Consumer complaint received 2018-09-24
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC.
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Private student loan debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
Late fall of 2016 I was finally working after being unemployed for over a year. During my unemployment I was constantly making efforts to pay my debt to Sallie Mae. I always made a payment even if it did not cover the entire amount. In XX/XX/XXXX/XX/XX/XXXX of XX/XX/2016 I was contacted by phone several times for payment. One time I was able to pay monthly payment in full and the next time I was not. I explained I was working two jobs and was willing to give a partial payment so as to not fall delinquent. The representative on the phone, who I have forgotten her name, stated she could not take any payment less than the full amount or if I wanted to avoid collections to pay a settlement price of XXXX. I was sure to tell her that I wanted to make some sort of payment and that in no way was I gong to be able to pay the XXXX settlement amount. She then stated " is there a family member, a friend or could you go to the bank and get a loan for the amount? '' to which I replied " if I had XXXX sitting in an account somewhere I would not be asking to make a partial payment. '' She continued to tell me she cant take any payment but the full amount of the settlement amount. I again responded with I can only offer partial payment. She then proceeds to tell me she will not be taking any payments except those two options. When I told her I couldn't do either. she informed me I would most likely go to collections and my credit would be ruined for a long time. I again stated I didn't want that to happen that was why I was offering something rather than nothing. She again refused and I ended the conversation. 

Fast forward a few months and I was contacted by XXXX XXXX. I immediately explained my situation and set up a payment plan, auto payment each month and I am in good standing currently. As of this morning I again reached out to Navient who told me there was nothing they could do for me to remove the credit rating issue off the report and there was no longer a settlement option available to me. I again asked to speak to a person who could possibly make a decision regarding removing the credit damaging status and XXXX the representative said there was nothing that could be done until the amount was paid off and it would continue to be reported to the credit beaurea until it was paid off. I again asked for settlement possibility and she informed me to call XXXX XXXX. 

I find this extremely frustrating and infuriating because I have been willing and able to make some sort of payment all along and refused that option. Then I try to make attempts and I get punished with only two options that were no realistic at the time. Currently I am up to date, never miss payments, and feel like Navient is impossible to work with. 

I don't know what you or anyone can do about this. I am recently married and trying to buy a home and because of Navients reporting I am not able to get pre-approval of any sort. Again I don't know what solution you can provide but all I want is to have the collections status removed from my credit report. I will continue to make my payments timely without issue.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation