Your Government Hardly at Work

Ah! A letter from the Seminary. Wonder what's new there? What? I have a school loan in default? How can that be? I took care of all the deferment letters way back in the summer. They provide a number to call, and I dial. A lovely woman named Ashley is eager to assist. I explain my dilemma. She looks at my record. No. No default listed. Really? Well, just to be sure, she transfers me to the Default Department where I speak with Bill who also confirms that I have nothing in default.

So, how do I let my institution know that the information is incorrect? He is not sure. He transfers me to the Student Loan Tracing Department where Tina picks up the mantra of nothing is in default. But she cannot answer the question of how to clear my account either. She transfers me back to Ashley who sighs and tells me to speak with the financial aid department here.

Fortunately, my friend works there - recently promoted. She looks at my account, and there in big bold letters on my National Student Loan Data System account are four loans CLEARLY listed as being in default. They are out of Texas, not New York. I get the number and begin again. Imagine my surprise to encounter Ashley! The same Ashley I had already spoken to earlier. New York Ashley who tells me she is the National Center for all the various state numbers. Goodness.

She looks deeper, and, oh, yes. There are the loans from when I attended Christian Brothers University. Huh? I have never even heard of that place. And I suspect I wouldn't qualify for student status, not being a brother. She calls a supervisor. They sort it out for 20 minutes while I listen to soft music and pray up a storm. Turns out, they never deferred my Concordia loans when I applied for all the deferments last summer. They hardly ever encounter a student who is simultaneously finishing a master's degree and working on a doctorate in separate institutions.

Yes, they will be deferred. They will send the seminary a letter clearing my name, but it will take a month to remove the status from the National Student Loan Data System. Yikes! Really? A whole month? I call my friend in Financial Aid to update her. She tells me not to hold my breath until the information is really and truly changed. I mark the date on my calendar. Hum. Hope it doesn't affect this summer's coursework at Concordia!

My friend sighs. This is just the beginning, the tip of the newly created iceberg when it comes to student loan management. I believe her, having read through the new Promissory Note all students are now required to sign. I feel a bit like the maid in Rumpelstiltskin!