Mic
Smyrna,#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, December 30, 2011
I empathize and share a similar situation as the one described. The constant calls and the frustration of trying to do the best one can with what you have, but feeling like your efforts are not good enough and that your voice is not being heard.
From what I read in your post you were getting the same run around that I did. There are two sides of SallieMae: The Federal Loans and the Private Loans. SLM has the Office of the Customers Advocate which will appear helpful especially for the Federal Loans and I have used them to document on their own people and for sending in Discharge of Loan Applications. However, there are the Private Loans reps which are the ones I believe you refer mostly to in this post. THEY practice in straight up debt-collection strategies. Their tactics can seem intimidating and very dishonest (fraudulent) to say the least. Then, it's very hard getting in touch with SallieMae supervisors and management to let anyone at an Executive level know what's going on.
Nevertheless, there is some recourse in that one can do all of the following: file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (877-382-4357), the Attorney General's Office, and file a police report for Harassing Communication if you have asked the company to stop calling your home (ask verbally and in writing).
In this post, I would also like to share a method of what has seemed to work for me in stopping the disrespectful telephone dialogue and annoying calls with SLM/SallieMae Reps:
ALTERNATIVES (I USED): WHEN THE ### to SLM/SALLIEMAE DO NOT WORK
First, I want to share this brief story to give some idea as to where I came up with my plan. Some years ago, when my daughter was a teenager she got mad and refused to return my calls. She was being somewhat of a brat (as teenagers can be) all because she wanted to stay out past her curfew. So, I decided to contact each one of her friends and told them in my "nicest mommy voice" to tell her to come home. It was very embarrassing for her; but she did get the message...and did come straight home.
The gist here is that NO ONE is too insulated or isolated. I can also attest to what you mentioned that SallieMae reps seem to make a habit of contacting its customers and or their relatives or friends (or even old out of date contacts) non-stop--even when they've been told not to call any more. The sheer hypocrisy is that customers are not given contact information to escalate an issue to the up-line. However, if a customer has a problem and no one is listening, I think that matter should even be heard by the board members if possible, or any other sources connected to SallieMae. No one is unreachable.
As CEO of SLM aka SallieMae (aka GRC or whatever other names the Entity goes by), Mr. Albert L. Lord has many business associates and sits on a few boards. For example one source cites Mr. Lord as (SallieMae.com):
1. A member of the Board of Directors of BearingPoint, Inc. a Childrens Charities Foundation and Childrens Choice Learning Centers, Inc., 1676 International Dr, McLean, VA; Ph# 214-482-9460
2. The Chairman of the Board of Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy
Home Office: 709 12th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 547-3975 Fax: (202) 547-3449
http://www.chavezschools.org/
3. A member of the Advisory Board of Penn State Abington.
1600 Woodland Road Abington, PA 19001-3990
(215) 881-7300
http://www.abington.psu.edu
Dr Karen W Sandler - Chancellor
Also, the South Lobby for SallieMae at the Newark, DE is 302-283-8006
And if you call 302-283-8050 you will be directed to call their LISTED NUMBER
317-849-6510
The company the above number is issued to goes under the name: General Revenue Corporation or GRC (https://www.generalrevenue.com/employment.htm). Scroll to the bottom of the page and the SallieMae logo is listed on Every page. The main page also provides contact information for different states and telephone numbers for the company (including fax numbers).
GRC (SLM/SallieMae) Locations:
Cincinnati, OH
11501 Northlake Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45249
Phone: (513) 469-1472
Fax: (513) 469-1463
Indianapolis, IN
P.O. Box 6180
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6180
Phone: (317) 849-6510
Fax: (317) 596-1197
Horseheads, NY
325 Daniel Zenker Dr.
Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 562-4999
SEC Information
IRS No/TAX ID#: 522013874 | State of Incorp.: DE | Fiscal Year End: 1231
Type: 10-Q | Act: 34 | File No.: 001-13251 | Film No.: 11820070
SIC: 6141 Personal Credit Institutions
I hope this has been helpful!
Works cited: https://www1.salliemae.com/about/corp_leadership/management/a_lord/al_lord.htm