The Annual First of the Year Student Loan WTF?

[cornerofmadness]

If you're a long term reader of my journal you know that every January the Student Loan people start hassling me. This time I came prepared with economic hardship deferments. Naturally this year they changed it and added in a baffling 'work sheet' that seriously you have to be an account to figure out so I call them and was told I don't need the worksheet. that's just for my reference (yeah, if I can figure it out) So I foolishly ask 'how much are the interest payments? maybe I can get you that much ' (My lawyer wants to see good faith payments out of me). 1,340$. I said WHAT? But my full payment is only 1370. ANd she goes 'yes,' as if to say so what. I point out that they are only asking THIRTY dollars of principal from me on 200,000$ loan. Then asked her just how long did they think I would live because at that rate, even without interest, a human life span wouldn't be long enough.

She ponders this then doesn't really answer. I further point out that they've been giving me economic hardship deferments for 12 years now and that they would ALWAYS been asking for more than 20% of my salary a month and if they would just let me pay SOMETHING they would at least get a little money. She says, 'we do have a income sensitive plan' Uh what? Apparently all this time there HAS been a plan but no one has told me. In fact I can't apply until THIS deferment runs out (I had to take the deferment since they lost the first application and my HR sent the wrong monthly salary to them and as a result two months late fees have already accumulated and is more than my bank account) and I'm to not even HINT to them that I'm going to try this because it might be blocked.

Thank you Federal Loans.Rot in hell.

And I'm feeling weird today. I'm finally NOT snotty but now i'm ice cold and can't get warm and my belly keeps throwing up my pills into my throat. Gah. Why?

And as if to make up for all the great students last semester my non-major class is already SLEEPING on the tables and no less than six missed the lab yesterday, yeah the lab I told them they could NOT miss. Oh this semester is going to be a joy

Comments

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

oh fucking hell. i didn't know you didn't know about the income sensitive plan or i would have told you about it. *hugs*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Well I ASKED about it. I ask EVERY year and they always tell me it doesn't exist

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

what the hell? it's one of the standard repayment plans they offer. nuts!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

they also tell me that forgiveness for teachers in rural areas doesn't exist (they will lie their asses off or they hired idiots)

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about that. I knew that forgiveness existed for teachers in rough inner city schools, but I think that was only for certain kinds of loans and in any case I never paid attention to that part because I knew I was never going to be a teacher (especially in an inner city school, yikes).

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

exceedingly rural poor (where I'm at) OR inner city but only if you graduated after 1995 (WTF?)

[anguisel.livejournal.com]

Bah, those federal loan guys sure like telling you things at the last minute huh? I'm surprised you have gone angry postal worker on their asses.

And for your students, you should make a poster for them and hang it on the wall:
Dear Students,
I am the teacher, you're the student. As teacher, I really don't give a rat's ass if you pass or not. I have enough problems as it is and don't need you whining to me about tests or homework. Such action will not work and cause you further problems in the future.
Signed,
The Teacher
Sadly, if they're the dunces that I think they are, you'll probably have to point the thing out to them.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

snort no kidding. MY thought was 'there is a waiting list for this class. if you want to sleep why don't you just give up the class to someone who wants it more'

[makd.livejournal.com]

May I just second anguisel's suggestion....Of course, you can't post it in RL, but it is cathartic to write it. :-)

Also: it's very, very, true.....:-)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I know I know. I just can't believe the audacity of this crew. Its awfully early to be pissing off the professor

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

As always, I'm sorry that the student loan situation continues to cause you stress and hassle (understatement).

We started our January term and I put a large, mean statement in my syllabus highlighting respectful classroom behavior which includes not sleeping in my class unless you come talk to me about your diagnosed narcolepsy or insomnia (which I was sort of joking about). But I actually had a student come in this morning who was in a car accident last month and is still on narcotics/muscle relaxers to let me know why she might not always look on target so I think my message got through :)

I also now have in my syllabus a statement that says if I even suspect you are texting or reading a text or otherwise using your cell phone in my class, I will kick you out and give you an F on all participation points for the semester. I feel powerful, and good!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Well at least I'm handling the stress better than this time 3 years ago so...

good show. I was THIS close to telling the one class that there is a waiting list for it and if they want to sleep why don't they just give up their position to someone who actually WANTS to be there

and yes I remember you saying that about the texting issues and thought Maren is a wise woman and I must use this (and did. Also drove home the use a cell phone to take pictures of my exam gets you an F in the class)

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I'm so sorry you have to deal with all that crap... And, yeah, banks and all loan entities are basically white collar bookies. They can't legally break your legs, so they freeze assets, contact employers etc. Even our home equity loan takes interest up front (90+% of what we pay each month is interest, then a few trickles actually go toward the loan). For the rich, by the rich...

And for the sleeping students: water in a squirt bottle? *eg*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

squirt bottle sounds great

and fill it with acid for the loan people

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Just how imcompatant are the the people our government hires? I just have no words. I'm surprised you're blood pressure isn't through the roof.

And I'm sorry that once again you're feeling crappy.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I get the impression that this is a min. wage job that no one really gives a crap about

I think i'm trying to fight off something. I can hardly wake up today but otherwise feel okay. How are yo doing? Better yet?

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

A bit better so hopefully the antibiotics are kicking in.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

keeps fingers crossed