Consumer complaint received 2021-10-16
Company: AES/PHEAA
State: KY
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer
Sub-issue: Problem with customer service

Complaint:
I contacted FedLoan Servicing via XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX ( the chat feature on the FLS website was not working at the time ) to request a refund of a payment for {$1500.00} I made on XX/XX/XXXX after the COVID forbearance began. I received an email on XX/XX/XXXX from a Customer Service Associate at FLS stating that the request for the refund had been submitted and could take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on the Department of Treasury. I called FLS after 2 months had passed and was told that they could see that the request had been made but it had not been processed and that they would expedite it. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent another message on XXXX XXXX to check on the status of the refund request. I did not receive a response to that XXXX message so on XX/XX/XXXX I called and spoke with someone at FLS who stated that FLS could not issue the refund because the payment was made to XXXX ( my loans were transferred in XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX to FLS ). As a result, the refund requests were being cancelled each time. I was also told that I would need to contact XXXX instead even though they no longer service any of my student loans. I called XXXX and they were understanding and helpful but said they would need to look into it. I then received a call on XX/XX/XXXX from the Customer Service Associate at FLS who was assisting me previously and she stated that she found proof that I made the {$1500.00} payment in XX/XX/XXXX and she submitted that proof. She stated it was now pending approval from the Department of Education and that it takes 7-10 business days to receive the check once it is approved. My loan balance in the FLS website now reflects that {$1500.00} has been added back to my loan balance but the refund has not been issued to me. I checked in again with FLS on XX/XX/XXXX and was told that the request had been resubmitted and was pending final approval from Federal Student Aid. I checked in again and received an email that my most recent request from XX/XX/XXXX was still pending final approval and that it required a secondary review due to being a higher amount. Once approved, it would take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. As of XX/XX/XXXX, the refund has not been issued. It has been 5 months since the refund was originally requested. I do not know who to contact at this point because each time I ask, I am told that a different entity is reviewing or needs to approve the refund ( Department of Education, Department of Treasury, Federal Student Aid, etc. ). I do not know who to contact at this point as the person who is following my case at FLS replies each time that it is still awaiting approval and takes 2 weeks to 2 months and names a different department each time who still needs to review the refund. I am trying to get this resolved before FLS stops servicing my loans once their contract ends. Any assistance would be appreciated in resolving this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation