Consumer complaint received 2017-08-24
Company: AES/PHEAA
State: CA
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Sub-issue: Problem with customer service

Complaint:
Hello, My father ( XXXX XXXX ) had a Parent PLUS loan serviced by AES. My husband and I made regular monthly payments of {$590.00} via ACH toward his loan balance up until the date of his XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I contacted AES by XX/XX/XXXX notifying them of my father 's XXXX, and they were in receipt of the XXXX certificate indicating the date of XXXX to be XX/XX/XXXX. I was advised that the loan was forgiven effective on the date of XXXX. I was unable to obtain other information until my Letters of Administration were conformed by the courts, which AES received in XXXX of XXXX. 

My issue, and what has since dragged out for a year past the date of my father 's XXXX, is that the monthly ACH withdrawal hit our account on XX/XX/XXXX ( date of XXXX - a Saturday ) and was removed XX/XX/XXXX ( Monday ). After the significant back and forth over multiple phone calls, I was advised that since the loan was forgiven on XX/XX/XXXX, that my personal payment would be reimbursed. I ironed out the proper protocol to submit a dispute and request reimbursement with a woman named XXXX, mentioned by name and employee number in the letter I sent to AES, and which is attached to this complaint. 

As I had not heard anything since my letter was mailed XX/XX/XXXX, I called AES to request a status update on XX/XX/XXXX. I was told that my complaint and request for refund were rejected on XX/XX/XXXX on the grounds that the payment was made prior to the date the company received the XXXX certificate ( XX/XX/XXXX payment vs XX/XX/XXXX XXXX cert receipt ). As this directly contradicted the information I had previously received, I requested to be transferred up the line to a supervisor that could assist. While I was being bounced around over the 40min call, I was advised I needed to send another dispute letter ( disputing the outcome - at my expense via XXXX ) to the same address I had sent the original letter ; I was also told by an employee XXXX ( # XXXX ) and her supervisor XXXX ( # XXXX ) that the circumstances appeared odd given the date of forgiveness was indeed retroactively forgiven on XX/XX/XXXX, therefore any payments after that date would have been effectively surplus ( paraphrasing ). The conversation ended when XXXX mentioned that all other supervisors were in a meeting and unable to take my call and would call me back by close of business PST yesterday, XX/XX/XXXX. I have yet to receive a return call and am deeply frustrated by being put through this circus for a calendar year. 

My goal is to receive the {$590.00} that I paid toward this loan - that was not in my name nor my responsibility, to begin with. Please assist, as I 've done everything possible and ca n't seem to get straight answers or any real help from anyone whom I 've spoken with about this matter. The emotional and financial toll has been a significant burden, as have the repeated 45+ min calls for which I have to take time off from work. 

Thank you, XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation