Consumer complaint received 2017-01-19
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC.
State: CA
Product: Student loan
Sub-product: Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with my lender or servicer
Sub-issue: Trouble with how payments are handled

Complaint:
I took out student loans in XXXX, when I was XXXX years old. I graduated in XXXX with a XXXX degree and {$22000.00} in debt. I now owe over {$70000.00}. I have been paying what I can on these loans since XXXX, and have proof of this repayment since XXXX. The average payment has been {$50.00} a month. Admittedly, it has n't been the amount they have expected, but I have not been making a living wage since graduation. However, I knew it was my responsibility and wanted to make good. To this day, they have not credited my account for the total amount paid, because as I 've been told, they ca n't find my repayment history prior to XXXX. I was mislead time and time again about this loan. 
First, it started in XXXX, when I was asked to begin repayments and when I said " I had no income '', I was told it would be in my best interest to consolidate them with an interest only repayment, even though I had no income. So I did. They were consolidated at a higher interest ( 9 % ), then what they were originally at, and have remained there since. If I was n't so ignorant about interest rates and what I got myself into, I would have never agreed. But, I listened to XXXX XXXX thinking they have my best interest in mind. Gullible right? 
My loan was tossed from lender to lender for several years, which added fees and interest to the loan. Finally, in XXXX, I had had enough. I was about to have my first of XXXX children and I wanted out of this debilitating loan. I showed proof of what I was making and my father even offered a settlement amount, but to no resolution. Finally, after proof of income, they agreed to accept {$50.00} a month. 
Then, once again, in XXXX the loan was sent to someone else, this time the XXXX XXXX XXXX and again, they accepted the {$50.00} a month payment. I received notice that in XXXX of XXXX, my loan was finally rehabilitated. For 56 months it was held here, gaining XXXX of dollars in interest. I came to find out, it should have only been kept in rehab for 10 months. Apparently, I was supposed to know that. So, I asked, as I had many times, " Why was my loan in rehabilitation for so long? '' I 'm still waiting for a proper answer. 
Then in XXXX, I was told by a friend about IBR. At this point, my loan had been transferred once again to XXXX XXXX and is currently with Navient. I came to find out that it was consolidated, but this time without my knowledge, so my Principal jumped by over {$40000.00} and is still locked in at a 9 % interest. If I knew this was going to happen, maybe I would have looked elsewhere for a loan at a low interest rate and negotiated based on my principal at that time. This is no longer an option. Now, I am left with IBR. I live in XXXX XXXX, CA and my rent alone is {$2000.00} a month. I am currently on unemployment and make less than {$XXXX} a month. Yet, It has been determined that I owe, {$43.00} a month based on income. Ok, fine. My biggest complaint is that I would like my years of payments based on my income since XXXX to be credited to my years of IBR. I would also like the interest rate to reflect current rates. 
Even if this loan is " charged off '' in XXXX years or so, I will never be able to pay the taxes on that amount. I have XXXX children, XXXX of which will be in college in 5 years and have nothing to give. I need to focus on my children and insure they do not make the same mistakes that I did or trust organizations like XXXX XXXX and Navient to have their best interest in mind. 
Thank you for your time.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation