Student loans in collections? Here’s where to find help

Dear Liz: I’m in default on my student loans.

I don’t know how many there are, I don’t know who owns them, and I don’t know how to start paying them off. I’ve had a debt-collection agency threaten to cut my throat and to hurt me in other physical ways if I didn’t pay.

I’ve talked to the Department of Education, which doesn’t seem to know who owns the loans because the secondary lenders have since turned all the debt over to collection agencies.

I’d like to begin repaying my loans, but I have no idea who to pay and I certainly don’t want to pay the company that threatened me with violence.

This is killing my credit. What to do?

Answer: At the very least, you should complain to the Federal Trade Commission about this rogue collector. Any kind of harassment, including physical threats, is forbidden under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You can find the FTC’s guide for consumers HERE.

You can use the resources at FinAid.org’s Lost Lender to try to track down your lenders. The FinAid website recommends two services to find loans, both based on the National Student Loan Data System, said Mark Kantrowitz, the site’s founder.

Another possible source of help, Kantrowitz said, is the financial aid office at your college.

If you have any federal loans, you can dig them out of default by making nine out of 10 consecutive on-time voluntary payments, Kantrowitz said. Then you’ll be able to consolidate them into the Direct Loan program. This will also remove the default from your credit history.

After you consolidate those loans, Kantrowitz suggests switching them to an income-based repayment if you can’t afford to pay the full amount due under standard repayment. For more tips, CLICK HERE.

If you run into a wall, either finding your loans or working out repayment, contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman or (877) 557-2575.

If you have any private student loans, contact the lenders directly about working out a repayment plan, Kantrowitz said. Repayment options for private loans are more limited than those for federal loans.

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