Consumer complaint received 2026-04-14 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Struggling to repay your loan — Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan
Company: SLM CORPORATION
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint against Sallie Mae Bank regarding their handling of XXXX private student loans for which I am a co-signer. Sallie Mae has refused to offer any meaningful relief options and is threatening to default all XXXX loans on XX/XX/year>, less than 30 days before the primary borrower is scheduled to graduate in XX/XX/year>. I am requesting that the CFPB investigate this matter urgently given the imminent default date. Under the terms of these loans, I am required to make interest-only payments while the primary borrower remains enrolled in school. I have been the co-signer responsible for these payments throughout the student 's enrollment. Due to unemployment, I have been unable to make the required in-school interest payments. I previously utilized the full XXXX forbearance allowance permitted under these loans. I am currently XXXX days past due on the in-school interest payments across all XXXX loans. I have contacted Sallie Mae on multiple occasions requesting relief options, including but not limited to : -Rolling the past-due interest into the principal balance of each loan ; -An in-school deferment based on the student 's active enrollment status ; -A modified repayment plan or temporary reduced payment arrangement ; -Any other hardship accommodation available to co-signers or borrowers. Sallie Mae has refused all of these requests and has offered no viable alternative. I wish to bring to the CFPB 's attention a particularly troubling pattern in Sallie Mae 's communications. Sallie Mae has sent me written letters stating that options are available to me to resolve my past-due balance. However, when I contact Sallie Mae by phone to inquire about and pursue those options, their representatives inform me that no options are available or offered to me whatsoever. This contradiction between Sallie Mae 's written communications and what their phone representatives actually provide constitutes deceptive and misleading conduct. I am being told in writing that help exists, and then denied any such help when I attempt to access it. This pattern has caused significant confusion, delay, and harm, as I have been unable to obtain the relief that Sallie Mae 's own letters suggest is available. The primary borrower is actively enrolled in school and is scheduled to graduate in XX/XX/year>, approximately 30 days away. Sallie Mae is choosing to default XXXX loans and permanently damage the credit of both the primary borrower and myself at the very moment the borrower is on the verge of graduation and workforce entry. This outcome serves no legitimate purpose and causes severe and lasting financial harm to both parties. Furthermore, the past-due balance consists entirely of in-school interest payments, not principal, accrued during a period of documented unemployment. Sallie Mae 's refusal to capitalize a total of {$2100.00} in past-due interest or offer any interim solution reflects an unreasonable and predatory servicing practice given how close the borrower is to graduation. I respectfully request that the CFPB : 1.Investigate Sallie Mae 's refusal to offer any relief options to a co-signer facing unemployment while the primary borrower remains actively enrolled in school ; 2.Investigate the contradiction between Sallie Mae 's written communications , which reference available options, and their phone representatives ' consistent refusal to provide any such options ; 3.Require Sallie Mae to pause the threatened default while this complaint is under review ; 4.Require Sallie Mae to offer meaningful hardship accommodations, including capitalization of past-due interest, in-school deferment, or a modified repayment plan ; 5.Review Sallie Mae 's general practices regarding co-signers and in-school borrowers who exhaust forbearance options XXXX I am available to provide any additional documentation, account information, or statements needed to support this complaint, including copies of the written letters received from Sallie Mae referencing available options. Given the urgency of the impending default, I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed as quickly as possible. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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