NYU student aid office said this was a great deal! When our older daughter graduated, we were horrified to learn that the interest rate was 14%--more than twice what we could have secured the loans for on our own, and the interest was accumulating while they were still in school.We immediately paid off the principal balance of both loans.

We were further outraged to find out that Sallie Mae bribed student financial aid offices to lie to the students to induce them to take out these incredibly usurious loans. In addition, this is a private commercial lender, and its executives have spent outrageous sums of money on themselves and the bribery scheme involving schools and politicians. We are not pursuing legal action against them for their fraud; however, we are NOT paying them any money above the principal balance as the loans were secured under fraudulent circumstances. Sallie Mae has continued to harass us for interest on one of the loans. They call our house at least 5 and sometimes 8 times a day. We have told them the loans have been paid in full and to stop calling. Instead they have stepped up the calls. This is outrageous. No student EVER should borrow from this company.

Sallie Mae has threatened and harassed us and has filed a negative report on our credit report.

Lizet of Bradenton FL (02/23/08)
I enrolled myself at Keiser University, Sarasota campus. Their financial aid office completed my original financial aid forms for my tuition. I had no idea that it was Sallie Mae; it was simply presented as a school loan that I would have to start paying paid back 6 months after I completed my studies. (I won't be done with school until December 2009). My father co-signed with me because I don't have good credit. It all seem fair enough at the time until I started getting phone calls sometimes 3-4 times daily from Sallie Mae. The loans that the school had me sign for, are not loans that I will start paying for at the end of my college career; they are loans that I am being harassed to pay for now. I say harassed because there is no other word to use for the way they handle their accounts. It's mental harassment that is very upsetting for someone who has high blood pressure. Even the day after I've made a payment, they are calling. I always end up owing them more money. I just received a call from them; it was 9:00 in the AM, and it's Saturday. I promised a payment on the 15th of March, and that is not enough and conveniently never notated on the account; they continue to call. I moved in with my parents because they are both ill, and they are not only harassing me but are also harassing my parents. Calling won't change the fact that someone doesn't have the money to make a payment everyday.

I am so sorry to have gone back to school. I am a citizen; I love this country, but when did it stop being the land of opportunity? If I were the only person with this situation I would understand, but most of the people who have Sallie Mae loans are thrown in hell for the rest of their adult life. You are damned if you don't go to school and damned twice if you do. Their interest rates are ridiculous, and consolidating isn't much better. How is anyone who isn't rich supposed to get an education in this country? Does the middle man count at all? How can you get Sallie Mae to stop calling at all hours and every day of the week without selling them your kidney? Aren't student loans supposed to be paid back when you are done with school?

My blood pressure was so high because of all the stress these phone calls cause me, I had to go to the doctor and have my medication changed because the one I was taking was not longer effective. My parents are not well and are being upset by Sallie Mae. I lost my job and was looking for 6 months. I started my new job 3-1/3 months ago making less money than I was at my previous employer. I am barely getting back on my feet. I've told them this, and I think it encouraged them to call even more. I am terrified that they will get my new employer's phone number and start calling me there. These hounding phone calls are causing stress that is unhealthy for both my parents and myself. I am not close to being done with school. Why am I being called consistently and hounded by these people? Don't we have rights as students and consumers?

Joy of Philadelphia PA (02/22/08)
I graduated with a degree in architecture and over $80,000 in student loans. About 50% of these loans are with Sallie Mae. I was unable to find decent employment for about 8 months following graduation in 2007. Until this January, I was working as a secretary for a residential architect making about $10/hour. The total of my student loan payments equaled about $1100 per month--I was only taking home $1400. Thankfully, I recently became more gainfully employed and have been working with financial advisers and a credit counselor to construct a livable budget. My monthly expenses total around $1750 per month leaving me with about $600 to pay off loans and save some money--SOME being the highly operative word; because if I paid even a significant fraction of my student loan debt per month, I'm left with nothing to save for emergencies, the future (what future?), etc. I have been able to place loans from Direct Loans in forbearance for now, and I'm seeking forbearance for my AES loans. When I sought paperwork from Sallie Mae to apply for forbearance, I was told that I would have to pay a $150 forbearance fee. This would give me relief for about four months, after which, regular payment obligations would resume. The livable payment plan that I proposed to them in a letter sent about three weeks ago (along with correspondence from my credit counselor and my monthly detailed budget) was not mentioned. I brought it up and was told that that was simply not an option.

Since my finances are currently in triage, and I have no idea when or if they will ever recover, there is no way that I will be able to make the total monthly payments to any of my three lenders. Every attempt that I've made to professionally correspond with Sallie Mae to establish a LIVABLE payment plan has been met with smug indifference, threats, and unrealistic expectations. I've given up being concerned with how my student loan burden will affect my credit, because it is already shot. It was perfect before I decided to finish school about five years ago. So much for the education that was supposed to ensure me a better life. I would have been better off hopping trains across country and selling crafts at flea markets along the way. I'd have perfect credit, no debt, and I'd be in exactly the same economic rung--maybe higher.

David of Whippany NJ (02/21/08)
I don't know where they are coming up with the amounts they are charging. One example I looked about 2 months ago and they claimed i owed them 87,000. I looked yesterday and now its 93,000. I have over 23,000 in interest yet i don't even know how they came up with that. I've tried to consolidate but can't without a co-signer and who will co-sign for what is now $93,000. I haven't completely broken it down to exact figures but just by estimates its OFF way off. This seems to be a repeated problem with my school loans. I try to follow them and keep track of everything but the numbers seem to never add up to what they say the bill is and it feels like i'm getting charged by the same companies a few times and its not deducting from what i owe or even that a few companies are charging me for the same thing.

how long does it usually take a recent graduate to pay for $93,000? with about 14% interest? My point exactly. Use your imagination for what its doing to my life, my marriage, my stress level. And i've been trying to consolidate so i can make payments but i dont' have a co-signer.

Laura of Delmar NY (02/18/08)
In early 2007, I used the last of my forbearance with Sallie Mae to bring my loans current. They told me that my loans would again be due in July. About 3 weeks later, I received a call stating that my account was behind. I went through a long process of providing them information that I had used my forbearance. The representative stated that the forbearance had not been processed correctly and that they needed to do it again. This was done and I was told that the forbearance would be moved now through August 21, 2007. I received a bill in August stating that I was one month behind in payments. I called and spoke with many representatives and they all claim that they can find no record of my calls (of course not--they admitted that they made an error when they called me!) and that I am responsible for paying for the extra payment as well as the late fees. I explained how I felt that this was fraudulent, as they charged me the interest for the forbearance and were not expecting the payment as well as the late fee. IF I had the funds to pay, I would not have asked for the forbearance in the first place!

They are charging me late fees for the month that I did not pay (as it was in forbearance at that time) and it is being reported to the credit bureau as being (currently) 28 days late. I continue to pay on time current payments since then, but they still count that one payment as late.

Sally of Spokane WA (02/18/08)
My complaint is with Sallie Mae Student Loan company. After paying on my student loan for 8 years at $200.00 a month on a $19,000 student loan, it is now $23,000.00. My loan has been passed from Sallie Mae, ACS, AFSA, NELA and now of course the collection companies. Also, at the time of my consolidation with Sallie Mae, I set up a pay back payment plan that consisted of an automatic payment taken out of my account on the 28th of every month. While I was paying on this $19,000 loan, Sallie Mae makes a HUGE mistake and sent my consolidated loan to collections where it sat ruining my credit for 4 years. When I discovered the problem with my credit, I called Sallie Mae and asked for help to correct their mistake. THEY DID NOT HELP NOR DID THEY CARE.

After 2 years of calls and letters, I was able to dispute the error with the 3 credit bureaus. But the error still remains on my credit report for all to question. I have called the attorney general's office, and I am taking direction from them at this point. I have sent 3 certified letters this week, one to Sallie Mae, General Revenue Corp. and to Higher Education in Washington, DC. I will keep you posted; my loan is now at $32,000, and I am harassed by General Revenue daily. I am unemployed right now, and I owe Uncle Sam $3,000. Otherwise I was threatened that GR would be taking my tax return and 15% of my wages each month.

As a single mom I was unable to buy a camera or computer on time with dept stores because of the Loan errors on my credit report I was turned down for 4 years straight. This is when I pulled my credit report and found the error, It's time for a class action law suit, why are we waiting. I also believe that the math formulas are in questions,,,, HELP

Marilyn of Los Angeles CA (02/11/08)
While monitoring my credit I noticed that there were 5 discrepancies on my credit reports from transunion and experian from Sallie Mae. I contacted Student Clearinghouse who reports to the credit bureaus and they stated that my 5 student loans were in deferment status and that they should not have been reported as 90 days late for the past two years. I contacted the credit bureaus who stated to me that Sallie Mae reports to them the status. I contacted Sallie Mae and requested that they send me a letter admitting that they had made an error in not reporting that my loans were in deferment status. They admitted that my loans were in deferment status for that period but would not send the statement in writing; instead they sent me a letter that stated my request that my loans for that period be in deferment had been granted. Thereby, not accepting the the blame for their error and my credit score plummeting during the period of trying to refinance my home. 90 days late for five loans made me ineligible for a refinance.

Are Sallie Mae and the credit bureaus working together to cause people financial ruin? Is this contrived? I work with the at risk populations for meager salary compensation and yet even as I save the government money for services I perform for them, I am hurt by sallie mae who ruins my credit. When I first took out student loans in the 80's student loans were meant to help poor students who did not have endowments, trust funds, etc. to encourage those who could not otherwise attend college; but now they (sallie mae and the credit bureaus) are causing people with stress. Why are people who cannot understand English allowed to service these loans? I cannot understand them and they cannot understand me. Maybe sallie mae should employ some of us and let us work our debts off.

I've lost thousands of dollars lost due to high interest rates charged due to bad credit thanks to sallie mae. I'm still trying to get my home refinanced.

Virginia of Wichita KS (02/08/08)
I have two loans with Sallie Mae. Ever since around July of 2006 I have been repeatedly harassed by Sallie Mae about my payments. I have been sent to collections 3 times in the last 8 months, and every time I get sent there, not only can collections not find any standing missing payments, but they can't even understand where the amount that they are demanding is coming from. I have also received threatening letters for each account stating that I haven't been paying them. So every time I get them, I call Sallie Mae and tell them that they are wrong, then they look up my account and see that all my payments are there, but they still threaten to send me to collections.

Then they send me to around five other people that have no idea how to fix the problem, and each one of them remind me that my account is in route to collections. I swear they either promise to take care of it or request an investigation into my history. They never do, so the next month rolls around and I'm stuck dealing with it again. Every time I get an investigation, I am supposed to get an answer within 7-10 business days. The last time, they didn't send me an answer, they sent me a printout of the last three years of payments, and still couldn't find a single missing payment.

So finally after my husband threatened them, they did not send me a threatening letter in December, but they did send me a letter yesterday stating that they hadn't received my payment for January on either loan. So I checked their website and my bank account and both say that the payment was made and cleared the bank a day before it was actually due. I'm done. I decided that I'm going to fight back. I made a complaint on the local better business bureau. I decided that every time that they harass me, I'm filing a complaint on them. I suggest that you all do the same. Every time they get complained against them, they have to fill out a folder full of paperwork. If they don't get the message, then maybe we should all get together and file a class action lawsuit against them.

They are trying as hard as they can to destroy my credit, that I have worked for years to become good. I have been ferociously ill for the last two years, and stress makes my illnesses like 100 times worse. In the last seven months, I have been in the hospital 3 times, two of which I was fighting for my life, was made worse by all the stress that they putting on me.

Romer of Bolingbrook IL (02/06/08)
My wife and I have a huge problem with sallie mae. I cannot believe that sallie mae could ruin our life. My wife had decided to take out a second mortgage so we can pay off sallie mae. Then we got everything taken cared of. We got approved and got the loan. Then I called sallie mae to ask about my balance and next thing you know, my loan went to General Revenue, thinking all my federal loans are transfered to that company, they told me I owe 28,000 dollars, that I still owe sallie mae 15 thousand dollars, and I still owe ziweker 15thousand dollars.

My wife called in december or january just to check the balance and they told her 28thousand or less - how did they come up 15 thousand dollars interest? First of all we signed up for forberance and I spoke to one of the sallie mae's employees and she had told me that she received my letter regarding my foreberance. So, now we don't know what to do. This company is getting out of hand. It's bringing us down more in debt. School loans are expensive in the first place and then we lost our jobs and that's why it became defaulted. But they don't care about you losing your job, they just want to collect their money. I just hope that there is someone out there that straighten them out.

Sue of Sutton MA (02/06/08)
My troubles started with Sallie Mae in the Summer 2007 when I returned back to grad school and wanted to put my loans into deferment and forbearance. I consolidated my Stafford Loans through Sallie Mae, and so far have not had any problems yet (that I am aware of). I also have 2 private loans, one of which is giving me so much stress. Last summer I filled out every form Sallie Mae told me to (four in total) and it was never the right one. They called at least a dozen times a day, up until 9:00 P.M. Every time I spoke to someone, it was always a different story. The representatives even hung up on me three time and yelled at me! They were fresh, rude and harassing! After 5 months, my forbearance was finally put through correctly. It is now the next semester and I completed the forbearance form as I was supposed to and had it certified by my school. It was again denied for missing information (the school certified it on the wrong line; at least, that was one of the responses I received from Sallie Mae). I am now 41 days delinquent and getting the harassing phone calls again. And once again, the representatives are rude and keep telling me I am 'all set' and it should be processed the next day. Well it never is! Something needs to be done with Sallie Mae. I will NEVER recommend them to ANYONE!

It is being reported to the credit bureaus as being delinquent.

Richard of Jamaica NY (02/03/08)
I was unaware that I needed to submit an in school deferment form on a quarterly basis. After I was notified that my loans were in repayment and in collections, I immediately handled it accordingly. On 2/1/2008, I spoke to Heather who is an Account Manager for Sallie Mae who started to pursue collection, but realized that all Sallie Mae needed was my signature. I signed the forms as asked, PDF the document and e-mailed it directly to her. However, I am still receiving threatening phone calls from Sallie Mae's collections department in an attempt to collect while I am still in school. I want Sallie to stop HARASSING me immediately. In addition, I would like to speak to an attorney if appropriate.

So far, I am being told by Sallie Mae that they are going to send a negative report to the credit bureaus.

Belinda of Metairie LA (02/02/08)
I have applied for forebearance 3 times due to financial hardship. I faxed all my personal information to Sallie Mae and was denied because they said they didn't recieve my financial information. This is an outright LIE!!! I emailed them to say that I have the fax saying all four pages were sent and recieved successfully --everything they asked for I sent. This has been going on since December!!!!!!

Every time I call the 1-888 number, I get someone that I can't understand, nor do they understand the concept that most Americans have to take out student loans to further their education. These people are extremely condescending.

They said that they are going to report me to the credit agencies. These people are ruining my life. I asked several times to speak to someone from America and the Indians won't give me the number. Also, I have no idea what happened to my personal information when I faxed it. I faxed check stubs, letters, loan info, all with my personal business on it. AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT RECEIVE IT!!!!

Patrick of Culver City CA (01/25/08)
After several days of being tossed around on the phone and passed to several different (and wrong) departments and having to give my private information every time I spoke to someone new, I blew up! I waited 3 days for a supervisor to call me back and she didn't! I had finally had it. I called their toll-free number and when the computer asked for my information, I didn't give it. It recognized my phone number and sent me to customer service. The lady in India asked for my personal information again. I refused. I told her that either she pass me directly to the correct department or her supervisor. She said, she needed my information in order to process the request. I said, then give me to your supervisor. She said, Can I speak? I said, No. So then, Jason comes on and I told Jason of my problem, he asked for my information. I asked, Where do you live Jason? He said, India. I said, You need to connect me with someone in the United States Jason, I will be contacting the CEO regarding my problem. He did. I talked to a US representative who was able to handle the request in less than 20 minutes. Problem solved. Take a lesson from this. You have the right to deal with someone in the states, since this is where your loan was processed!

Chelsea of Boston MA (01/23/08)
Sallie Mae claims my account is delinquent, they have added late fee penalties, and have sent my account to a collections agency. When I try to call either Sallie Mae or the collection agency that is calling me at least twice a day (during the hours their automated message claims are their office hours) I am greeted by a message of We're sorry, our offices are closed, please call back during our open office hours. I have been calling every day for two weeks now and I can't get anyone on the phone. The amount they say I owe when I call does not match the amount their website claims I owe. The math on the website showing how my total has been determined does not add up. I didn't even consolidate with this company! This past summer I filed my application with Educational Direct NOT Sallie Mae, agreeing to begin making my student loan payments once my grace period expired. However, no one, from either Educational Direct nor Sallie Mae has ever sent me a bill (via mail, email, or phone message) nor has anyone sent me any information saying what my monthly payment would be. I am at my wits end. I am 22 years old, just out of college, and I have worked hard to build my credit. Something seems terribly wrong with this whole situation. What should I do?

Hundreds of dollars of late fees have been tacked onto my account; my account has been sent to collections; my credit is threatened

J of Springfield MO (01/08/08)
I have six loans being handled by Sallie Mae (four federal and two private loans) that were created during the course of my schooling. Ever since they went into payback status in early 2007, I've always been late on my monthly Sallie Mae loan payment in some way or another. What's weird is that there's no explanation WHY we're late on it all the time. We either pay the amount listed on a paper bill we get in the mail (which we rarely receive) or pay the amount listed in manageyourloans.com, but we're still ALWAYS late and accruing late fees. We called SallieMae SEVERAL times over the course of the payback peroid, and were offered different resolutions and remedies to my late payment problems every time we called. "Look at 'Account Summary' in manageyourloans.com and pay what you see in the 'Monthly Payment Amount' field", or "Wait for a paper bill and pay what the bill requests", or "Pay a little bit at the beginning of the month, and the rest in the middle of the month", etc, etc.

Well, I'm still late all the time, and I'm still accruing late fees. Recently I started taking screenshots of manageyourloans.com. On November 19 2007, the 'Monthly Payment Amount' field stated that I owed $310.95. I took a screenshot of this webpage, and my wife scheduled that payment to be made on the day it was due through our online banking (12/28/2007). On January 5 2008, I checked manageyourloans.com to see how the payment was disbursed and found $253.14 had mysteriously appeared in the 'Past Due Amount' field... Huh? I compared this information with the screenshot I took in November, and the screenshot showed absolutely no mention of $253.14 being due at any time. So I looked at the current payment history and found the $310.95 was used to pay what was due on Dec 28, but I didn't know what the heck the $253.14 was all about.

On January 8 2008, SallieMae promptly tacked a $20.00 fee on the new 'Past Due Amount' figure. I called SallieMae and demanded to talk to a supervisor, when I got Allen. At least I think he said his name was 'Allen', since I could hardly understand him through his decidedly non-English accent. Well, after about twenty minutes of muddling through language barriers with him on the phone, I got the late fees knocked off and the payment redistributed. He said that the $253.14 was for 'federal' loans, and the original $310.95 was for their private loans. I asked him if all six of my loans became due on the same day (28th of each month), and he affirmed that they were indeed set up that way. I then asked him why the federal loan due didn't appear along with the private loan on manageyourloans.com, and he didn't have any answer. So here I am, stuck with a loan that is literally impossible to pay on time. It's hard to say how long this has been going on before I started taking screenshots, but I imagine it's been going on the entire time I've been paying back my loan since I've never been 'on time' even though I've paid whatever was requested via paper bills or on SallieMae's website. What do I do, and is there any legal action I can take?

I imagine this is adversely affecting my credit report, and it's seriously stressing me out. I believe SallieMae is manipulating the payment period and hiding information in an effort to create a situation that would be impossible to keep my payments current, and I'd definitely be willing to take legal recourse if it's warranted. I wouldn't want anybody else to have to deal with these seemingly unfair practices.

Curt of Fort Wayne IN (01/04/08)
Needless to say, not everyone is smart when they are in college and even less smart when they are forced to drop out for financial reasons. I had some student loans through Wells Fargo for several years and finally they decided that my inability to pay, etc. was not working out and sold them to Sallie Mae. Eventually I ended up being harassed by a collections agency called Pioneer, who made me a payment offer I could deal with and the loans came out of reparation and were purchased back by Sallie Mae (which of course I had no say in the matter).

About 1 week before my payment was due, I received a letter in the mail stating that the information I had provided had been validated and that they had set up automatic payment from my bank account as I had requested. Funny, I never made that request! Nor did I provide them with any information! (I assume they acquired it from Pioneer.) Now it gets fun. Since the Christmas holiday all their offices were closed, I couldn't contact them about this unauthorized payment, nor verify they were drawing from the right account! Sure enough, it came through my BUSINESS ACCOUNT which was at a $0 balance about to be closed out since I kept having stupid things coming through that I had to keep disputing just trying desperately to get this account closed.

Needless to say, any attempt to figure out a way around this on their website was impossible because any changes to my billing would have not negated this payment according to their website. Also, once I finally did get in contact with someone after the incorrect account had been drawn, it was some foreign lady that they've obviously outsourced their customer service to, who could only direct me to the website to update my account information. I highly doubt I'll ever find out how they managed to acquire my authorization or the outdated information that they had validated upon my request as I didn't have the heart to try to attempt to file a complaint with some poor lady who barely spoke English. I did file a complaint with the BBB though, and now here. I hope it deters anyone from EVER letting Sallie Mae handle any of your loans.

Luckily I was able to settle this without any additional fees from my bank (JP Morgan Chase, whom I am going to attempt to get to purchase these loans out from Sallie Mae). However it gave me tons of headaches and wasted time that could have much better been spent sleeping.

John of Agoura Hills CA (12/26/07)
I cosigned for a loan for a relative around 2001. The relative did not pay the loan back on time, so guess who gets the calls? I asked if there was anything I could do to remove my name from the account. I was given the amount of $7200 to pay on a full loan amount of approximately $14,000. I sent the money That was the summer of 2004.

I ran my credit report a couple of months ago and found that negative info was being reported. Upon calling Sallie Mae, I was informed they had no record of me buying my way out of the loan. I guess I sent the money out of the kindness of my heart! I have a letter from them stating what the transaction was about. Problem is, I've moved twice since this time, and I'm still opening boxes. Shouldn't they have records of transactions? They won't even release the name of the person I spoke to. Help.

Monica of Merritt Island FL (12/19/07)
My college uses Sallie Mae for all financial help, so I signed up with them and got approved. Yay me! They said that I could pay $114 a month, which I thought was kinda high, but worth it. After graduation, the payments DOUBLED. I called them to ask what had happened, and got the run around. I was transferred to at least 3 different people before I finally got someone to explain to me some crack about payment increases. I regretfully paid the hiked fees.

A few months later, I moved from Los Angeles to Florida. I called them to let them know that I was in the middle of a move, and that I was unable to make such high payments. I told them that I could only afford about $50 a month. The person on the line said that I should pay what I could pay and that it would be fine. Great! I thought. I made these payments for a few months, before I got my first late notice in the mail. The person on the line had misinformed me. I was told that $50 was fine, and here I see huge late fees being tacked onto my payments! I called back, got the run around (as per usual) and was eventually told that I had to submit a request in writing. I did as they asked, and called back a few weeks later. They didn't know what I was talking about, until I insisted about it enough times. Then I get the oh, that! We denied that because there was already a payment change in September of 05!

This was just the beginning of the financial problems. I tried to file for a forbearance, and they said that I had to get caught up. I didn't have the money, but I begrudgingly used my (now) husband's credit card. They never filed my forbearance request. This was one of THREE times that they have done this to me. I've since had a child, and they finally files a forbearance for 6 months. Near the end of this period, I called them to inform them of an address change. The guy answered with The reason I've called you today was to inform you that you're over 60 days late on your payment. I informed him that A) I had called him and B) my next payment was due two months from that day. He said that he had no record of my forbearance on file (even though I had initially called the automated machine to get the date of my next payment, and that machine had confirmed the date for two months from the day in question). After my baby was born, I had to quit my job. I have to move in with my parents and rely on a single income. The financial hardship is so bad that I have to choose between groceries and Sallie Mae. I've informed them of this hardship and they refuse to offer me any slack whatsoever, and continue to not only attempt to extort money from me, but they harass me on a daily basis. I've had to cancel my land line (for the most part due to harassment, and secondarily due to financial hardship), and they've somehow managed to find my cell phone number and have started to harass me on my cell phone, now! Today alone (so far), they've called me at 8:34, 9:57, 10:08, 10:32, 10:46, 11:08, 11:25 and 12:26 (it's now 1:00PM as I file this), and refuse to stop calling me, as per my request. When my son goes to college, I would rather sell my own kidneys on the black market (both of them, and DIE because of it!) to help him pay for school than go through Sallie Mae. I would not wish this mental anguish on my worst enemies.

I've suffered emotional trauma from this incident. Fear of my own phone. I've unplugged my land line for a period of no less than four months time before cancelling the line completely.

Scott of Wayzata MN (12/18/07)
This company is way too big and been around far too long to not have been faced with the Corporate Structure issues of make more profits with less personnel and far less customer service.

I had setup an automatic payment by mistake while paying online, you know it didn't even ask to confirm, as it is setup to take your bank info and that screen just set the autopay. I even had to pay again after that 'cause it didn't take effect right away. So, of course you can't cancel automatic payments online so I email customer support. I receive an auto-reply that they have received my inquiry, yet no one ever responded.

So, I've doomed myself to call a Fortune 500 company's customer support.

I push 2 for billing, then it gets tricky.
- press 1 so someone can call you back
- press 2 for more options
- If you fail to choose 1 or 2, the system hangs up on you.

I call back again. I press 2 for billing
- press 1 so someone call you back
- press 2 for more options
- I choose 2

Now it just gets stupid.
- press 1 to hear about the call you back feature.
- If you fail to choose 1 (the only option), the system hangs up on you.

I call back a 3rd time. I press 2 for billing (again).
- press 1 so someone call you back
- press 2 for more options
- I choose 1 (because it is the only option that doesn't hang up on you).
- I enter my phone number and speak my name when prompted.
- The system calls back in 10 seconds!!

Now it gets stupid again. ep- The system requires you to press 1 to be placed on hold for a representive (Guess what happens if you don't press 1).
- I press 1 and am placed on hold
- I am greeted with a customer representative from overseas (at 11am Central time).

The phone conversation

----------------------
ME: Do you know there is a problem with your phone system?
THEM: Excuse me, I don't hear you?
ME: Do you know your phone system is not functioning correctly?
THEM: I don't understand?
ME: Your phone system, it hangs up on me and requires I repeatidly call back!
THEM: How can I help you today.
ME: Can you turn off my auto-debit!!
THEM: You would like to turn off your automatic debit?
ME: YES!
THEM: OK. Your automatic debit is turned off. Is there anything else I can help you with.
ME: NO!

Do you think that the automatic debit is turned off???

Now, I am unable to login and pay online anymore. If you choose this company you have lost your soul to the corporate head.

You need to purchase alcohol after contacting this company. That costs money!

Meghan of Scottsdale AZ (12/18/07)
I have student loans from Sallie Mae, becuase my art college recommended then. I did not want loans with them, preferring Directnet, but they got me Sallie Mae loans anyhow. I graduated from the art college and enrolled in the local university for further classes. Sallie Mae started sending nasty emails, wanting payments. I have never received a paper bill. I requested paper billing, and they referred me to their website. When I try to log on to my account, it says it is suspended and to call them. When I call them they are abusive and nasty and demand payment. I tell them I am in school and would like a forbearance form sent. I have asked for a form at least six times. They email me a form in PDF format which does not open, it has error messages. I call them back and tell them that their form is not working. I ask for a peper form to be sent. They refuse. They refer me back to the website that I cannot log into, and offer to send me another PDF form which has error messages and will not open. I am now in default, and whenever I call them I get a complete runaround and no answers. They are calling 5 or 6 times a day, every day, and I don't know what to do. I have tried to work with them and it is impossible.

I cannot make these payments. I am not working and I am attending school. I have done everything I was told to do to get a deferral or a forbearance, and they have done everything they can to prevent that from happening, purposely putting me in default so they can charge me more and more and more money.

Mindi of Staunton VA (12/13/07)
Opting to go with a bank I trust, I tried to consolidate my Sallie Mae loans (about $19,000) with Bank of America. I filled out the application in October, a month before my grace period ended and three months before I was to begin repayment. About mid-November I called BOA to find out how my application was going. They told me that they had requested my loan information three times from Sallie Mae, but Sallie Mae would not release it to them. When I called Sallie Mae, they said they would not release my information to BOA because another company had already tried to consolidate my loans. So I called that company who said they knew nothing about it. They didn't even know who I was.

So the rep and I did a conference call to Sallie Mae, during which we were bounced back and forth several times and then sent to the overseas office. We were then cut off. Finally, a representative of Sallie Mae agreed to release my information to BOA, as long as they sent another (fourth!) request, which they did. It is now a month later and BOA still does not have my loan information and cannot move forward with consolidation. My repayment begins in 3 weeks and I cannot afford the high monthly payment with Sallie Mae. Every time I call them, I am shuffled around and eventually sent to the overseas department where the operator does not speak English. Nobody seems to have knowledge of what the person ahead of them did, and no one will give me their extension to check back with them (We don't have extensions, they say.) After reading these horror stories, I'm even more terrified to consolidate with Sallie Mae. I have no idea what to do. Is there any legal recourse for this problem? Can they legally just refuse to send my information to the company I want to lend with?

G.& of Cortland OH (12/11/07)
I agree with Marge from California! This is nuts. My husband and I went to college when our oldest was in diapers, and we have been paying our Sallie Mae nightmare ever since then. Well she graduates from high school this year, and we owe $3,000 MORE than when we started paying. Just as guaranteed as Sallie Mae's loan is, I GUARANTEE ALL OF MY KIDS WILL NEVER TAKE A PENNY FROM THIS BLOOD COMPANY! They are like the money sharks in the movies; (hypothetically speaking) they charge you double interest and break an arm or a leg if you don't pay on time. They don't care one bit if you are struggling, trying to make payments, or if you are hungry and need to buy food. They don't care just as long as they get their payment that DOESN'T EVEN APPLY TO WHAT YOU OWE!

This has economically devastated us and probably will forever, since we can't seem to pay it off. My husband wants to hide out in the hospital with depression because he just can't deal with it.

Jamie of Midvale UT (12/10/07)
I had to apply for financial aid with University of Phoenix and foolishly signed up to receive loans from SallieMae--a company I have had problems with in the past when they refused a deferment option when I had to leave the country on a mission.

After paying off $10,000 loan with SallieMae in September, my wife requested a cancellation of the account and was told I had to do it myself. At the end of November, SallieMae had sent another $10,000 disbursement to University of Phoenix. When I tried telling them I didn't want the loan they told me it was too late and that I owe them the pay-off amount plus interest.  Do consumers not have rights to cancel services after paying off their balance? Now I have to pay SallieMae the loan amount plus interest rather than paying for my school direct.

K of Oceanside CA (12/09/07)
I started nursing school in June 06 and the company our school preferred was Sallie Mae for all loans. I was excited to get approved for the loan and while I was in school Sallie Mae told me that I could pay $10.00 monthly and this was very exciting because I did not have a job and my husband was the only working person in our home, so that amount we could afford. As soon as I graduated from school the next month, I got a letter from Sallie Mae stating that my next payment is due and the amount was $191.55. The payment jumped $181.55 too much. I immediately called them to ask about this. The rep on the phone gave me the run around. I spoke to 8 people about this and then I requested to speak to a MGR and no one else. I got a MGR on the phone and she told me to fax in a letter stating that I want a change in terms for my loan and put on that fax the exact amount I could pay. I was very satisfied to hear that.

2 wks after faxing the letter, I called to check and see if my terms have been changed and again got the run around with about 5 reps and again I requested to speak with a MGR. I got a MGR for the second time and was then told that my fax request was denied because in June 06 the terms were already changed to $10.00 monthly fees. I told him that I was in school and that was the agreement while in school but now the jump from $10.00 to $191.55 is extremely too high and I do not have a job as of yet and I could not afford that. The responds was could you use one of your credit cards or borrow from friends/family? I said No and what can I do to change the monthly payment because I just cannot pay this amount. He said nothing can be done because the loan I have can only be changed once and it already had been in June 06. I told him I am really trying to keep my credit worthiness with you guys and my personal credit report good but I just can't make that high of a payment. Needless to say nothing was changed and I have been and still continue to make these high payments for the sake of both my husband's and my personal credit history. The only thing that for me has seemed to work out is now I have changed my due date to the end of the month so I can pay all the house bills that are due the first of the month. Never use these people. I am considering taking out a personal loan with my bank to cover this and pay them my intrest rate and the monthly payments will be lower.

Kristy of Dana Point CA (12/09/07)
The very first letter I received from Sallie Mae about my student loan was a default letter. They NEVER sent me my first bill...now after all payments being made on time in the proper amts, they continue to send me letters threatening collections. They are asking for more and more money each time and not letting me know when it's due. Next thing I know, 2 weeks after making my payment I have another letter from them telling me I have an overdue payment. THIS MAKES NO SENSE.

I have spoken to someone on 3 different occasions, and they have been everything BUT helpful. I am confused as to what this company is doing because it feels fraudulent if you ask me. My principal balance has GONE UP...with ALL my payments being made. Now I need to go to my bank to take a loan out so I can get these people paid, so I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM ANYMORE! Please, this situation is out of control, and now my co-signers and my credit hangs in the balance. My anxiety has finally hit the roof....They are obviously not abiding by the repayment terms. 

Mike of Norwood MA (12/08/07)
I was a college student attending The New England Institute of Art, and Gibbs College before that. I worked hard at both schools, signing for my own loans and attending classes properly. Well, I had probably signed for over $40,000 in loans somehow because the school would always pressure me to sign. I was almost done with my bachelors and they requested another loan for that fall. I couldn't get one without a co-signer. Nobody in my family could do that. Just before I was about to call it quits, the National Guard called me into service. I withdrew from school under military conditions. Apparently because my deferment time ran out, my repayment began. I started getting huge bills from Sallie Mae for over $500+ for loans I didn't even realize I signed for. I had the government ones that remained in deferment. I think they still are right now.

I can't go back to school now because of the loans, and I will never be able to finish my degree. So now I'm in a catch22. I can't finish the degree to get a job to pay for these huge loans; therefore I will never be able to pay for them; therefore I can't win, and neither can Sallie Mae. By now they've stated I've defaulted and thrown it into collections.

Daniel of Jeffersonville IN (12/07/07)
Look, I'm just like the rest of all you guys out their. I graduated from college almost 2 years ago, and it took about 7 months for them to figure out my consolidation--sticking me with the highest interest rate they have. (I'd still like to know how they calculate that.) I have a payment of $664.00 a month, but that wasn't even the problem. The problem is I've paid them now 6 or 7 payments and this last payment I was off by $5. They contacted me; I told the lady that I'd put it on the next payment, and she said "You can do that sir but the computer will ke