Consumer complaint received 2025-11-21 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: SLM CORPORATION
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint because Sallie Mae Bank is reporting multiple derogatory and inconsistent entries on my credit reports that appear inaccurate, unverifiable, incomplete, and potentially tied to loan-servicing errors or identity misuse. These discrepancies have resulted in significant harm to my credit standing, financial opportunities, and peace of mind. Despite multiple attempts to dispute these entries with the credit bureaus, Sallie Mae Bank has not provided the original documentation necessary to verify ownership, accuracy, or legitimacy of the reported information. Because the reporting remains inconsistent, confusing, and unsupported, I am asking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to assist in ensuring that Sallie Mae Bank meets its legal obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and supplies valid proof of the account informationor corrects or removes the derogatory entries if they can not be verified. 

The issues with Sallie Mae Bank became apparent when I reviewed my credit reports and noticed that the same lenderSallie Maewas reporting several accounts with contradictory information. One account appeared as a charge-off or collection on one bureau, with late-payment histories that I do not recognize. Another Sallie Mae account appeared as Paid, with no derogatory information, suggesting that the account was either resolved or not delinquent. A third account showed severe delinquency, multiple late-payment notations, and a high past-due balance. These accounts did not align with each other or with the records I have. The presence of contradictory versions of what appears to be related or identical loan products raised immediate concerns because it indicated that the information being furnished by Sallie Mae Bank was not consistent or accurate. 

Additionally, the dates reported by Sallie Mae Bank do not match across the credit bureaus. For example, an account may show that it was opened at a certain time on one bureau but reflects a different opening date on another bureau. The delinquency dates, charge-off dates, or closure dates also differ from one bureau to another. There are even instances where a Sallie Mae entry lists a last payment date but reports the actual payment amount as zero, which is contradictory and suggests an internal data mismatch. Reporting a payment date without a payment amount raises questions about whether the information was populated automatically or reported inaccurately during a system update or file transfer. 

These inconsistencies are especially concerning because accurate reporting of student-loan information is crucial for many consumers who rely on credit reports when applying for homes, vehicles, jobs, rental housing, insurance, and other necessities. When the same lender appears to be reporting different facts to different credit bureaus, it indicates serious weaknesses in the lenders data integrity and raises concerns about whether Sallie Mae Bank maintains the proper documentation to support its reporting obligations. 

When I noticed these inconsistencies, I promptly filed disputes with the credit bureaus. In each dispute, I asked for verification of the accounts, clarification of the reported information, and copies of the documentation that Sallie Mae Bank relied upon to furnish the negative information. I requested that the bureaus contact Sallie Mae Bank and obtain original records, including signed loan agreements, promissory notes, repayment histories, delinquency records, and any notices that were allegedly sent to me. Despite these detailed requests, the credit bureaus responded with generic statements stating that the accounts were verified as accurate, without supplying any supporting documentation or explaining how the verification was conducted. 

The FCRA requires a reasonable reinvestigation when a consumer disputes information, but I do not believe that a reasonable or meaningful reinvestigation occurred. Instead, based on the short turnaround time and the lack of documentation provided, it appears that the bureaus relied entirely on automated verification through e-Oscar or similar systems. Automated verification does not satisfy the FCRA when the consumer raises specific, detailed concerns that require human review and examination of original documentation. It is impossible for Sallie Maes reporting to be simultaneously accurate and contradictory across different bureaus, unless the accounts themselves contain errors or Sallie Maes systems are misreporting information during data transmission. 

Another troubling aspect of the derogatory Sallie Mae entries is that I did not receive proper notice or warning about any alleged delinquency, charge-off, or negative reporting at the time the negative activity supposedly occurred. Under federal law and standard loan-servicing practices, lenders are expected to send delinquency notices, billing statements, and communication regarding repayment options before reporting severe negative events such as charge-offs or 90-day late payments. Yet I do not recall receiving any such communications. If Sallie Mae claims that those notices were issued, then I request proof of these communications. Without evidence that the proper notices were sent, the derogatory reporting is incomplete and misleading. 

Moreover, the severity of the reported derogatory information suggests that if such events had truly occurred, there would be clear documentation such as collection letters, payment demands, or legal notices. I have none of these records, and the credit bureaus did not provide them during the dispute process. This raises the possibility that the reported delinquencies are based on internal data errors, system migrations, or inaccurate transfer of loan information rather than actual consumer behavior. 

It is also unclear whether these accounts were affected by identity misuse. I filed an identity-theft report with the Federal Trade Commission because of other inconsistencies in my credit file, including unauthorized inquiries and accounts that appear unfamiliar. Because identity theft can affect student-loan accounts and related financial information, Sallie Mae Bank must provide proof that these loans, delinquencies, and derogatory behaviors were actually connected to me and not the result of fraudulent activity. Without documentation showing that I applied for or authorized the creation of the Sallie Mae accounts in question, or that I received communications about repayment or delinquency, the negative reporting can not be assumed to be legitimate. 

Another concern is that Sallie Mae Bank may have sold, transferred, or reassigned certain loan accounts in the past, which can create reporting errors if the transfer was not documented or communicated properly. If Sallie Mae transferred the servicing rights or ownership of the loans, I request documentation of these transfers, including the full chain of assignment. Loan transfers without accurate data migration can lead to incorrect delinquency reporting, missing payment records, or misapplied transactions. These issues are common when loans are transferred between servicers or when older accounts are converted into new servicing platforms without proper quality control. 

The derogatory reporting by Sallie Mae Bank has had significant consequences. Inaccurate late payments, charge-offs, or delinquent statuses negatively affect credit scores. These negative entries can result in higher interest rates, loan denials, reduced credit availability, and difficulty obtaining housing or employment. The financial harm and emotional distress caused by Sallie Maes inaccurate or unverifiable reporting can not be overstated. A lender must be held accountable for ensuring that the information it furnishes is complete, accurate, and supported by documented evidence. 

The most critical part of a fair resolution involves producing the documentation that Sallie Mae Bank used to report the information in the first place. If Sallie Mae can not provide original promissory notes, signed loan applications, billing statements, delinquency notices, repayment histories, or transfer documentation, then the reporting can not be verified. Under the FCRA, unverifiable information must be deleted. 

Additionally, Sallie Mae Bank must reconcile the inconsistencies across bureaus. It is not acceptable for the same lender to report different balances, different dates, different statuses, and different delinquency histories depending on the bureau. The information must be unified, accurate, and consistent if it is to remain on a consumers credit file. If Sallie Mae can not make the reporting consistent and accurate, then the entries should be removed. 

A fair and reasonable outcome also includes correcting or deleting any unauthorized or unverifiable inquiries associated with Sallie Mae Bank or its affiliates. If Sallie Mae accessed my credit file without authorization or if an inquiry was made in error, it must be removed. 

I am requesting that Sallie Mae Bank provide the following as part of a fair resolution : A full investigation into each account they are reporting. 

Copies of original loan documents, promissory notes, and applications. 

Complete payment histories and details regarding all alleged delinquencies. 

Documentation showing all communications sent to me regarding repayment or delinquency. 

Evidence of any loan transfer, sale, or assignment involving Sallie Mae Bank. 

Clear explanations for inconsistent reporting across the bureaus. 

Removal of any information that can not be validated. 

Permanent suppression of any fraudulent or identity-theft-related information. 

Removal of any unauthorized or unverifiable credit inquiries. 

The inconsistencies, contradictions, missing documentation, and refusal to provide verification after multiple disputes demonstrate that Sallie Mae Banks reporting can not be trusted without further evidence. I respectfully request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau compel Sallie Mae Bank to comply fully with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, provide the necessary documentation, and remove any derogatory entries that can not be supported with original, legitimate records.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation