Consumer complaint received 2019-12-11
Company: SLM CORPORATION
State: MO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Private student loan debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed

Complaint:
I obtained a $XXXX XXXX XXXX loan from Sallie Mae in XX/XX/XXXX.  The loan was made directly to me with the purpose of the loan being to cover living expenses after I graduated from XXXX school.  The loan disbursement date was XX/XX/XXXX and I officially graduated from XXXX school on XX/XX/XXXX.  The loan was entering repayment in XX/XX/XXXX, so it never went past due.  In XX/XX/XXXX, I filed Ch. XXXX Bankruptcy in Missouri.  The bankruptcy was discharged in XX/XX/XXXX.  My bankruptcy case number is XXXX.  Sallie Mae continued to report on my credit report the debt was owed and my bankruptcy attorney sent them a letter stating the debt does not qualify as a "student loan" and it was discharged with the bankruptcy.  My attorney stated in the letter that Sallie Mae was violating federal bankruptcy law and any questions or contacts relating to this debt should be made to him, my attorney.  Sallie Mae has acknowledged receipt of this letter from my attorney.

I hadn't heard from Sallie Mae since my attorney sent that letter until recently.  There was a pending class action law suit over this exact matter in the XXXX Circuit Court of Appeals.  The XXXX Circuit recently decided in In re: XXXX XXXX XXXX, case No. XXXX that XXXX XXXX loans are dischargeable in chapter XXXX bankruptcy.  Once the decision came out, Sallie Mae resumed collection efforts.

Initially, I was sent multiple letters to collect and I received multiple phone calls, I've saved the letters and voicemail messages.  On XX/XX/XXXX, I wrote and mailed a letter to Sallie Mae, which was sent certified return receipt requested.  The letter stated that Sallie Mae was notified that I'm represented by an attorney yet they still attempted to contact me to collect a debt.  I stated that I do not owe this debt, it was discharged with my bankruptcy in XX/XX/XXXX.  I included a copy of the letter sent by my attorney with this letter sent by myself.  I also included proof of the discharged bankruptcy, stating I do not owe Sallie Mae any money.  This letter was received by Sallie Mae on XX/XX/XXXX.

Since that time, the communications to me have slowed down but not ceased.  Sallie Mae has left me multiple voicemails after receiving this communication from me.  The letter was mailed from my home, with a computer printed return address label for my current residence.  On XX/XX/XXXX, Sallie Mae faxed two requests to my employer requesting my information.  The letters were faxed simultaneously, one to our office in XXXX, MO and one to our office in XXXX XXXX, MO.  I believe this was done out of spite in an attempt to harass me.  Additionally, this evening Sallie Mae called my sister in Virginia asking about my location.  My location is not a secret.  Sallie Mae is attempting to bully me into paying them.  They are breaking numerous laws while attempting to collect on a debt I don't owe and they have never responded to my letter stating the debt isn't owed.  I will include a copy of the letter that I mailed to Sallie Mae.

Here is the tracking information for the letter I mailed to Sallie Mae:

Certified USPS tracking number - XXXX

Return Receipt USPS tracking number - XXXX

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