Consumer complaint received 2017-09-13
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: CT
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Private student loan
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Sub-issue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan

Complaint:
College : University XXXX XXXX Location : XXXX, CT It has been a nightmare dealing with Discover Student Loans. In XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX Discover Student Loans verbally harassed and disrespected me. They called me early in the morning and late at night, they hung up the phone on me, they took more money from my account than I authorized on numerous occasions, they gave me false information, and while all this was happening interest was accumulating causing my loan to go into default. In XXXX and XXXX they overcharged me on student loan payments. Discover created student debt stress for me by inflating my bills and misleading me about important benefits. I signed up for an Income based repayment plan and they took out more money than I authorized out of my account. They did this multiple times. I had to wait a week just to call Discover Student Loans to find out they did n't even start the refund process even though they said they would so they lied to to me. I ended up waiting an additional 2 weeks for one refund. Once I got the refund it was not the correct amount so I had to wait an additional week to get the correct amount. They stole more money out of my account a second time by taking more money than I authorized them to take. I had to wait another 2 weeks for a second refund. This type of illegal practice subsequently resulted in my private student loan accumulating interest while I was getting abused and ending up in default. Discover never gave me a fair chance at paying off my student loan. I have complained numerous times to CFPB and Discover since XXXX and here we are in XXXX with no help, 4 Years! The loan accumulated interest and got sent to a collection agency/lawyer. Discover Student Loans treated me like I was n't even a human being. I have never felt so disrespected in my life. Discover Student Loans is notorious for Illegal Servicing Practices. 
I also feel as if race could have been a factor since I have a XXXX sounding last name and this is America! I know how people should be spoken to because I have a long history in customer service. The way I was spoken to, the misinformation that was given to me, the tone that was used during those abusive phone calls, and most importantly there overall practice felt like oppression. My credit is messed up because of this defaulted loan and I am emotionally stressed and my quality of life has been affected.
Discover did not provide the most basic functions of adequate student loan servicing for a portion of the loans that were transferred from XXXX including me. I encountered problems as soon as my loans became due and Discover gave me account statements that overstated their minimum payment. Discover denied me information that I would have needed to obtain tax benefits and called me at inappropriate times about my debt. Discover violated the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Acts prohibitions against unfair and deceptive acts and practices, and also the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation