Consumer complaint received 2017-01-25
Product: Student loan — Non-federal student loan
Issue: Dealing with my lender or servicer — Trouble with how payments are handled
Company: Navient Solutions, LLC. (MA)

Hello, I recently saw in the news that the CFPB has decided to take legal action against Navient/XXXX for how they have treated consumers like myself who are trying to pay back their student loans and I would like to be involved in any way I can. I graduated in XXXX at the age of XXXX and had taken out loans through XXXX XXXX as my parents were not able to be co-signers on my loans and they were the only lender that allowed me to take out loans on my own. When my loans went into repayment status in XXXX I received a bill for almost {$800.00}, as my XXXX loans all had XXXX separate interest rates and they did not allow for any consolidation on these loans. For 6 months I tried to work with them to find some way I could make these payments and was offered no options, leaving my loans to go into default and my credit ruined. Finally in XXXX they offered me a " lower interest repayment plan '' which would drop the interest rate on all loans to 1 % and bring my monthly payments down to {$270.00}, however I had to pay almost {$2000.00} before they would allow me to be eligible for this program. Over the next couple of years my rates and payments were increased and at one point I was not able to make payments but was offered no assistance and my loans again went into default, harming my credit even more and resulted in harassing phone calls and threats of lawsuits if I did not start making payments. At this time I was going through serious financial difficulties as my family was having issues and at the age of XXXX had to take on the role of being the sole provider for my younger brother and sister, but when I explained this situation to them they offered no empathy and told me I had no choice but to pay them or I would be taken to court. I entered into the repayment program once again after paying what they referred to as " late/forbearance fees '' which amounted to around {$1500.00} and have been paying ever since. My payments do not make sense, the amounts owed do not make sense, and I have exhausted every option available to try and find a way out of these loans and have not been able to find any relief. At this time my current estimated payoff is XXXX of XXXX at which point I will be XXXX years old and will have been paying off these loans for 30+ years. I was told this past week when I set up my payments that my interest rate is now up to 4 % and payments {$310.00} and these will continue to increase each year that I apply for this lowered repayment plan, but without the plan my payments would be $ XXXX/month for the next 25 years. Because of XXXX XXXX and Navient I am XXXX years old and almost $ XXXX in debt with XXXX negative accounts on my credit report resulting in a terrible credit score and essentially ruining my life and any chances I have of a future. I have done everything right in my life ; I went to school, I graduated, I 've worked full-time and at times had XXXX jobs at once to support myself and my family, and yet because of these companies I will never have a chance of achieving the most basic of standards that others have. I will do anything I can to assist with this matter and can provide financial statements and payment histories showing how I have repaid $ XXXX to them and somehow my account balances and payments keep increasing. If anything comes from this please know that my story is not unique ; I personally know of many others who have had similar experiences and are now dealing with the same consequences. Thank you for your time and for your actions against these criminals.