With existing student loan debt surging to well over a trillion dollars, many former students are looking for help managing their debt.
One way people do that is by consolidating their existing loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, which results in a single monthly payment instead of multiple payments to multiple servicers. Though there are definite advantages to this approach, it may not be for everyone. Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota reminds consumers that there are no application fees for those consolidating federal student loans through the U.S. Department of Education.
"What we're seeing more of are situations where people are led to believe they need assistance consolidating their student loans," said Susan Adams Loyd, president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota, in a news release. "Unfortunately, what many of these companies offering their help are actually doing is helping themselves to hefty fees for services people can perform themselves, for free, at studentloans.gov."
A lot of companies claim to offer assistance to students as far as consolidating their loans and learning about relief programs they may qualify for-such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness or the Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program. However, many provide services of nebulous value. Some of these companies even ask students to provide their Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which puts them at risk of identity theft. FSA IDs should not be shared with anyone.
"Our office has seen an increase of student borrowers contacting us with concerns about the personal information shared with these companies," said Betsy Talbot, director of Communications for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. "Students can contact our office if they have any questions about the company they are dealing with or the information they are asked to provide."
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The U.S. Department of Education offers many tips to individuals with outstanding student loans to help them determine whether loan consolidation is right for them.
If borrowers feel they have been misled by a company offering assistance consolidating their student loans, they should file complaints at bbb.org, their state Attorney General's office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerprotection.gov).
