Consumer complaint received 2018-10-12
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC.
State: PA
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:
I would like to address an issue that my son and I are having concerning his student loans through Navient ( formerly known as Sallie Mae ). He attended the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Pennsylvania. I cosigned 2 private loans for him. After that, I was not able to cosign for anymore loans because I had cosigned for other student loans for my daughter and step daughter. My son tried to quit college twice because he didnt have the funds to continue. The XXXX XXXX approached him and made it possible for him to keep going and obtain his XXXX XXXX. I did make some payments directly to the school during that time and also took out a XXXX XXXX loan. The problem came when he was hit with over {$160000.00} in student loan debt, both private and federal after graduation. He did obtain a XXXX XXXX degree. I tried to work out payment arrangements with Navient because the payments were over {$1100.00} a month. They were nasty and totally unreasonable to work with. They had me in tears more than once. They told me that it wasnt their problem how he paid his rent and car insurance. I started making {$800.00} payments to Navient for approximately 2 or more years and my son paid the difference. 
During this time, my son and I, again, requested getting our payments reduced. He was employed as a XXXX  XXXX making {$30000.00} a year. He couldnt live on that and have this hanging over his head. They came up with a reasonable payment that we were satisfied with and at the last minute, they told us that the manager wouldnt sign off on the payment plan. Well, my job situation changed drastically. My husband and I both lost our jobs ( we worked for the same company ). We were given a severance package and continued to use our money along with our XXXX to continue making payments. I got a job through a temp agency making a measly {$12.00} per hour. My husband at the time was still unemployed. Again, my son and I called Navient to see if they could work with us. I let them know we could no longer make the payments. They did the exact same thing.they said they could lower the payments and in the end, the manager would not sign off on it! We tried to contact the XXXX XXXX and learned they closed their doors because of student loan fraud. 
We were desperate, we got an attorney involved to see if he could talk to Navient. They would not negotiate anything with him. In the meantime, the loans have been turned over to collection. We have not been contacted by the collection agency as of yet, so I reached out to XXXX XXXX XXXX   and they are referring the case over to an attorney. We have since learned that the Attorney Generals office in Pennsylvania has filed complaints against Navient and the XXXX XXXX both for student loan fraud and various other unethical behavior. We are currently filing complaints with the Attorney Generals office as well. 
I have cosigned for my daughters school loans with Navient, which I am currently helping her to repay. The loans are in good standing. Her debt was $ XXXX out of college. I cosigned for my step daughters school loan for 1 year of college also with Navient. We are repaying that $ XXXX loan as well and its in good standing. I have a XXXX XXXX with Navient for my sons schooling that Ive been paying on for almost 10 years and is in good standing. That was $ XXXX. So, we are willing to pay our share for my sons education, but at a reasonable amount with reasonable payments. 
First of all, Navient and the XXXX XXXX knew full well that my son could never be able to repay these kind of loans. This is a noose around his neck for the rest of his life. His job is unstable and his marriage is on the brink of divorce and hes only XXXX years old. Im almost XXXX years old and I will do what I can to help pay off some of the debt, but if my health fails 10 years from now, then what? I will never be able to retire and thats finebut as a mother, I want my son to have a chance to live his life without this burden. Im a desperate Mom asking for you and your staff to intervene on our behalf. Could you please do what you can to reduce some of his debt and accumulating high interest were facing? 
I have enclosed a snap shot of my Navient account showing current balances as well as my son. The amounts are staggering as youll see. Anything you can do at all would be greatly appreciated. 
I appreciate your time in reading this letter. I know were not alone. There is a real student loan crisis in this Country. Something needs to be done for these kids coming out of college facing the same thing that were facing.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation