Consumer complaint received 2015-04-03
Company: SLM CORPORATION
State: CA
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Non-federal student loan
Issue: Can't repay my loan
Sub-issue: Can't temporarily postpone payments

Complaint:
I attended a years worth of training at the XXXX school XXXX XXXX XXXX, out in XXXX XXXX, California, as well as an additional 4 months of training specifically for XXXX, under the same institution. For a small portion of my tuition, I was able to receive federal loans, but the majority I had to apply for private loans - this goes for the original years worth of standard training, as well as my extended training. My only choice at the time was to go through SallieMae, and I had cosigners who helped me attain the loans. Upon graduation I was able to enjoy the grace period and began making payments afterwards. I worked for about 4 months before I lost my XXXX job. I was able to get a job by the end of the same month, but was making substantially less. I was making payments to SallieMae at the time without issue. Times grew harder, and the decreased pay really began to catch up with me. I picked up a XXXX job, but was still struggling to make payments on all my loans, as well as necessities for daily living. I requested forbearance with SallieMae, to which they complied. I was given 3 months grace until I had to make payments again. During those three months, I received multiple calls with SallieMae telling me that I was past due by one full month, or two full months, and they were demanding payment. Each time I would inform them that I had already signed up for forbearance and that I was n't to make payments until the end of that period. They would tell me that they would make note of it and the call would end. I received these calls XXXX or XXXX a month during the forbearance period, and worse, so did my cosigners. My cosigners would be forced into making payments because they were unaware of the conditions of the forbearance. I would call SallieMae and request that they stop collecting payment and asked why they were doing so when my loans were clearly in forbearance, even my online profile listed the document that explained the terms and conditions of the forbearance. 

After that period of forbearance ended, I made payments for month but still needed more time and reenlisted in forbearance for a XXXX time. Another XXXX months with the same issues - debt collection calls, claims that I am past due and have a delinquent account, and my cosigners would also receive the same calls. The issues persisted throughout the forbearance and after the last month I began to make payments again, as necessary, for 4 months. At this time, I received a degradation to my pay, and was earning even less money. I could not comfortably meet the payment requirements and requested an additional forbearance period. I was informed this was the last time I could enroll in forbearance, but I had no choice and agreed. At this time, I enlisted XXXX loans under SallieMae at the same time. My cosigner received many calls stating that I was delinquent on the account and payment was necessary, to which they would pay, and I was misinformed in the fact that XXXX loan was put into forbearance before the other. To my understanding I had to make a payment on XXXX loans and that XXXX would go into forbearance at the same time, and payments would resume in XXXX. After XXXX, my account was listed as delinquent with a past due payment of {$500.00}, which I could not pay at the time and was far above my standard payment. I inquired to it and was given the explanation that XXXX loan went into forbearance before the other and that my only option was to pay off the amount. I had received no statement for the account for the month of XXXX, and a statement is n't even listed on my SallieMae account profile. The same goes for XXXX. I am now {$1000.00} behind and am given no options other than SallieMae demanding repayment. I am at a loss and can not make this payment. I am in dire need of assistance.

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