Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Sallie Mae's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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• 

  Sallie Mae

  300 Continental Dr Newark, DE 19713-4322

  
• 

  Sallie Mae - Dept of Educational Loan Services

  PO Box 740351 Atlanta, GA 30374-0351

• 

  Sallie Mae

  3111 N. Highway Dr. Saint Louis, MO 63139

• 

  Sallie Mae

  2000 Bluff Dr Lawrence, KS 66044

• 

  Sallie Mae

  5090 N 40th St Ste 160 Phoenix, AZ 85018-2116

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/09/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My daughter pays her bill faithfully, but unfortunately experiences a bit of a hardship and asked that her payments be lowered from $600+ to $350. They told her no and if she does not make her payments she will basically be reported to the credit bureau. She is a school teacher, so paying over $600 per month on a student loan is a bit excessive and unrealistic. Their solution was for her to ask me to give her money to pay her bill (I am her cosigner). I am also in education so I am not in a position to pay this bill either. We are not asking to defer payments; we are asking to lower payments.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/20/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/09/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  * I applied for the Sallie Mae loan in January of 2018 and received a disbursement of $9,000 to pay for Flight Attendant School.
  * Since then, I have faced financial hardships, losing my job twice, as well as Covid and global economical inflation. Sallie Mae did not offer any options during this time and has yet to offer any payment options for financial hardships. I am currently without a job and am not being given any payment options, other than to keep paying the same monthly payments or being reported to the credit bureaus.
  * Sallie Mae has done nothing to solve this issue and I have been calling desperately to try and resolve this with no success.
  * The interest rates are so high, that I will not be able to repay this loan until 2035, 17yrs after the loan disbursement.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/26/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/30/2023

  Better Business Bureau:

  
  
  
  

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have determined that this does not resolve my  issue.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  
  

  **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Regards,

  
  

  Complaint ID: 18709985

  
   
  

  
  
  

   

  
  

   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/04/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I have a student loan through them, and they have proceeded to call me, my grandmother, and grandfather three times a day or more If I ever miss a payment and I have told them when I’m going to be able to pay it but they still call 3+ times a day every day until I get a payment to make me current. I’ve also told them if they don’t stop with the excessive calls I will file a suit.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/24/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/03/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 10/14/22 I spoke to a rep who stated that I qualified to be enrolled in the loan modification program. I had to make 3 qualifying payments of $327.12 for 10/15/22, 11/15/22 and 12/15/22. I made all 3 payments and on 12/30/22 I received a call from Sallie Mae to contact them to update my Bank info to begin the program. I called and spoke to a manager her ID Number was ******. She informed me that I didn't need to provide any additional information and that I was enrolled in the program since I made the 3 qualifying payments. She stated that my first payment for the loan modification program would be 1/11/23. I asked her when the loan modification would end and she stated October of 2024. On January 1, 2023 I began getting multiple calls from Sallie Mae stating that my account was past due. I called them today, 1/3/23 to inquire why would I begin receiving these calls when I have officially been enrolled in the loan modification program and they informed me on the 12/30/22 that I was in fact in the program. I was told by ***** ** ****** ****** who was also a supervisor that it was declined. I asked her how could that be when I was just informed on 12/30/22 that everything was a go! She said that unfortunately there is nothing that she could do and that as of the 12/31/22, my loans have gone into serious default and they were sent to collections. I kept asking her how could that be when I was just told on 12/30/22 that I was in the loan modification program and I paid the 3 qualifying payments as agreed. So now I am out of $981.36, not in the program and now my credit is screwed and Debra informs me that they will not go back and make any corrections and now that we are in a new year, there is nothing they can do. I can't believe that Sallie Mae can LEGALLY do this. I want my money back!!! I made those payments on the promise by SALLIE MAE that I would be enrolled in the loan modification program. Sallie Mae is a disgrace! I wish I never got loans with them!!

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/31/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/27/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Sallie Mae offered me a reasonable payment reduction program for my student loans (which I have been unable to pay due to the high cost) then in speaking to my co-signer who is my elderly grandfather doubled my “reduced” payment due to “our combined disposal income” without specifically informing him that he would now have to help me pay approximately $400-500 a month when he is on a fixed income. I feel they took severe advantage of my financially illiterate and elderly grandparents without speaking to me about it first and in turn are causing a huge financial hardship to us both. This was very predatory and unacceptable due to them not explaining the consequences to my grandparents prior and baiting them to give information that would double my monthly payment from $578 to $983 a month.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/18/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/23/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Started to take out loans since 2016. 2021 I filed a complaint against my institute due to civil rights issues pertaining to my education. I asked the Sallie Mae advocates if they can help find a solution like a deferment until I get confirmation about my cases from the Department of Education. I told them I have every intention to pay my loans back but unfortunately my education went against laws in United States of America and perhaps STEM too. I used an example, “people that have mortgages normally can step into their home, they have the keys. That’s what they’re paying for. A home they needed/wanted and made an agreement that if they’re able to take a loan out for their home then they will pay. Now if they took the loan out and never were able to step into their new home then the customer has backing and calls that a scam. Where is my student backing? I may not have the keys to my education.” The advocate told me that Sallie Mae is not liable for equality and sustainability of my education. That’s not my argument. Those words are abstract and meaningless in this context because my education did not stick to; protocols, regulations, standards, policies and even the syllabi. If I had to pay back my mortgage and the person I bought from went against protocols, regulations, standards, policies and even a layered agreement within periodical milestones to guaranteed ownership then that would be a scam. Those promises were broken therefore my hands are tied so I’m unable to pay back until the investigation are done. All I need is to have an option during investigations. They don’t have anything for people during investigations with DOE. That’s all I ask is to have it differed until it’s done with steps moving forward. That’s when I can move forward with Sallie Mae. Where are my backings for student loans?

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/20/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/01/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have determined that this does not resolve my  issue.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered.
  
  Hello BBB,Sallie Mae has not changed their response or I am not clear with what they said. I do remember speaking to ****** on the phone (Sallie Mae customer advocate) and they told me that they do not have anything written about backing the student up especially about my DOE complaint that I sent over to them. I believe Sallie Mae has arbitration agreements that may help. Please let me know what I can do for a mediation/arbitration service. 
  
  
  Regards,
  Complaint ID: 18634038
   
  
  
  
   

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/08/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/22/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I have three loans with the company. I am on an educational deferral and I uploaded the form three times. I am logged in to my account and they say I have never uploaded the document and are saying I am late in paying my loans. I am told to call back in two hours and check in to be sure they have it. Why if I am logged in and uploading does the document not get attached to my account and why do No have to repeatedly waste my time to call back over and over only to have them say they do not have the document?
  
  This is their issue, not mine. Since when should the customer have to babysit the company only to have them not do it. It is a waste of my time.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/12/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/19/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I’m filing this complaint for my daughter who is afraid and worries about her future due to a Sallie Mae loan. She has been recovering non stop calls regarding her loan. She literally just graduated six months ago. Because I’ve been concerning the amount that she needs to pay back which is far more than any young person just graduating from college would have. She asked if she could pay a certain amount a month because she doesn’t make very much money and I can’t help her no one can help her financially and they basically told her there is no other options outside of the two that they gave her. Both were hundreds of dollars which is impossible especially for a young student just having had graduated. She did not come out of college with a high-paying job so even the cheapest option of $400 a month is not an option. She offered an amount and we figured that something was better than nothing and that would be OK but they basically rejected it.. Now as a young student she is afraid of all the repercussions, she is not denying the loan or trying to get rid of it she just simply cannot afford to pay much if anything on it right now. Sallie Mae should at least give students a year to get a decent job and figure out life. Representatives as she talk to her very nice but there wasn’t much that they could do outside of telling her that the loan is going to go into default which she is terrified of. Sallie Mae gives all loans that come off as predatory because they know that the students just want to get their education and forcing them to make payments six months after they’ve graduated is ridiculous especially have been coming off of Covid the job market is still horrible compared to the cost of living. she is terrified that she is going to have to look into bankruptcy at her young age because she is afraid she has no other options. I thought companies were OK with you paying something,But not Sallie Mae they want to get you for everything that you got and that’s not ok.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/05/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/16/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  telemarketing continuously calls me through out the day every single day. i have told them multiple times to stop that i would contact law enforcement to have them charged with telecommunications harassment. they continue to call even though im still a college student and they are threatening to take wages and my families wages even though im still a college student.... the harassment needs to stop.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/05/2023

  Thank
  you for your message. In the interest of protecting the privacy of our
  customers, we responded directly to the customer via the U.S. Postal Service.
  Please allow sufficient time for postal delivery.  Regards, the Office of
  the Customer Advocate.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/21/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I used Sallie Mae for a student loan in 2017. The school GCU told Sallie Mae how much I would need to finish the program about $3500, Sallie Mae raised the loan amount without my consent to $7500. I have been paying on this loan for 6 years and I still owe the same amount as I did when the loan was taken out 6 years ago $7300. Sallie Mae have not explained this to me. Every time I make a payment on the loan Sallie Mae adds accrued interest on the loan twice. My next move is to get a lawyer because I don't know what else to do. Sallie Mae has no intension on ever letting me pay this loan off. I am an educator an can not pay loads of money into this loan each month. I need some relief from this stress. I feel that Sallie Mae is doing something illegal with my loan which is causing me a great deal of pain and suffering.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/23/2022

  Thank
  you for your message. A representative from our office has contacted the
  customer and addressed their concerns. Regards, the Office of the Customer
  Advocate.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/29/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have determined that this does not resolve my  issue.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered.
  Regards,
  Complaint ID: 18444737 I received a call from *********, she explained that Sallie Mae is a private loan and that I should consider a grant or scholarship next time.  The loan has a high interest rate and that is why interest is being applied to my loan twice a month.  I was also informed by ********* that this loan could keep growing past the amount the amount that was borrowed if payments can not be made.  I was told by ********* that there is nothing Sallie Mae can do to adjust my current payment and that all the previous payments that were made weren't enough to go towards the principal of the loan which is why the $7500 loan that was taken out six(6) years ago still has a balance of $7200.  I asked ********* what would  be my current pay off, she gave me the total of $7251.92.  After the conversation with ********* was finished on 11/22/2022, apparently she submitted the entire payment amount of $7251.92 to my bank account causing me to receive an Insufficient Funds notice from my Wells Fargo Bank on 11/25/2022.  I clearly did not authorize that payment, the bank sent it back and ********* was notified and said she would follow up to see that the payment does not try to clear my bank again.  I am still very dissatisfied of having made payments to Sallie Mae for 6 years and the loan does not seem to be decreasing.    
   
  
  
   
   

  

  Business Response

  Date: 12/09/2022

  Thank
  you for your message. A representative from our office has contacted the
  customer and addressed their concerns. Regards, the Office of the Customer
  Advocate.