Consumer complaint received 2018-03-06
Company: AES/PHEAA
State: FL
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Private student loan
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Sub-issue: Received bad information about your loan

Complaint:
In XX/XX/XXXX I went to XX/XX/XXXXXXXX University to obtain information about a " XX/XX/XXXX '' degree that I saw advertised on television. When I arrived at the campus I was told that an adviser would be out shortly to speak with me. 

The adviser came out and I told her that I was interested in becoming a XXXX XXXX. She then advised that the " XXXX XXXX '' program is where I should pursue my degree. We talked about accreditation and I specifically asked if the credits would transfer and she advised yes. She told me they had a great graduation to job ratio. After receiving my information I told her I needed to speak with my spouse and I would get back to her shortly. At this time she began to tell me that classes were starting soon and were filling up quickly, if I waited I may not be able to get in that semester. Feeling pressured and anxious I enrolled in the XXXX Degree program. 

During the process for applying for student loans. Whenever I asked questions I was given a vague response. Like why is there a fee for dorm rooms? That is for everyone and that is how the loan is processed. I did not know I should have challenged the charges I just wanted to get my education. 

After completing my XXXX Degree XX/XX/XXXX I was informed by an enrollment advisor that I would need to complete my XXXX Degree in order to obtain the employment I was interested in. Again I was pressured to enroll which I did. 

Upon completion of my XXXX Degree XX/XX/XXXX I was informed that repayment would be due 6 months after graduating. This is when I began to look at my paperwork thoroughly and talk with other students. 

I noticed charges for dorm rooms and called to ask for explanations as there are no dorm rooms available at the FL campus. After several phone calls I was informed that I signed the paperwork and now was responsible for repayment. 

XXXX XXXX sent me a bill and I was unable to pay the amount they were requesting. I worked with XXXX XXXX as much as I could and struggled to make payments. Even taking money from a retirement account. Several years later I received notification that my loan was sold to XXXX. By this time I was a single parent and continued to struggle making payments. 

After hearing that the XXXX authorized " loan forgiveness '' I tried very hard to make my payments monthly. Often times falling behind in my other bills. On a phone call to Navient ( sometime in XXXX ) to try and get on a payment plan as I could not afford my payment I mentioned to the representative that I was looking forward to " loan forgiveness. '' It was then that I was informed that my loans didn't qualify and that I would have to get a federal loan.. 

Years and years spent trying to get information. Years spent struggling to make a payment for a piece of paper that means nothing to any institution to then be told I was doing it wrong. 

I owed {$32000.00} for my XXXX & XXXX. and plus capitalization which resulted in another $ XXXX being added to the loan.. Now I have a federal loan that was consolidated so that I could qualify for possible loan forgiveness. The new balance is : {$45.00}, XXXX I believe that I was misled as many other students were. I applied to several colleges for a Masters degree and have been denied by them all as they would not accept not even 1 credit from XXXX University.. At this time my option would be to start from scratch with a XX/XX/XXXX. I however can not add to the student loan debt I currently have.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation