Consumer complaint received 2017-09-27
Company: United Student Aid (USA) Funds
State: MI
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan
Sub-issue: Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan

Complaint:
To Whom It May Concern : I am writing because I received a Parent Plus loan and XXXX is the service provider. XXXX  began garnishing my wages without providing me with proper notice prior to the garnishment which prevented me from exercising my right to file an objection. I was told about the garnishment by my former employer and was not notified by XXXX. 

More than 15 % was garnished from my paycheck which caused major hardship on my family. My hardship was shared and discussed with a XXXX representative and fell on death ears. I had several conversations with XXXX and told them numerous times that the garnishment was affecting my ability to care for my family and requested to enroll into income driven programs. I was told, by a XXXX representative, that after making 6 payments of basically $ 500- {$600.00} per month I could qualify for lower payments of {$5.00} per month. How does one afford to make those types of payments if I demonstrated my inability to make those payments. 

Further, after discussing this with the representative I figured out she never had any intention of enrolling me into any program, but instead would continue to collect the $ 500- $ 600 monthly in addition to any amount she could retrieve from my checking account. I was led to believe that I could make payments at {$5.00} monthly based on my income after making 6 unaffordable payments. I am single mother taking care of XXXX children. 

I was instructed to write an email to a supervisor ( I think the email address was bogus because I never received an response ) and requested an appeal for lower payments to happen after I made the 6 payments ( through a garnishment I had no control over ). That email was sent in XX/XX/XXXX the same day I spoke to the XXXX representative. Prior to that call I had already made 4 payments. 

I was working through a XXXX agency and on XX/XX/XXXX my assignment ended. The next week I received a letter stating that my taxes would be garnished if I did not reply to their request to began making payments I could not afford nor had the money to make. I immediately wrote a letter explaining that I could not afford to make the payments and that my assignment ended. 

I have made numerous calls and written emails and letters requesting ( this was according to their letter with instructions on how to request an appeal and assistance regarding being entered into an income driven repayment system ) assistance with being entered into an income driven repayment plan, which was to no avail and only to be told my request was denied because my loan was in default. Previously I was told that my loan would be remove from default while making my previous payments and making at least 6 payments which were garnished from my payroll. 

Navient is manipulating this system and taking advantage of lower income families who work hard to provide a future for their families. I told her that I wanted to make some form a payment, but not at the risk of my family literally being homeless to make payments to an agency who has millions of dollars. 

I would like for someone to explain to me how a student loan payment is more important than feeding my family. Is it because our lives do not matter? Are we not worthy of living or eating? Or is it because we are a low-income family. How are XXXX practices allowed to continue? In Corporate America profit and greed are important factors. 

XXXX goal is to bankrupt me and my family, leave us hungry and homeless to get a payment so that a representative gets a commission. I am fighting back against these practices. 

I began making payments from XXXX 2017- XXXX 2017 and received no assistance is making these payments. 

I would appreciate a response and one not of empty words. How do you get a loan out of default with no money to pay the loan? Why was the loan put into default after a few weeks of non- payment? Navient received an email stating that my employment ended.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation