Consumer complaint received 2019-03-11
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan — Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Company: LendKey Technologies, Inc. (OH)

Thank you for listening. I graduated from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in the late summer of XX/XX/XXXX after attending for 4 years ( 3 of those summers to graduate on time ). Prior to starting college, I moved out of my parents home and lived in an off-campus apartment. 

During my time with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, I explained many times that I didn't live at home, but they could never help me receive any type of financial aid other than a couple of scholarships for {$250.00} or so, which I was so grateful for, but this didn't seem like the correct answer. I found myself in the financial aid office often because I had heard of students claiming themselves as independent from their parents somehow. If I recall correctly, there were some extenuating circumstances like the death of a parent and/or active military and some others. I was never receiving any help from my parents and their income was always considered, which left me with zero financial aid other than private and federal loans. I was the first of my family to attend college so they didn't know or understand how to help me further. 

I worked throughout all of my years at The University and paid about {$100.00} a month toward my loans as I could to help, but in the end, I'm not sure if it worked in my favor or not. I accumulated about {$60000.00} for my XXXX degree. 

For the first two years of repayment, I took advantage of the graduated repayment plan, which landed my parents around {$250.00} a month, then ballooned after two years to nearly {$500.00}. For several years, I paid between $ 6- {$700.00} a month through a few jobs, a divorce, a remarriage, and now as a mother. This debt can be debilitating at times leaving me feeling anxious and depressed, but also proud as I have overcome a lot and still maintained good standing. 

While the weight of my debt has been heavy, but I have always been grateful to have a job that helped me pay for my education. I know some have to choose forbearance for extended amounts of time or use income-based repayment plans to get through. I luckily haven't had to, but that hasn't come at a shortage of hard work on my end. 

Late last year, I consolidated my loans for a lower interest rate and to relieve my grandfather as a cosigner. I have always kept my loans up-to-date and this is something that has been very important to me. In refinancing, I was hoping to finally get rid of the rest of my debt. Now, inXX/XX/XXXX, I still owe {$14000.00}, I recently lost my job and I am at a loss of how to eliminate the rest of this debt without putting myself into more debt. 

I talked to my new lender, Lendkey, and my only two options are to do a forbearance, which is going to add interest to something I have worked so hard to keep in good standing or a refinance. I don't think at this time a refinance is an option for me as I have one of the lowest rates offered ( I have done a lot of research on this ) and I just consolidated my loans about 4-5 months ago. 

I'm reaching out in a desperate attempt that you may know of a program that I am unfamiliar with. As the mother of a young daughter, I want to set the best example for my daughter. I take a lot of pride in what I have accomplished and don't want to let my progress slip. 

Thank you for your help, XXXX