Consumer complaint received 2019-04-16
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC.
State: SC
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Private student loan
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Sub-issue: Can't temporarily delay making payments

Complaint:
I have been paying on a student loan since XX/XX/2005! It was originally through Sallie Mae, then sold to Navient. The original amount was {$29000.00}. I now owe over {$15000.00}. I have been repeatedly coerced into deferment after deferment because I couldn't pay the full amount, even when a partial payment was ready. They call me and my mother up to a dozen times a day. I was strong-armed into thinking I needed a co-signer when my credit score was over 700 at the time, which let 's face it is common practice in the student loan industry because it's harder to settle or discharge a debt when you have two people on the hook for it. 

They have chosen to harass my mother ( co-signer ) much more than me as she seems like an easier target. But they are relentlessly harassing a XXXX-year-old woman, who also does not have the means to pay off the debt. In fact, I don't receive any of the threatening mail ( turning over to collections, etc. ), that she receives. None. They have unfairly targeted her because she seems like a quicker cash grab. This is even though they have my information and my name is listed as the primary borrower on the loan. They have all my current information yet they choose to harass her instead. 

Here is a brief list of their illegal loan practices that I have experienced first hand : 1. Being told forbearance was the one and only option available, even when I had a partial payment. They would only accept that or payment in full. 
2. Being lied to about the process of releasing the cosigner. In fact, it took several years before I was even aware this was an option as they kept it from me. 
3. Being denied even the opportunity to apply for an income-driven repayment plan, which from the looks of it, is probably for the best since that hasn't seemed to turn out well for others filing complaints. 
4. Obscuring details I needed to obtain a lower payment. In fact, again, flat out telling me there were no options. There are always options with a debtor, Navient chooses not to negotiate and they are unwilling to negotiate. 
5. Offering absolutely no help or even suggestions when I was out of work. Again, refusing to work with me on any level. 
6. Changing the amount owed daily to keep the balance current, once 3 times in 10 days. I was instructed I could stave off collections if I paid a minimum amount of XXXX by the end of the month. I attempted to pay by website, as per their instruction, and the minimum amount had doubled to XXXX, and they would not accept the XXXX like I was told. A few days later that had risen to XXXX. Huge increase in 10 days. 
7. I almost never receive the same answer when I call customer service, which I have done dozens of times over the years. It took me years to find out about removing the cosigner. I get different answers to the same question. For example, I called twice in one day and got two different answers from two separate people. The first agent did not mention the option of making the minimum payment online, while the second one did. Unfortunately, as detailed above, that turned out to be a goose chase costing me more money and time. 

It's been well over a decade, and I'm not much better off in terms of the debt I " owe. '' However, I am worse off in many other aspects, many as a direct result of their consistent manipulation, using scare tactics, and their constant harassment. I have paid well over the original amount due, with interest, since XX/XX/2005. 

What disgusts me the most, and believe me it was hard to narrow it down, is that they repeatedly lied to me and my XXXX-year-old mother over the phone to deliberately confuse us, all so they could " earn '' their commission. For example, telling me she could call and answer a few questions to consider being removed. 
She called and they told her I had to do that. It is immoral, unconscionable, and several elements of their loaning practices and collection methods are illegal. That's why 6 different states ' Attorney Generals are currently suing Navient, and that's just as of today. I expect more to follow suit.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation