by Kathryn Carley, Commonwealth News ServiceA new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found the repayment process for federal student loans has been filled with errors.
Repayments began in October following a three-year pandemic-related pause. Since then, complaints of inaccurate bills, late notices and poor customer service have only increased.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., said borrowers are struggling to reach loan service providers on the phone while more than 20,000 people received grossly incorrect bills.
“Now imagine opening your mail and seeing a bill for 100,000 dollars. This is ridiculous,” Pressley asserted.
Pressley pointed out borrowers’ financial situations are as precarious now as they were when the pandemic began and argued they deserve student debt relief. Critics countered American taxpayers should not be saddled with college loan debt they did not incur.
Officials with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said they are working to protect student loan borrowers from incompetent or predatory student loan servicers, including the more than 800,000 people who missed their first payment since the pause was lifted because their bills were mailed out too late.
Rohit Chopra, director of the bureau, said borrowers should be cautious, especially when talking to third-parties contracted by loan servicers for bill payments.
“If you’re having trouble, please file a complaint,” Chopra urged. “We’re often able to get those individuals across the country fixes and sometimes clear answers on what really needs to happen.”
The Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan earlier this year, affecting more than 800,000 student borrowers in Massachusetts who would have been eligible to have some if not all their debt erased.
