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Navient, Formerly Part of Sallie Mae, Illegally Cheated Borrowers Out of Repayment Rights Through Shortcuts and Deception

Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is filing a lawsuit against Navient (formerly part of Sallie Mae), which is the nation’s largest servicer of both federal and private student loans. From our extensive investigation of the matter, we found that Navient has systematically and illegally failed borrowers at every stage of repayment.

Growing Concerns as Number of Older Student Loan Borrowers Quadruples, Amount of Debt Per Senior Borrower Doubles in Last Decade

Web-based Tool Will Deliver Regular Updates on Consumer Lending Markets

On behalf of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, let me welcome all of you and say that we much appreciate this opportunity to discuss consumer financial markets with so many leading scholars in the field. As you share your perspectives and expertise with us, they will inform our efforts to empower and protect consumers. We look forward to having your insights.

CFPB Finds Qualified Students Were Blocked From Affordable Loan Repayment Plans; Updates Student Loan Servicing Exam Procedures 

Today, I want to talk to you about some of the issues people encounter when they are paying back debts. Specifically, I want to discuss the debt collection market and the student loan servicing market. Both are markets where consumers cannot vote with their feet, and where incentives and practices are not always aligned with consumer interests.

Gaps in Student Loan Rehab Programs Trap Vulnerable Borrowers in Default, May Cost Consumers $125 Million in Unnecessary Interest Charges Alone

CFPB Orders Full Relief and Refunds for All Private Loans Made by the School

Wells Fargo to Pay $3.6 Million Penalty to the Bureau

Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Student Loan Ombudsman released a report finding consumers complain of servicing problems that make it difficult to get lower student loan payments tied to their income. Student loan borrowers seeking to take advantage of income-driven repayment plans with their federal student loans complain to the CFPB about prolonged processing delays and wrongful rejections by their student loan servicers.

I am pleased to join Secretary King and Deputy Secretary Raskin to take this step toward reforming the student loan servicing market. This is an important milestone in our continued efforts to better protect consumers by addressing the many student loan servicing problems that we have highlighted in recent years. 

Prototype Disclosures Outline Path to Affordable Payments for Borrowers Trying to Avoid Debt Distress 

Student Aid Institute Illegally Tricked Borrowers Into Paying Fees for Federal Loan Benefits WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today took action to halt a student loan debt relief scam that illegally tricked borrowers into paying fees for federal loan benefits and misrepresented to consumers that it was affiliated with the Department […]

Student Loan Processing.US and Owner Charged Student Loan Borrowers Millions in Illegal Fees WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) requested that a federal district court enter a final judgment and order that would shut down a student debt relief scheme that charged borrowers millions of dollars in illegal upfront fees for […]

Examiners Uncover Illegal Practices in Student Loan Servicing, Mortgage Origination and Servicing, Consumer Reporting, and Debt Collection Markets WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its latest supervision report outlining the illegal practices uncovered by the Bureau’s examiners from May 2015 to August 2015. The Bureau found violations in the student […]

Operation Ripped Off Students and Families Applying for College Financial Aid WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it is taking action to halt a nationwide student financial aid scam that allegedly ripped off tens of thousands of students and families across the country by illegally charging millions of dollars in […]

Court Rules that Corinthian Engaged in Deceptive Lending Practices and Illegal Debt Collection Practices WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, at the request of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal court entered a final default judgment against Corinthian Colleges, Inc., resolving a lawsuit filed by the CFPB in September 2014. The Bureau’s lawsuit against Corinthian […]

CFPB and U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury Issue Framework for Servicing Reforms, Bureau Prioritizes Stamping Out Illegal Actions WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report outlining widespread servicing failures reported by both federal and private student loan borrowers. Consumers describe companies using a wide range of sloppy, patchwork […]

Company to Pay $5.2 Million For Illegally Billing Over 100,000 Consumers WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a complaint and proposed consent order in federal court against Student Financial Aid Services, Inc. for illegal sales and billing practices. The Bureau alleges that the company, which until recently operated FAFSA.com, lured in […]

Discover’s Illegal Servicing Practices Affected Private Student Loan Borrowers Transferred from Citibank WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Discover Bank and its affiliates for illegal private student loan servicing practices. The CFPB found that Discover overstated the minimum amounts due on billing statements and denied consumers information they […]

Servicers Still Failing to Provide Legal Protections to Military Borrowers WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report outlining the continued challenges faced by servicemembers when they contact student loan servicers to invoke the military rights and protections earned through their service. The report, “Overseas & Underserved: Student Loan Servicing and […]

Industry Inquiry Reveals Problems for Consumers Seeking to Prevent Auto-Defaults WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Student Loan Ombudsman released a report finding high rates of consumers are being rejected for co-signer release on their private student loans, based on its review of industry practices. The Bureau uncovered problematic industry practices […]

Thank you all for joining us today in Milwaukee. Plato once said, “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.” More Americans are heeding that advice and going to college at record rates – including both women and men, I might add, unlike in Plato’s day. At the same time, […]