Consumer complaint received 2017-03-17
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC.
State: TN
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with my lender or servicer
Sub-issue: Having problems with customer service

Complaint:
I worked for 5 years as a XXXX in a XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) in the XXXX, TN / XXXX County XXXX XXXX XXXX. I love working with XXXX, but the prospective pay was significantly lower than if I were to work privately. However, other XXXX working in XXXX indicated they had successfully used the 5 year XXXX Loan Forgiveness Program to help offset the lost income. So I worked 5 grueling years in this XXXX which was so dysfunctional that there was significant XXXX turnover every year. Every year I was offered positions in less challenging, higher performing schools but always stayed at XXXX XXXX because of my bonds with the children and ultimate promise of the loan forgiveness. By the fifth year, I was one of the most tenured XXXX and considered a resource for stability in the XXXX. I successfully had Perkins loans forgiven under a similar program, but when it came to Navient approving the XXXX Loan Forgiveness Program they said I did not quality because her state XXXX license listed her as a " XXXX '' and not a " XXXX. '' This, while technically accurate, is a ludicrous distinction. In substance I met every program requirement : speech therapy itself is teaching language and communication skills to children with language and communication deficiencies ; the significant majority of my case load was special needs children ; and I worked for 5 consecutive years in an officially recognized low income XXXX. XXXX. I had parents crying thanking me for XXXX over 5 years. I also became a recognized leader in the XXXX in the use of XXXX, especially XXXX, for improving XXXX. XXXX. I say all of this to ask - is n't that the absolute point of this program? To encourage highly qualified ( I understand this is term has varying definitions state by state, but to even be a XXXX in Tennessee you must have a XXXX degree which I have, so I am already " highly qualified '' ) XXXX ( I XXXX! ) to go into challenging positions ( low income XXXX ) that are less attractive ( at least financially ) to help underserved populations ( XXXX who otherwise could not afford the necessary XXXX )? I frankly can not fathom how I do not qualify, especially when other XXXX have qualified under the same program. Navient told me it boiled down to the license not saying " XXXX. '' This is such a classic example of nameless large company bureaucrats finding a way to deny a promise made, and apparently is not alone in other deceitful business practices used by Navient as indicated by the recent lawsuit. In addition, I called the prior Stafford loan servicer, XXXX, every single year to confirm I still qualified for the loan forgiveness program and every year I was reassured I did. Navient only took over the loan servicing RIGHT as it was time to apply. Navient 's excuse was they are more " strict '' than other loan servicers ( I would say " literal '' to the extent of being disingenuous ). Well, as we see in the news now, they are reckless and unscrupulous. I ca n't say I 'm surprised!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation