Quick Answer: When Navient stops automatic debits without notice, borrowers can unknowingly fall behind and face collections within months. This borrower’s loan went to Radius Global Solutions after missing payments since February 2019, despite 17 years of consistent $164 monthly payments through direct debit.
Question:
Dear Steve,
I have been paying my Private student loan through Navient solutions to the tune of $164 a month direct debit. All was well I thought.
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I don’t always check my bank statement more fool me in this case. One week ago I got a call from a collection agency informing me that my debt had not been paid since February 19th, 2019. The last payment is January 19th, 2019.
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This was now August & after calling my bank Navient solutions had stopped debiting my account on February 19th, 2019 without telling me. So now my private student loan is in the hands of a collection agency something which has never happened to me before. No notification from Navient nothing, they simply just passed it along to a collection agency called ” Radius Global Solutions LLC.
I am confused frightened & at my wits end with this entire student loan process. WIsh to god I had never borrowed a dime.
What can I do here? I have no idea what to do next. I will no doubt be in arrears with the collection agency, what with having no clue I was off the book at Navient.
This has hit me like a bombshell.
I have been paying this loan off for decades almost 17 years. My wife is the co-signer which really frightens me. I live in New York City attended the New School University for Jazz & contemporary music & now I wish I had stayed home in Scotland UK.
I am a citizen now with a 21-year-old son. My wife is a hard-working ICU nurse.
I feel as if I am being persecuted by these people & it’s beginning to take a toll on me. I apologies for the drama here. Sir could you give me some advice with which I may find myself out of this terrible situation.
Robert
Answer:
Dear Robert,
It certainly sounds like there was some sort of administrative issue that led to the discontinuance of the automatic draft.
Alternatively, you could have been on some sort of time-limited payment program that just timed out and came to an end. Sometimes Navient will do this and tell people to call back in two years to evaluate the program again.
Maybe one lesson to be learned here is to at least take a look at your bank statement from time to time. Also, just because someone does not bill or debit you for payment, that does not give you a free pass.
I know you are scared and tense but the first step here would be to get more information. Since Radius Global Solutions is now handling your account, you can contact them.
I’d make the call a fact-finding mission and don’t feel compelled to make a payment promise just yet.
See if they can help you to better understand what happened and ask about what repayment options are available at this time.
One thing that is for certain is that sticking your head in the sand is not going to fix this.
Take some deep breathes, call Radius Global Solution and gather some facts, and then report back to mein the comments section below.
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Dear Steve thank you for your reply. Good news . I spoke with one of your colleagues & read to him over the phone something that I missed when writing to you . On the letter from the collection people it stated “ we can not sue you to recover this debt as it has reached limitation “ Steve I don’t remember the exact words . It was written in big blue letters on the statement. After talking with your colleague
His advice was it’s over ROBERT your done with this loan. I called the collection agency informed them that the debt was no more & that they had no right to call me or write me anymore. If they did I would write to my state attorney general & consult a debt lawyer . I was nice & respectful to the supervisor . This was weeks ago Steve & I have heard nothing since. The supervisor seemed to know the game was up & that they had no claim over me. Your colleague informed me this agency was probably a small office floor with cubicles full of telephones & people calling people like me on the chance that I wouldn’t know what was going on. You guys put a stop to that . Your help & invaluable information has saved me from being swindled into paying a collection agency who bought the debt from Navient in the knowledge the debt was no more , hoping I would be an easy mark. Thank you Steve & the wonderful human being I spoke on the phone to . You guys are heaven sent !!
Best always
Robert H McGowan
Robert,
Thank you for the feedback. I think you might have talked with my friend Damon Day who is a really good guy. So glad he was able to assist you.
Steve
Question asked.
Answered.