Consumer complaint received 2018-09-07
Company: AES/PHEAA
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Private student loan debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying

Complaint:
AES is illegally harassing me on the basis of loans being less than 60 days past due. I have sent them correspondence electronically warning them that I do not wish to be contacted more than necessary, if at all. In addition to this, I also get letter correspondence sent in the mail excessively. The current balance on the account includes 3 months of payments ( {$540.00} ), 2 of which are past due ( {$360.00} ). 2 months of payments will be paid as of XX/XX/XXXX ( {$360.00} ), and this payment is currently scheduled, however I continue to get repeated phone calls disrupting my daily routine. Even if lenders require that contact be made in the event of delinquency, if AES does not obey the law over an agreement between a borrower and lender, then AES should be fined damages for breaking federal and/or state law. 

I'm not going to tolerate this behavior any longer. I've been speaking to litigators, and they are advising me that I have the right to force AES to stop contacting me on a more than usual basis. This also includes making contact with all cosigners. 

Some additional problems with AES continue to surface and can easily be found all over the web. This should give the CFPB some insight into how deceptive and sinister this company is. 

Here are a few complaints : ***1*** American Education Services , AES, has terrible customer service. After a customer service representative told me erroneous information about a modified graduate repayment system ( MGRS ) that it would A ) not use forbearance time, and B ) bring the account current and not make another payment due for 2 months I immediately received a bill due in two weeks ( not two months ). I called AES 13 times, and sent them an email which they assured they would respond to within 48 hours. They NEVER did, when I finally reached them via phone they denied everything and said it was my fault for delinquency. They customer service rep eventually hung up on my telling me he did not care about the inconsistencies within the company and about the companies reputation because all that mattered was that I repaid my loan because I borrowed the money.

***2*** Three times I have sent in advance payments for my loans which will pay off the loan. I had Unsub and Subsidized loans. Every time, they applied the payments incorrectly and spread the payment throughout ALL THE LOANS INSTEAD OF TARGETING THE HIGH INTEREST LOANS. 

I specified how I wanted payments to be applied very clearly. 

They are not honest. 

***3*** We took a student loan for our daughter over 10 years ago and started paying on a {$13.00}, XXXX loan. We have been paying on this loan since XXXX with a brief respite because our daughter went back to college. Of all these years of paying on this loan we still owe these bandits over {$10.00}, XXXX. I've even paid additional money on the principle which they do not apply to principle. Also they finally sent me a transaction list and some months 90 to 100 percent of the payment goes to interest. I'm not sure where to go with this information. I can't imagine buying a car for {$13.00}, XXXX and taking 20 years to pay it off! These loans are set up to make students fail unless they can pay off in a lump sum some how. If we'd have known more about this company we would have looked elsewhere!

***4*** I am on social security XXXX and do not remember co-signing a loan for my son. These people are worse than the XXXX. They are causing me all kinds of health issues. I tried helping my son by paying over 7 years at XXXX a month. The loan has now exceeded the amount of the original loan. It is like pouring money in a sand hole. It never stops. Is there anyone or anyhow to get help. I think this is despicable. Immigrants get free education and we get the shaft. Is there any way out of this mess? Our country wants educated people, but they will never outlive these horrid loans. I am at a loss. Has anyone ever figured a way out of this mess? Please let me know.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation