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Default student loans

Date: Wed, 08/19/2009 - 00:06

Submitted by anonymous
on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 00:06

Posts: 202330 Credits: [Donate]

Total Replies: 32

Default student loans


A credit agency called me at work today and kept me on the phone for 45 minutes claiming that they were going to garnish my wages up to 15% for non-pain student loans. I told them that I could set up a payment plan and they agreed to it, but then the guy on the phone said "well sir, we need a valid checking account to set this up for you". I said, well unfortunately, I don't deal with banks, so I can absolutely make the payments, but it will have to be in the form of some sort of gift card or something, I can get an all access one and have a payment for you this friday (in 3 days). He then said "let me get my manager". Then this lady comes on the phone and starts relentlessly saying "sir, we're trying to make this easy for you, is it possible that your mom or someone else can give you their routing information and you could pay them the money". I said listen, if you want to talk about payment, thats fine, if not I don't know what to tell you, I said that I can use some sort of all access card to pay you and the payments will go right through, if not, you will have to give me a couple weeks to open up a checking account just for this specific reason since I don't have the funds immediately to make the first payment. She then said, "someone will be in our office tonight until midnight, see if you can talk to your mom about using her checking account to have this set up so we can get it in our system that you are in the rehabilitation program under the hardship program, and if I come in tomorrow morning and I don't see anything on our file that you have called with routing information, then I will proceed with garnishment ramifications". Now, my question is, these people are anything but easy to deal with, you wouldn't BELIEVE the questions that they were asking me. The name of the agency is Pioneer credit union, so they are valid, I've received letters from them before. Secondly, before they start garnishment, do they have to send me a letter, and if so, im sure by that time I will have the funds to start making payments...I'm thinking if they have to notify me, that may take at least a week, and I might have the right to file an appeal or at least contact them back and try to make payment arrangements. If this is correct please let me know, I live in Pennsylvania. They seemed anything but helpful. The strange thing was, when the guy was giving me payment options he said "ok sir, since the loan was in default, we are expecting a down payment of 2,964$ and monthly payments of 330$, or a down payment of 2,165$ and a monthly payment of 435$, or a down payment of 1,345$ and a monthley payment of 566$". Then I said "well, there's no way possible that any of that is happening at all, so do what you need to do. And then he said "let me speak to my manager". He then came back on the phone and said "my manager said that you would be a good candidate for our "hardship" program, which would be no down payment, and monthly payments of 195$, the only thing that we require is 2 payments this month, and then monthly ones after this. That's when they only gave me a checking account as an option and then said if I didn't call them back later that night, they would start the garnishment process. My question is, do they have to notify me before they do anything, and if so, like I said before, if they have to notify me, will I have time to contact them back for monthly payments. They said that in order for me to quality for that "hardship" program, that I need to let them know by tonight because there are only a few times they can grant that out or something like that. So, I guess what I'm asking is, in a couple weeks, should I still be able to set up payments with them, or will they just immediately start taking my wages without any further notification. Thanks a lot for the help. If you need any other information, just let me know.


Hello.....I just want to say I've dealt with a Defaulted Student Loan, at one time, too (however, right now my Student Loan is in 'good status'). First things first:..is the loan in your name and a combination of names (IE:Yours and your mom's, etc). If it's JUST in your name, they have no right to be asking you about someone's accounts, etc. If your mom was a 'Co-signer' ( that kind of thing) on the loan, then they should be calling her,..not asking YOU for her information. I live in PA, too....so, I DO want to say I 'hear ya' on the issue of Student Loans. To put your 'mind at ease', it wouldn't matter if you paid them tonite or in the next few weeks. Also....they are REALLY pushing for an answer..all they want is your money. The CA doesn't have your 'best interest' in mind at all. USUALLY, a CA gets a commission, on YOUR payment, if you pay them by a certain time. DON'T give in to them!! If your Student Loan is ALREADY in default, there IS no such thing of a 'Hardship' payment. I'm going to look a few things up and I will get back to you with a few numbers you may want to call:people you can ask and help you.


lrhall41

Submitted by sdchargers_63 on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 03:38

( Posts: 1798 | Credits: )


Unfortunately charger, if you dont get these negotiated within the CA timelines, they will go forward with admin wage garnishment. And yes they can do "hardship" payments although it is not technically called that. If they are streaming the OP to rehab, it is called "reasonable and affordable" payment.

OP...how much do you owe???


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 03:43

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


...ok, DANB..here's somewhere where you can possibly start. This is the Department of Education ( I went throguh them some time ago,,I know they will help if they can,..OR..if they can't they will tell you who can). I don't have a number (I'm sure you can Google it) but, their website is www.ed (dot) gov. Also...my Student Loan is through AES (American Educational Services). They may help you with your questions, as well (or guide you to a program that can). AES phone number is 1-800-233-0557. Hope this info helps you a bit. DON'T call the CA back!!! :D PLEASE let me know the 'update' of this issue...thanks.


lrhall41

Submitted by sdchargers_63 on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 03:49

( Posts: 1798 | Credits: )


I'm wondering.............did the CA validate the loan with the OP? I wouldn't take a CA's word over the phone, that's for sure. I would ask for some kind of proof that this certain CA 'owns' the loan now.


lrhall41

Submitted by sdchargers_63 on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 03:52

( Posts: 1798 | Credits: )


Actually...when my Student Loan was in 'default', I had a CA calling me ALL the time. I never called him back. Instead..I called a a few numbers (schools, etc), and got information for a Lender that dealt with ONLY Defaulted loans. I managed to bring my 'status' back to 'good' ( by making ONLY 1 payment) and I never heard from the CA again. Actually it was US Department of Education that helped me bring my loan out of 'default'. And I live in PA. Just trying to give MY experiences with a 'defaulted' loan.


lrhall41

Submitted by sdchargers_63 on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 03:57

( Posts: 1798 | Credits: )


You cannot bring your account into "good" standing by making one payment....sounds like you were verging on default and the CA was trying to "cure" the account. Things have changed and right now the guarantors including the DOE are pushing for resolution...whether that be by voluntary pay or garnishment....but they are not giving people much time.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 05:27

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


The loans are through Sallie Mae, and I owe about 20,000 give or take. I'm just wondering if they have to notify me before they start the garnishment and if I would have enough time to start some sort of payment schedule, or if it's already too late. No, they did not validate anything with me on the phone. They pretty much tried to ruff me up something fierce on the phone. The questions that they were asking me and the things that they were telling me to do were proposterous. "Can you get your aunt to loan you the money ?, this is serious",...ha, give me a break. I mean, it's really not a joking manner, but come on, I offered to pay with an all access card, but they quickly turned that down. So as of 8am this morning, supposedly they were starting to take action for garnishment. How much time would I have to start to try and make payments for the 197$ a month ?.

Thanks a lot for all of the replies.


lrhall41

Submitted by anonymous on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 19:44

( Posts: 202330 | Credits: )


Are these private or federal? The 15% garnishment to me indicates federal.

Sallie Mae will no longer own these loans...upon default your guarantor is forced to pay your claim. The $20K....is that with out without your mandatory 18-25% in collection fees.

Most student loans CA's do not take payments via credit cards..it costs too much.

They will send you a garnishment notice...once that notice is sent you have 30 days to respond. Once that notice goes out, any previous payment plan offered is gone.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 20:16

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


Yes, they are federal, and yes, I do believe that is without the 18-25%. Once they send out the garnishment notice, I understand that any previous payment plan offered will be gone, but will I be able to set up some sort of payment plan when I respond within my 30 days. What I'm asking is, will I be able to stop the garnishment if I contact them within 30 days and try to arrange a payment option ?, and if so, how much would that be roundabout ?.

Thank you very much for your responses, you're extremely well versed in these things :).


lrhall41

Submitted by anonymous on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 20:25

( Posts: 202330 | Credits: )


It is hard to say...once that garnishment notice goes out, you are dealing with a whole different ball game. Each agency has to follow the DOE rules but each agency has different ways of doing that. You will be able to set up a payment plan but as to how much it will be, it is hard to say. Your payment will be based on your entire balance including collection fees.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 05:41

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


Gosh...they MUST be doing things ALOT different now. I was able to get my Student Loan out of 'default' ( a few years ago) with only payment and they changed it on my Credit ( fron 'Deafulted' to a 'positive' status). I have AES as a student loan. I don't know...maybe some Lenders deal with Student Loans differently than others.


lrhall41

Submitted by sdchargers_63 on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 03:43

( Posts: 1798 | Credits: )


My Student Loan was in 'default' for almost 15 years. Come Tax time, of course, the IRS was taking so much out of my refund, etc. It was SOOO good to finally get my Loan out of 'default'!! It took a while to FINALLY have someone help me.


lrhall41

Submitted by sdchargers_63 on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 04:14

( Posts: 1798 | Credits: )


I have student loans that are defaulted and now with 2 different CA. I have tried the loan rehab program, but I couldn't afford to make the payments that they gave me. Would I be able to enter that program again or is there anything else I can do to get these loans out of default? I desperately want to go back and finish the degree that I am very close to and need these loans out of default in order to do this. Any ideas?


lrhall41

Submitted by anonymous on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 13:36

( Posts: 202330 | Credits: )


Pioneer called the principal of the high school hwere my daughter teaches today, the call was intercepted by the secretary. Anyway, they said if she didn't pay the whole balance today appy $15K then they would garnish $365 per month. Now, to back up, she talked to them a couple of weeks ago and they scared her into giving them her bank account info, which she should not have done because the account is negative and not being used, but like I said they scared her. She told them she would call back and let them know how much payment she could make. Stupidly, she never called back so they sent a payment through which of course, bounced. So today, they are telling her since that payment bounced they will not take another payment - it is pay in full or the garnishment and she has to call them back at 2:00 today. So, what does she do now? She has not received any kind of garnishment notice from them, but she recently moved so it's possible it wasn't forwarded. Should she ask for that if they say it was already sent? She asked for a payment plan but they said no because of the bounced payment. Advice, anyone? Soaplady, are you out there?


lrhall41

Submitted by maxman on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 09:23

( Posts: 10 | Credits: )


Quote:

Originally Posted by maxman
Pioneer called the principal of the high school hwere my daughter teaches today, the call was intercepted by the secretary. Anyway, they said if she didn't pay the whole balance today appy $15K then they would garnish $365 per month. Now, to back up, she talked to them a couple of weeks ago and they scared her into giving them her bank account info, which she should not have done because the account is negative and not being used, but like I said they scared her. She told them she would call back and let them know how much payment she could make. Stupidly, she never called back so they sent a payment through which of course, bounced. So today, they are telling her since that payment bounced they will not take another payment - it is pay in full or the garnishment and she has to call them back at 2:00 today. So, what does she do now? She has not received any kind of garnishment notice from them, but she recently moved so it's possible it wasn't forwarded. Should she ask for that if they say it was already sent? She asked for a payment plan but they said no because of the bounced payment. Advice, anyone? Soaplady, are you out there?



Was anything disclosed to the secretary??

Is this a federal loan or a private one? I am going to assume federal since it is a big part of Pioneers portfolio.

Her first big mistake was not calling them back.


Answer those questions above...daughter sick and need to pick her up at school...will be back.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 09:30

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


Ok....$15k balance, she should be able to get a standard rehab payment of around $150 per month. There is no way that the collector could have predicted what the garnishment amount would have been....but it is 15% of disposable pay. It was her fault for not calling but but I do have a big issue with the collector calling and trying to get in touch with the principal when they are suppose to go thru HR. Was it a deliberate attempt to embarrass her? Maybe...I am of the opinion that maybe she should give a call to the Student Loan Ombudsman and file a complaint.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 11:16

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


Quote:

Originally Posted by SOAPLADY
Goduke....consoldiate with the direct loan consolidation loan program....link in the sticky section.

At the top of the student loan forum are several topics that are stickies...they stay at the top of the forum as reference. Important links has the information.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 11:22

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


Good morning Soaplady, here's a twist to our saga - Saturday in the mail my daughter received a routine payment notice from Direct Loan with total payment due of $808.60 and in a separate envelope an application for deferment. Now, if they sold her loan to Pioneer, why is she still receiving payment notices from Direct Loan? I told her to call Direct Loan this morning and see what they say about it. Can she just pay them the $808 and get back on track and they tell Pioneer to back off? Pioneer is playing hardball and not negotiating in any way, it's all or nothing. She filed a complaint with the ombudsman office, do they usually take a while to reply? Thanks for your knowledge and advice, I really appreciate it.


lrhall41

Submitted by maxman on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 06:08

( Posts: 10 | Credits: )