Can the Dept of ED do MATH????

This is a government regulated organization. This matter should be addressed at your stat'e attorney general's Office. Go to your states attorney general's website, and fill out the complaint/question form there.

Contacting a state AG for federal student loans is a worthless step...they won't get involved in most cases. They will simply refer you to the Student Loan Ombudsman's office which is set up to handle complaints.

Have you asked for a payment history from your lender?? Who are you making your payment to....they may give me more information right there! Do you know what type of loans you borrowed?? Subsidized loans do not start accruing interest until you are in repayment, whereas unsub loans start accruing interest the day they are dispersed. Depending on the dates that you borrowed, you could have a fix interest rate or variable. Did you take deferments/forebearances?? You might have capialized inerest in there too.

Garnishment. Is your employer simply doing a payroll deduction or are you formally being garnished?? If you are formally being garnishmed by your lender, that would indicate default.