Consumer complaint received 2017-08-28
Company: AES/PHEAA
State: WV
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:
Dear CFPB, I am writing and requesting your help with a matter which I have had countless failed attempts at resolving. I attended XXXX XXXX University ( XXXX ), at the XXXXXXXX WV campus ; from the fall of XXXX until the fall/spring of XXXX ( I am attaching a copy of my transcript ). After three years of completed coursework and taking one year off due to an auto accident, XXXX lost its accreditation before I could complete my studies, and I was left without recourse or credits to show for my completed coursework. 

Near the end of summer in XXXX, I was sitting still in traffic when a motorist who wasnt paying attention, and hit me from behind. The motorists speed was estimated at 43 mph, and the incident caused XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX which I still contend with today. 

I started physical therapy after the accident but had to stop early due to the fall semester of XXXX starting. After a week of complete misery from the accident, I withdrew from most of my classes, but muddled through a couple. I continued to work because I needed the income to help my fianc with the bills. Therefore, I took XXXX, and although the pain was horrendous, I worked and just dealt with it. 

In the spring of XXXX I once again registered for classes, and this time, I had to withdraw from all of my classes because of the XXXX XXXX, but I continued to work. At this time, I had been out of school for over a year, thus my student loans came due. I was able to get one student loan deferred, but the second one kicked-in making it impossible to register for classes and finish my degree. Making minimum wage, I fell behind on the loan that defaulted and was never able to get it deferred. 

When I realized I was unable to return to XXXX, I began looking for work, and it literally took about a year before I found a decent paying job. I worked to catch up on my bills & the defaulted student loan, but wasnt able to, thus my wages were garnished for the student loan. I didnt contest the garnishment, because I figured over time, it would get me up-to-date faster and I could get the loan deferred and finally finish my degree. Shortly afterwards, XXXX lost its accreditation, leaving me without credits, without a degree, and loans which I am still paying on. 

I did some research and found that Federal guidelines state that when a university loses its accreditation, you qualify for student loan forgiveness, entitling you to have all monies youve paid, including any interest, garnishments, tax refunds kept, and penalties paid, and so forth, all refunded to you. Despite Federal guidelines, and factoring in all the variables, I havent been successful in getting them forgiven and my monies refunded. No one is willing to help me with this matter. This past XXXX, I lost my job with XXXX, and both XXXX & PHEAA are continuing to pursue what I owe them despite numerous attempts of offering a reduced amount to settle the loans. Ive managed to get PHEAA down to about $ 14K and XXXX down to about {$1400.00} out of a total owed of over $ 40K. 

I submitted the required Federal forms to have my student loans forgiven, including what happened with the accident, and was denied. I have spoken to both parties numerous times, pleading with them to forgive my student loans due to XXXX losing its accreditation, and neither will do so. I have contacted both parties and asked to settle the accounts for reduced amounts, and both parties stated that they do not negotiate reduced settlement amounts to satisfy accounts. I have contacted several attorneys to help me with the matter, and none of them have offered to help. I recently wrote WV Senator, XXXX XXXX, and asked him to assist me with the matter. I submitted all paperwork, a release form, and XXXX emailed me a secure document which stated : We do not currently have a discharge review process for private student loan borrowers who claim a defense to repay a private loan based on misinformation from the school or the quality of education they received at their school. We are not able to respond to any information or guidance provided by a customers school, financial aid advisor, or other financial advisor. If you believe you have a claim or defense against your school, you may wish to seek advice of legal counsel. I find this as a verbal slap in the face because I am not asking for student loan forgiveness due to misinformation or the quality of education I received. Its as if they are totally ignoring what I am saying altogether, and I am literally at my whits end. 

On top of all of this, XXXX & PHEAA have excessively reported negatively on my, and my fiancs credit report ( over sixty times on mine alone ), and have purposely ruined our credit. XXXX & PHEAA have made it impossible for me to ever fix my credit. The excessive reporting is an unnecessary overkill, and has literally made it impossible at leading a normal life. As a result I overpay on things like car insurance ( one example ), and their vindictiveness has cost me thousands more than what I would have normally paid over the past eight years.

I didnt ask for XXXX to close. I didnt ask for a motorist to hit me from behind while I was sitting still in traffic, leaving me with a XXXX XXXX I will be plagued with my entire life. I wasnt a part of the wrongdoings those at XXXX were involved in causing XXXX to close & lose accreditation. I completed three years of coursework which will never be accredited, and will never be able to transfer them to another university. I literally have nothing to show for my three years of taking classes, working full-time, and sleeping two hours a night for three straight years.

I could understand and would continue to pay on my student loans if my credits were accredited and would transfer, or if I had a degree, or if I could finish my degree, but I literally have no credits or recourse. XXXX took the money I borrowed and kept it, and defaulted on providing me an education, leaving me to pay for, nothing. 

I am asking CFPB to help me recover all the monies Ive paid ( interest, penalties, fees, taxes, tax refunds kept, and so forth ), and get the monies refunded to me. Equally, if not more important, I am seeking to have the excessive credit reporting both XXXX & PHEAA have placed on my, and my fiancs credit report, removed so that we can lead normal lives once again. Lastly, I want to sue both XXXX & PHEAA for pain & suffering, purposely ruining our credit, and the repeated phone calls harassing us. This whole ordeal has ruined our credit and any chance we have at a normal life. I cant even get a small loan to fix my car because of what they have intentionally done to my credit. Before attending XXXX, I didnt owe anyone and my credit was excellent, so this whole ordeal has been a nightmare! 

On my manuscript, you can see that instead of withdrawing me from my classes the last two semesters as I requested, XXXX gave me XXXX and kept my tuition instead of refunding it. The XXXX are atypical of the XXXX GPA that I worked so hard for prior to the accident, including being on the Deans list three times, and provide a glimpse of XXXX  wrongdoing. 

I can not stress enough how badly I need this resolved. Ive applied for over fifty jobs in the last couple of months and not one potential employer has contacted me. I am 100 % positive that it based solely on my credit report which XXXX & PHEAA have ruined. All of this was something which was beyond my control, and I fail to believe I am left with no recourse and have to pay for classes that I will never receive credit for, credits I can never claim, toward a degree I will never have. 

I want to thank you ahead of time for helping me to resolve this once and for all. I know that I can count on CFPB after reading about your lawsuit against numerous agencies including XXXX & PHEAA. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation