Consumer complaint received 2015-12-02
Company: SLM CORPORATION
State: MO
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Non-federal student loan
Issue: Can't repay my loan
Sub-issue: Can't decrease my monthly payments

Complaint:
I owe approximately {$160000.00} in student loans, both public and private. {$100000.00} of which I owe to SallieMae. They place my monthly payments at {$1300.00}. I have recently started a new full time position at a South Carolina state university. I make {$36000.00} annual. However, due to high income tax and mandatory healthcare ( I have the absolute minimum coverage that meets the Affordable Care Act ), I take home {$1000.00} twice a month. That means that just my SallieMae payments are more than half of income and if I made just my SallieMae payments ( not including my federal loans which are on an IBRP of {$69.00} per month ) I would have {$760.00} left to cover all living expenses. I have a 9 year old car, I have the minimum allowed car insurance, minimum cell phone plan, and currently do n't pay rent because I am living on a friend 's couch because I had to go 6 weeks without a paycheck after moving XXXX miles for this new job. SallieMae will only offer a forbearance at a fee of {$150.00} ( I have XXXX loans total ), which I can not pay. I will not in the foreseeable future ever be able to make these payments, but SallieMae does not offer to make an adjustment at all ( though I have read on blogs that if you run out of forbearance and still can not make payments, call the right number and speak to the right person this mythical experience could happen ). Some of my loans have a cosigner. My cosigner also can not make these payments as they care for XXXX-XXXX elderly family members who live in the home. I previously filed a complaint because after I paid for my forebearance " good faith fee, '' I continued to get collections calls for two weeks. The issue was resolved by an escalation team member who finally listened to me when I said that they had not connected my XXXX and XXXX loans, so I was still receiving calls about my XXXX loans, though all of them should have been placed in forebearance. 

I am simply seeking a solution that does not require me to file bankruptcy and destroy my credit. I am hard working ( I am currently seeking freelance work to boost my income just to cover my daily living expenses like food, rent, and gas ), responsible, and profession, but I am being treated like I am a criminal and delinquent. I was duped by SallieMae when our relationship started and it made it appear that repayment would be based on how much money I made after graduating ( at that time, I am unsure if they are still, SallieMae loans were marketing alongside federal loans that are possible to go on an IBRP ). I would love to make my payments and avoid all of this, but the American economy did not provide the incredible job opportunities that we were told we would have going into college. I just need a manageable way to repay my debt, and I wanted to see if there was a way before contacting an attorney.

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