The following are testimonials submitted to this site. To tell your story, please go here.

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Richard

I was admitted to one of the top 14 law schools in the country. And while I did well there I was forced to take out $150,000 in student loans. I know that is a lot of money but I figured this is prestigious, I can get a job making six figures. 2 years after graduation I was still unemployed (I had above average grades but I for some reason no one wanted to hire me). While collection notices came in I just ignored them, figuring the government would have some program for those of us who couldn't afford these extortionate rates. I filed for bankruptcy (which got rid of my 50,000 of credit card debt) which did nothing to stop the loan officers from the DoE. As it stands now I owe 412,329.57 (they expect monthly payments of nearly 4,000) and I am still unable to find a job. I am screwed, I think I will probably kill myself.

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Anna

I HAVE STUDENT LOANS FROM SALLIE MAE.
HERE IS MY STORY....

BOTH OF MY PARENTS DIED BY THE TIME I WAS 16 YEARS OLD. I WAS AN ABOVE AVERAGE STUDENT AND WHEN COLLEGE CAME I WAS BLESSED WITH A SMALL COLLEGE FUND FROM MY GRANDPARENTS. AS WELL I QUALIFIED FOR A FEW GRANTS, BEING THAT I WORKED ONLY PART TIME AND MY INDEPENDENT STATUS. HOWEVER COLLEGE WAS NOT EASY AND I WAS NOT SURE WHAT I WANTED TO GO INTO SO I STOP SCHOOL AND BEGAN WORKING FULL TIME AS A SERVICE COORDINATOR. A FEW YEARS INTO MY JOB I FELT MORE MATURE AND READY FOR SCHOOL. I BEGAN SCHOOL THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX ONLINE. THIS WAS PERFECT WAY FOR ME TO CONTINUE WITH SCHOOL AND WORK. THOUGH MY COLLEGE FUND EVENTUALLY RAN OUT AND I HAD TO FIND MORE MONEY FOR SCHOOL. I APPLIED FOR ANY GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP THAT CAME MY WAY. BUT COULDN'T QUALIFY BECUASE I WAS A HARD WORKING INDIVIDUAL, NOT A MOTHER, NOR HAVE AN OTHER DISABILITIES. SO I WENT TO SALLIE MAE FOR 3 LOANS OVER A 1.5 YEARS. I AM DONE WITH SCHOOL AND I AM FRANTICALLY TRYING TO FIND WAYS I CAN PAY THESE OFF BEFORE I BEGIN MY REPAYMENT IN ONE MONTH. I ACCEPT MY DEBT FOR SCHOOL, BUT NOT UNDER THESE INTEREST RATES OR TERMS. THREE LOANS YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY I WILL BE AT 27%- ITS TERRIBLE. AND AMERICA WANTS TO SEE EVERY CHILD GO TO COLLEGE? THERE SHOULD BE WAYS TO LET EVERYONE GO TO COLLEGE WITH INCURRING A DEBT OF A LIFETIME.

I HAD TO SWALLOW MY PRIDE AND ASK MY GRANDMOTHER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY 1.5 OF THE LOANS OFF. I AM JUST TRYING TO AVOID THIS HIGH INTEREST AS WELL I AM NOW AWAITING FOR MY BANK TO ASSIST ME WITH ANY LOANS.
IN ALL, I ORIGINALLY HAD A LOAN(S) OF $23,500 IF I PAID ON THERE TERMS I WOULD HAVE PAID OVER $50,000 IN 20 YEARS.
WHAT REALLY GETS ME ANGRY JUST TO CONSOLIDATE WITH THAT COMPANY COSTS MONEY AND ADDS MORE TO THE DEBT, WITH OF COURSE NO FIXED INTEREST RATE.
A PART OF ME FEELS RELIEVED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE. AFTER I SEEN THE 60 MIN SEGMENT THIS PAST SUNDAY, I KNEW THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

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Brian

I took a loan with Sallie Mae to go to computer school in addition to my undergraduate loans. However the computer-school closed before the first semester, qualifying me for discharge of that loan under federal law.
I wanted to be sure that my undergrad-payments wouldn't go to cover the computer-school loan, so I called Sallie Mae for assistance. When they wouldn't answer my questions, I withheld payment, in order to make sure that they didn't take my money to fund a bad loan. Sallie Mae called me non-stop in order to collect the money, and I explained each time for 18 months, trying to get the matter settled. Finally we settled the matter, and I paid off my undergrad loans.
Now, Sallie Mae is destroying my credit-rating, by refusing to remove the "late-payment" reports to credit-reporting agencies. They don't care if it was a misunderstanding which THEY caused, and refused to resolve.

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Mark

I attended the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire 1980-1984. I originally borrowed $10,148.37 ( 7% interest). I did not graduate from college, although I had nearly 120 credit hours. The economy pretty much stunk during the mid-eighties due in part to "Reaganomics" and the Republicans strong held belief in supply-side-economics.(Let the "pigs at the trough" have there fill until they are ready to explode, then MAYBE some prosperity will trickle down to the common man).
My student loans came from local banks , and backed by (you guessed it)... Sallie Mae. My loans were consolidated and sold to Sallie Mae without my knowledge .After leaving college, I had obtained two consecutive student loan deferments from my guarantor (Great Lakes Higher Ed. Corp; f.k.a. Wisconsin Higher Education Corporation)) due to lack of employment. At the time my Student loans became due, two 6-month deferments were all that a student borrower could obtain during the life of the loan.
After this deferment period had expired, I was working a seasonal job at a resort town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It was during this CRITICAL time in the life cycle of my Guaranteed Student Loans that I ran into trouble. I did NOT make a loan payment for 6 consecutive months and my loan was placed into default. I was unaware of just how vital it was to make at least one payment in order to keep my loan out of default. At the time, a student borrower was not clearly made aware of this vital FACT in the loans life-cycle. I was INDEED , unemployed for 3 out of 6 months during this period. The guarantee Agency NEVER contacted me to verify my income level, or if in fact I was even employed and had an income.The BORROWER'S CONTACT DEPARTMENT fell down on the job!!!!
It was AFTER placing my loans into default that the "Collections Department", contacted me and started the "active collection" process. After using every means at their disposal, and being unsuccessful in it's attempt to collect, the Guarantee Agency(Great Lakes Higher Ed. Corp.)turned my account over to it's LEGAL DEPARTMENT. After dealing with the legal department, and several threats of legal actions(including an investigation by the United States Department of Justice), my account was turned over to the Circuit Court in the county of which I was living. I was served the papers (on 3.15.91)and told that I had 20 days to respond. I did not get legal advice or representation, and the legal judgement was assessed. My interest rate was increased to 12%, in addition to adding legal expenses, court-cost, and attorneys' fees.

Original loan amount: $10,148.37
Interest Year-to-date: $12,527.12
Amount owed today: $22,675.49
AMOUNT PAID: (thru wage garnishment, income tax offset, voluntary payments)
              $8,000 plus.
I have not calculated the exact amount paid while writing this. I have saved EVERY scrap of paper recieved during the collection process, and also have EVERY payment receipt documenting the amount that I have paid.

I got to this site after watching 60 Minutes. What I saw was no news to me. I have been dealing with these PARASITES for over 20 years now. Their predatory lending practices are unconscionable. I was unaware that I would be mortgaging my future when I accepted these Guaranteed Student Loans. Isn't my life worth more then $10,000????
The part of the entire equation that seems to get ignored in the collection process, is a realistic financial analysis to determine your ABILITY to repay your student debt.  A borrower's ABILITY to repay is totally contingent on his income level and debt-service ratio. A students INABILITY to repay, is offered as proof of his UNWILLINGNESS to repay his debt. Best of luck with the effort. Hope this helps anyone contemplating financing his/her college education through the Guaranteed Student loan program. The whole thing is one giant scam!

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Julie

Got a GED, had a rough time in high school, came from a single parent, blue collar worker who received no child support.  Why couldn't I get any educational assistance?  Went to university when I was 25, had to borrow.  Didn't know any better and received loans from Wm D Ford government loans, at 9.5%.  Total amount due currently is 39,000.  Borrowed 43,000, have been paying for 9 years.  It's like a car payment for a vehicle that I will never drive.  I have never defaulted, but it's just crazy that once I repay I'll be almost 60 years old and have paid back 61,000 for an education that I've never used. (don't tell me to get a better job-I live in MICHIGAN where the unemployment rate is sky high, and I do work in a job I love) I'd much rather take my montly loan payment and put it into a retirement account... maybe the government will help me when I'm old?????

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Erin

I started attending college in 2000, the fall after I graduated high school.  I began at my local community college, a very
respectable 2-year school here in Michigan.  I recieved scholarships based off of test grades and through relatives
employed at General Motors, financial aid due to my family's financial situation, and federal work study so I could be
employed on campus.  Classes there cost $48.00/credit hour, but I was always able to handle 12+ credit hours by paying
with my financial aid and scholarships.  My work study position was in the college's financial aid department, which gave
me a great idea of how grants, loans and scholarships work.  It still, however, didn't prepare me enough for what I'd
encounter next.

When I started feeling the need to take my education to the next level, I was researching art colleges throughout the
United States which might fit my educational goals.  I found a few respectable schools but realized that, due to their
standards for admission, I wouldn't be accepted.  I ended up attending an Art Institute school in California- a set of schools
which should have a website like this built just for their lack of quality.  I was over 2,500 miles from the school and I had to
initiate the application process through phone calls, e-mails and fax.  The school made it quite evident from the start that
they were very interested in my money and getting it as soon as possible.  I was told by many of my peers that this was
normal, so I proceeded with applying for financial aid.
After submitting my FAFSA and having the results mailed to the school, I was informed that between mine and my families'
2001 incomes, I didn't qualify for federal aid.  Wondering how this was possible at a $364/credit hour institution when I'd
previously qualified at a $48.00/credit hour school confused me, but the financial aid officers were quick to follow up that I
didn't need to worry since I would be able to apply for loans.  The school pushed PLUS loans for "dependant" students; a
loan that parents sign for and take out for their college-bound children.  My parents were experiencing financial difficulties
of their own, with General Motors constantly laying off entire shifts of workers at my father's plant and my mother being
physically disabled and still being in college loan debt of her own from graduating in 1991 (of course, Sallie Mae doesn't
care that she was/still is injured and never able to get a job).  We agreed that they would take out some PLUS loans for
me, only for the first year or so, then I'd have to find a way to pay for the rest myself.

After the PLUS loans ended, I considered dropping out of school because living in California was too expensive and I'd
been unable to come up with other means to fund my education, let alone my apartment and the gas money I'd been
paying friends to help transport me to school.  My financial aid officer told me about other options I would have when I
confronted her with my situation.  The school said they would be willing to bend the rules for me to keep me able to take
classes.  They said that I could apply for the same loans that independant students were able to file for.  I started the
process of applying for these loans, and since Stafford loans don't allow you to take nearly enough money to fund a
semester at the Art Institute, they had me apply for "Creative Education Loans" through Sallie Mae, loans that are made
especially for students at private art schools.

The worst thing about these loans is how they are made to look like a light at the end of the tunnel, when they can just get
you into trouble.  I'm one of those people who reads my prommisory note, and while I was informed that you cannot file for
bankruptcy protection for the Creative Education Loans (Section L Paragraph 8 on the CEL 2003 Promissory Note), I was
never informed that Sallie Mae doesn't let you CONSOLIDATE your Creative Education Loans, because private loans are
unable to be consolidated.  My only hope of making my payments upon the end of my grace period was if I could
consolidate.  Once I was close to entering repayment and attempted consolidation due to my $351.00+ a month payments, I
was told for almost a year that I would not be able to consolidate ANY of my loan debt.  This was a huge customer service
mistake on Sallie Mae's part- while I insisted that some of it should be able to consolidate due to the fact that I'd recieved
several Stafford (public) loans, they continued to tell me that my loans- private loans- could not be consolidated.  I finally
researched the subject myself and after a long discussion with a customer service representative at Sallie Mae, it was
determined that I CAN in fact consolidate a few of my loans since they are public.  However, for my private loans, I am still
out of luck.

After $36,000 originally lent and now over $40,000 due, I had to quit at my Associates' Degree because I knew I wouldn't be
able to pay for a Bachelor's.  Now, my private loans are in forbearance for 6 months and my public loans in deferment for a
year due to unemployment while I try to frantically search for another job to help me pay back my loans and keep me from
costing our taxpayers thousands by going into default.

I would like to summarize my overall experience with a few statements.  First:  Sallie Mae needs to make more effort to
inform borrowers about their consolidation options, if any, upon the initial loan application.  They need to go to greater
lengths to educate the borrower about what consolidation means, and if anything, offer some of their infamous "kickbacks"
to schools' financial aid officers just to spend more time focusing on PAYING BACK THE LOAN rather than GETTING THE
LOAN.  Second:  Sallie Mae should offer more options for borrowers who have documented disabilities or illnesses which
prevent them from obtaining the employment necessary to pay back their loans.  While I understand how this system could
be abused, it is entirely unfair to those individuals who are incapacitated and unable to defend themselves and are living
at the mercy of student loans they weren't aware they would be unable to pay back.  Third:  Private loans should be able
to be consolidated.  During one quarter, my largest loan had a 21% interest rate tacked on to it, while my small loans had
much smaller interest rates.  My debt skyrocketed in a very short amount of time, and since I was never told in the
beginning that Sallie Mae would offer me no consolidation options for my private loans, I was not prepared for such a
financial blow.  I have heard many others from my school share the same story as mine. 


Lastly, I would like the public to realize how unfair it is to borrowers that Sallie Mae is guaranteed repayment of loans by
the Government.  Although other private lenders are covered by this program, it has helped Sallie Mae establish a virtual
monopoly over student lending. Many people are only able to choose Sallie Mae as their lender or, as in my case with
Bank One, Sallie Mae "buys out" the loan from the originally chosen lender without any consent from the borrower.
"Congress, wanting to help students who otherwise would not qualify for a loan, created "the guaranteed loan program"
for private lenders, under which the government covers most of the student loans made by Sallie Mae." (CBS 60 Minutes,
May 7th, 2006).

In our economy, consumers have choices when it comes to spending their money- they purchase groceries from whoever
has the sale, they will eat at restaurants where you can find great meals for good prices, they will take out a home equity
loan from a bank with low interest rates.  In most, but not all cases, this is what helps keep around businesses that offer
quality services- if it cannot compete with other businesses like its own, the company will go out of business.  It seems
unfair and anti-capitalist to "Guarantee" Sallie Mae creating virtually no risk for the company, allowing it to run itself
whatever way it pleases rather than in a way that most benefits its' customers.  If there were more student loan companies
to choose from who were able to offer people better interest rates or different options, potential borrowers would be able
to choose the company that is right for them rather than "Sallie Mae", the lender you seem to get stuck with no matter
what you do, and in the end, they don't really need to care about you as a customer to keep your business.  They can keep
harrassing you for the rest of your life.

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April

My story is so similar to many of the ones that I have read on this site. My loans are not in default yet. I am frantically trying to get information to help my situation. I am so stressed that I just cant bare to tell my whole story today. I did however just call Salie Mae today to tell them to stop calling and harassing my cosigner. They call her about six times a day. I have not received one phone call from them all month. The evil b*#!h representing Salie Mae told me that they will call my cosigner when they are not able to contact me. I said "but you have my phone number, e-mail, and mailing address" She read of an unfamiliar phone number to me. I said "you people are liars! I have had the same phone number for three years! I have given you this same number numerous times!" I asked them why I was not able to access my account with them on-line. They gave me another customer service # to call. I still have no answer and no access. My Grandmother is my cosigner on one part of my loan. She is in her late 70's, fairly recently widowed, we just lost another family member and these evil bastards constantly harass her and claim that they can not get in contact with me.

My debt is incredibly inflated. This company bought without my knowledge my consolidated loans from community college. Less than $20 thou. I enrolled in Western Culinary Institute (Le Cordon Bleu) for this i needed a cosigner. The school gave me a document from Sallie Mae that I had to sign it was for the maximum amount I could borrow (30 thousand). To make a long story short I was told that I did not have enough funds to complete the program total cost 20 thousand. I left the program before i was "responsible for the whole cost of tuition" . I am being held accountable by Salie Mae for the max. Not what was actually used.

I am seriously distressed by all this. I am afraid of going into default but can not afford to make payments right now. I dont want them taking my grandmothers social security it's all she has. I want to finish my education but all the programs i am interested in are all tied up with Sali Mae in some way. I do not know what to do and who to turn to for help.

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Tonya