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

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Ellen

I live a nightmare most days and have actually been unable to obtain work to pay off the student loans. my inability to obtain work is due to the collection process that has actually harmed me.I have lost a partnership in a prominate practice, partnership with other smaller practices,and postions that require credit reviews. Presently I live from one pitiful $700/month paycheck (yes Seven hundred dollars). All since the late 1980's.
I AM SO SORRY THAT I EVEN BELIEVED THE AMERICAN DREAM COULD ACTUALLY BE MINE.

SEMMS TO ME THAT ALL OF US "DEADBEATS, LOSERS, CON-ARTISTS,BITCHES,SOBs," (just to mention a few of the names the Sallie Mae Collection agencies have called me) SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND BRING A CLASS-ACTION LAW SUIT FOR DAMAGING AND HARMFUL  COLLECTION PRACTICES THAT HAVE TOTALLY RUINED OUR LIVES AND OUR FUTURES.NO OTHER AGENCY IN THE USA CAN TOTALLY RUIN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY A BILL (IRS not included). NO OTHER AGENCY IS SO BLATANTLY DIS-REGARDING THE LAW THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO WORK OUT A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT THAT IS REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE.I HAVE YET TO BE GIVEN PROMISSORY NOTES, THOUGH REQUESTED NUMEROUS TIMES. THESE ARE ALL BLANTANT DIS-REGARD FOR THE LAW SUPPOSEDLY GOVERNING THE LOANS.

I am beginnig to call my Senators/Congressmen to notify them and I plan to call them as often as Salle Mae's New Credit Collection  Acquisition calls me. I am preparing to go  call Investigative reporters for local and National Newspapers. Why don't you do the same. if the Media becomes involed and publizes the  complete dis-regard for borrowers and Borrowers hardships form this present government it could make a difference. I am also notifying the ACLU. Borrowers rights have not only been violated but eliminated. Rainbow Coalition is also a strong advocate for  mis-treatment and unjust treatment of people.  If we ALL start screaming loudly and consistently while working on Class ACTIO lAW SUIT, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE HEARD AND THINGS WILL CHANGE.
Lets get seriously organized and then we can make changes..after all we are American Citizens and it suppose to be gGovernment by the people and for the people.

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Witheld

I have hoped for so long that the world would finally catch up to the injustices of the student-loan system in America.  What I know is:  I went in with all good intentions, intelligence, and the ability to work hard, and I was used for the monitary profit of others. (Wow, big shock, huh? - I admit, I expected better.)

My story (briefly) is that I was accepted to the Medical University of South Carolina's School of Medicine in 1992, which subsequently decided I was NOT fit for the practice of medicine, except (oh yea..) I was still liable for the thousands upon thousands of dollars of debt.  Collectors such as Great Lakes Student Loans, Med Loans, South Carolina Student Loan Association have dogged and harrassed me for years, engaging in a brand of enslavement and persecution one would have presumed illegal.  The Bible may say that a man's debts should be forgiven every seven years, but according to the US Government, in the case of student loans, a lifetime is not enough.

The funniest thing is, the big question in the admission process is: "Why do you want to study medicine?," with the acceptable answer being "To help people."   Well I helped people, all right.  Theives, to huge amounts of money, and the ability to enslave me for the rest of my life, apparently.

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V.R.

I completed my college education in 1987 and borrowed approx. $8000.00, to complete my undergraduate degree.  Then I went on to graduate school and completed my masters degree and borrowed another $30,000.  Total of $38,000, borrowed,hoever, through the course of the years with the economy and life changes, I have had some setbacks and at some point was unable to continue paying the $500.00 payment per month, with only a salary of $23,400 per year salary.  My loan defaulted and I now owe $185,000, for borrowing only $38,000.00, if I had known that the money would have costed this much, I would have not taken the loans and opted to complete my education, when I was able to afford it.  I am looking for an option to pay back the money I owe, but not with the alarming interest rate and fees attached.  This is ridiculous!  The anxiety and embarrassment associated with this makes one feel less than a professional.

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Garnell

I got a student loan when i went to an truck driving school.the loan amount was 2,500 that was in 2000 now they want me to pay 18,880 back. the reason i let the loan get this way when i was going to this truck driving school they told me that they would find everyone a truck driving job so that the company they get me on with will pay the loan off.they never found me ,and other people jobs and they went out of business,  and left us to pay this loan back

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William

I went to Cecils' Business College, Ashville, NC in 1989. I enrolled in a 12 week course, for Truck Driving. I lived in South Carolina, therefore, there was an allowance for room and board, for 12 weeks. Even though it was a 12 week course, the instructor felt that I was not ready for the road test and therefore I continued for another week, but was told that I would no longer be funded by the school. I was unable, to continue classes , and was forced to drop out, because I could not afford to pay for room and board. This was not a issue, until I signed those checks.

The people that were charged with operation of the school, were found to be misusing funds, and subsequently the funds that were set aside for completion of my curriculum were misused. The school said, that I was responsible for my own room and board. But, I would not have signed those checks, had I known that from that point, that they would no longer be obligated to fulfill their commitment, in terms of working with me, through completion of the course.

I called Dept of ED, and discussed this matter, with a representative, and thought that the matter was resolved. Someone in control, of Operations at that school, was misusing funds, that is the reason, there were no funds to continue for completion. The school was closed, and reopened under a new name. Now, collectors are calling me for the amount of $13,000.00 dollars for a $4,000.00 dollar loan. Please consider my story, and help me to establish  dialogue in terms, of paying off the original amount with little, or no interest.