Sallie Mae Student Loan Can I make a settlement offer for a student loan that is seven years old? Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

To Joe - first of all, the student wasn't ripped off. She clearly acknowledges that she didn't pay attention to her tuition billing.  Like many students who post on ROR about these matters, she was a victim of her own ignorance in understanding how the financial aid process works.  Unfortunately, schools take advantage of this ignorance.  And while I agree that the government should do something about these predatory practices, it still isn't a rip off.

And will you PLEASE turn off your caps? It's really quite annoying to those who read your posts.  If you have visual difficulties (which I believe you stated somewhere else), then adjust your browser settings to increase the font or get a magnifying reader.

To the OP.... I hate it for you that you find yourself with this debt.  I have found with my own student loans payments (which are astronomical compared to yours) that Sallie Mae has been quite agreeable to making payment arrangements.  They want to get their money, and I think you'll find that they will accept small payments rather than go through the hassle of suing you. They have programs set up for deferment and forebearance depending on your specific situation.

And to other students who are considering college (traditional or online).... check your financial aid paperwork with a magnifying glass!!  Note the OP's statement:  "Of course I was never informed that Sallie Mae was paying for part of my tuition"... She WAS informed, had she checked her tuition statements every month. At some point the loan would have been credited to her student account and shown the remaining balance due. 

Good luck in getting this straightened out.  Please post an update :-)

THIS IS A FREE WEBSITE THAT WAS SET UP TO HELP PEOPLE WHO GOT SCREWED BY TAKING OUT STUDENT LOANS.

THIS IS WHY YOU NEED TO BE CALLING BOTH OF YOUR U.S. SENATORS AND TELLING THEM THAT YOU DO NOT WANT A DIME OF FEDERAL MONEY GOING TO THESE FOR-PROFIT, FOR-PROFIT TRADE SCHOOLS LIKE THE ONE THAT STOLE ALL YOUR MONEY! NOT IN THE FORM OF GRANTS OR STUDENT LOANS OR WORK-STUDY OR FINANCIAL FUNDS OF ANY KIND.

WE HAD THIS OUT IN THE 1980S ABOUT THESE KIND OF "SCHOOLS" SUPPOSEDLY HELPING PEOPLE TO EARN A RECESSION PROOF LIVING BUT IT IS BACK TODAY EVEN WORSE AND MORE BLATANT A THEFT ENTERPRISE THAN EVER.

I HATE THESE PEOPLE.

THERE WAS A SENATE HEARING IN JULY-AUGUST, 2010 ABOUT ALL OF THE FRAUD INVOLOVED IN THESES ONLINE SCHOOLS, TRADE SCHOOLS,ONLINE DIPLOMA MILLS!

I WAS NEARLY ROOKED INTO TWO OF THEM MYSELF.

THE NAME OF THE WEBSITE THAN CAN HELP YOU:

http://www.studentborrowerassistance.org/

YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND A LAWYER WHO WORKS WITH STUDENT LOAN LAW OR SHOW THE LAWYER THIS SITE TO TRY AND GET IRS NOT TO GET ALL OF YOUR MONEY.

THIS IS A RIP OFF THAT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED!

you might want to call your U.S. congressman's office and tell them what happened to you and see how his staff could you.