Consumer complaint received 2018-01-03
Company: GREAT LAKES
State: NC
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Sub-issue: Don't agree with the fees charged

Complaint:
I am currently enrolled in a XXXX 's program at a school where I received a XXXX 's ( this is important ). I already have an up-to-date student loan that I make auto-payments for each month. I decided to pay for my XXXX 's out of pocket. There was an opportunity to XXXX XXXX next year and my Advisor told me to apply for FAFSA to see if I qualified for a scholarship for that program. I knew I would not qualify for FAFSA, but he told me to fill it out anyway as a step towards the Scholarship application. Next, I logged onto my account online for the school and there was a disbursement of over {$10000.00} for each semester this year. Luckily I did not have my bank account information loaded, so the funds were not deposited into my bank. However, they were showing online for the school as a, " refund '' - an unsubsidized loan. I sent in an email on XXXX declining the loan - per their instructions. 

After some struggling, the school corrected the issue on their website. However, a check was sent to me on XXXX. I shredded it and looked online and found that the loan amount for this semester has been tacked onto my student loan through Great Lakes Borrower. It is showing that I owe this amount, plus interest, and a {$100.00} fee. This is baffling to me, how they have the ability to add this to my bill without any confirmation or agreement. I never asked for this loan. I never signed a paper agreeing to receiving it. I only applied for FAFSA as a step to apply for the Scholarship. 

Per the school 's Financial Aid Office, I signed a Master Promissory Note in XXXX. This means that they do not need to discuss loan disbursement with me for each school year. It is supposed to make things easier on students. However, I graduated in XXXX - this should cause that note to expire. According to XXXX, because I signed this note back then, it is good for 10 years - despite the fact that I already graduated and have started a completely different program. 

I am confused as to how they can do all of this without a signature or approval, and I am afraid that it may be  showing on my credit. I am going through the steps to get the money taken off of my student loan account, but I need to make sure this does not affect my credit. This is not something I asked for. I have lots of emails for correspondence to show that they did it without my permission and that it should have been taken care of. 

This could have been resolved with a simple email asking if I wanted the loan or not. Instead, it was processed. A check was sent to me. It was added onto my current loan along with fees and interest. I 've had to file two complaints for the loan company and now the school. There have been countless emails among the staff and myself. This situation is baffling. Please let me know if you need more information. 

Thank you for your time, XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation