Consumer complaint received 2024-05-28
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer — Don't agree with the fees charged
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC. (IL)

I couldn't find the correct option for this but I hope this is the right place to put this. 

Many students, including myself, were misled by Navient into securing predatory private loans to fund education at for-profit online institutions, such as The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I attended from XXXX to XXXX with an original principal loan amount of {$15000.00}. Despite having paid {$32000.00} towards these loans, my current balance stands at {$22000.00} due to an exorbitant interest rate, which currently is XXXX XXXX 

Notably, The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and their parent company, XXXX XXXX XXXX, were subject to investigations by various state attorneys general and found to have engaged in deceptive practices. In response to widespread allegations of fraud and misconduct by The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, the XXXX XXXX announced a comprehensive loan discharge for students enrolled at these institutions from XX/XX/XXXX, to XX/XX/XXXX. I, however, did not have any of my loans XXXX. 

Navient, which was sued by the attorneys general of XXXX states for its role in facilitating these predatory loans, had a specific arrangement with for-profit schools during the early XXXX, making it a " preferred '' lender. Despite this, the settlement terms provided by Navient were considerably inadequate, excluding many borrowers who took loans for attendance at approximately XXXX for-profit online schools, unless they resided in certain states or had not defaulted for at least XXXX months during a specified period. On XX/XX/XXXX, as a result of this lawsuit, XXXX of my private loans were XXXX, totaling in the amount of {$15000.00}. 

However, that still left me with the balance of {$23000.00}, and the only period during which I managed to reduce the principal amount was during the pandemic, when interest rates were temporarily lowered to between XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  However, once the regular interest rates resumed, my balance skyrocketed again. This financial strain, coupled with the emotional stress and damage to personal relationships, has been overwhelming. 

Moreover, Navient exited the federal student loan servicing business amidst legislative and advocacy scrutiny, following allegations of steering borrowers away from income-driven repayment plans towards forbearance, an action for which they had to provide restitution. 

Navient has also faced multiple lawsuits for other predatory lending and illegal collection practices. Currently, Navient is distributing " applications '' to select students who may qualify for XXXX XXXX claims against their schools. However, this process feels unnecessary and opaque, as Navient is already aware of the affected students. 

Under the FTC 's " XXXX XXXX, '' Navient is accountable for these predatory loans issued in association with for-profit online schools. As time is critical, XXXX XXXX XXXX has urged Navients XXXX to immediately discharge these loans. It is crucial for Navient to take responsible action now by discharging all such predatory private loans associated with for-profit online education.