I received the following statement from a reader: “NJ CLASS/HESSA gave my loans to a “Law Firm” -collection Agency, that sent bullies to my brother-in-law’s house. They were yelling outside his apartment building that he needed to pay his bills and he was a thief!!! They came to my home, and served my minor child … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I currently have $95K in debt with NJClass loans which I’ve been working diligently to pay off. My mother, my cosigner on the loan, went through bankruptcy 2013-2018. During this time, the loans were put on a “stay” period, where payments were not due but interest still increased. I also was not … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I am a cosigner for my son’s college loan through HESAA. I pay $801/month to HESAA for him. You answered a previous question for Al saying, ” Your NJCLASS loan is part of HESAA. They are an independent State of New Jersey government branch.” I just found out today from my legislator … Read more
Attorney Edward Hanratty sent in the following information. The state of New Jersey has enacted a law that protects student loan borrowers from abuse by student loan lenders. NJHESAA/NJCLASS, are you listening? It requires that student loan lenders, other than the federal government and big banks, be licensed and regulated by the state of New … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I’m looking for advice on lowering my monthly student loan payments. My borrower, NJCLASS, does not offer income-based repayment options, but I’m drowning. They don’t make it easy to refinance or defer either. I owe around $122,000. I make around 41k a year and my monthly payments are $1,454. It’s unmanageable. Do … Read more
New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA) has been ruthless in collecting on student loans even when challenged by the State of New Jersey for being unreasonable. NJHESAA has been less than accommodating when it comes to debtors underwater with student loans. But attorney Edward Hanratty of Tomes & Hanratty managed to secure a … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, My sister is behind on a 27,000 NJ Class (HESAA) loan and she (along with my parents who are on a fixed income) have received court summonses. She is an EMT and works for two companies but her hours were just slashed at both jobs. She has her firefighter certification but is … Read more
Legislatures in New Jersey are doing more to help student loan debtors than the Department of Education is. Recently they have passed two laws that will assist New Jersey residents with student loan troubles. The first bill creates the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) and regulates … Read more
by Annie Waldman ProPublica, July 28, 2016, 8 a.m. Some restaurants have secret menus, special items that you can only get if you know to ask. New Jersey’s student loan program has secret options, too 2014 borrowers may be able to get help from the agency, but only if they know to ask. New Jersey … Read more
“Dear Steve, My fiancé has a ridiculous amount of student loan debt. He attended Felician College in Lodi, New Jersey, a private school and has $140,000 in student loan debt from two lenders: NJClass/HESSA and Nelnet. The payment from HESSA is $900/month and the one for Nelnet is $600/month. HESSA is impossible to deal with … Read more
“Dear Steve, I cosigned with my daughter for a State of NJ (NJCLASS) loan. Currently I am retired and living on social security and a small pension of $700 per month. I have no assets such as a house, savings or other tangible property. Currently Living in Phoenix AZ. My daughter is working part time … Read more