Consumer complaint received 2019-05-14
Company: Student Loan Financial Assistance
State: IL
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Debt settlement
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, my dad was left a message ( ( XXXX ) XXXX ) by someone under the name XXXX XXXX   regarding changes in my student loan payment and they left a reference number ( XXXX ) to verify who would be calling. I followed up with them on XX/XX/XXXX about the message my dad received and they claimed to be a Student Loan Financial Assistance program that help with loan process payments. They said their part of the U.S. Department of Education which didn't leave me to question how they had my social security number, and they knew who my loan servicer was and how much my amount was. I was on the phone with a girl named XXXX who explained to me they were calling about repayment loans and their has been some changes in loan forgiveness that can be gone soon, later getting promised to consolidate my loans At this point, she offered an application to apply to a forgiveness program if eligible. I didn't think to question their credibility when talking to them because they seemed comfortable and had my my sister and dad 's phone numbers. In order to continue the process they asked if my email was okay to use so that they can send me any updates or deadlines on payments. I was then directed to XXXX who told me I qualified for the service loan forgiveness program of 12 payments around $ 70- {$100.00} within 12 months. He said that " you have to promise to follow up with the payment plan because it can affect the status of your plans. '' I agreed it was okay because they said by the 13th month my balance would be {$0.00} if I continue to send proof of my taxes every 12 months showing that I make below {$51000.00}. They said I needed to send pay-stubs of my last months pay and when I asked if they already get those from my FAFSA they said the U.S. Department of Education would get it. When I asked if my actual loan servicer would be affected they said no that's something different. 

I was redirected to XXXX again which didn't occur to me how fast the calls were being transferred from one person to another. She asked when I can pay the first installment and I told her XXXX and she said XX/XX/XXXX is the latest. So I said it was fine and she emails me a XXXX that included an online contract on what happened, privacy, cancellation, and the payment deadlines. I signed the e-form and was told to send my pay-stubs to 1 ) complete the payment plan 2 ) send it to XXXX. I gave them my bank routing and checking account information to complete the monthly payment plan. After that, I had emails sent about the process of the application stating it can not continue until they have my recent pay-stub. Another chain of emails regarding what happened on our call and the first payment is due, it says " We would also like to mention that any disputes with your financial institution severely hurts our relationship with our payment processing system. '' which left me questioning something was up. I did not send my pay-stubs due to how easy and fast the process and how I was able to get in contact with both of them. 

Once we ended the call, I had an uneasy feeling so I searched the number on XXXX to find other people being harassed by the same number saying they were a loan forgiveness advisor claiming loan payments. Some said they were being contacted even when they paid their loans years ago. After reading their comments, it matched my own experience. I checked my email to see if XXXX would email me her contact information and I see that there was a change in my FSA password during the time I called the scammers. My mom called them back and asked who they work for and said the same thing I was told. Then, she asked where their located ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA ) and when we looked up the address it was a motel-like building in a neighborhood. So at this point I knew they were scammers who were not affiliated with the Education Department because we called FSA and they said we don't directly call people unless there has been changed or you would have received information from us. To add, they said any fee or amount will never be asked upon upfront and anything the Education Department or their federal loan servicers can do for me and/or do myself for free.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation