19 March 2024
TOPEKA (KSNT) — With student loans at the forefront of many people’s minds, it’s important to be aware of what you’re spending and not pay for something you don’t have to.
With many people paying off student loans, some are also hoping for total loan forgiveness. They might also be getting letters in the mail saying that’s a possibility. However, you shouldn’t believe everything you’re told, especially if they say you have to pay.
Working for you, we talked to a financial aid officer to see if paying for services is actually worth it.
“Working with your loan servicer, working with the department of education, you can definitely do the same things they’re offering for free without having to pay a fee,” Washburn Director of Financial Aid Andrew Fogel said.
We also reached out to the Better Business Bureau and they gave us this statement:
“Find a reliable source. Consumers can apply for loan deferments, forbearance, repayment, and forgiveness, or discharge programs directly through the U.S. Department of Education or their loan servicer at no cost and do not require a third party.”
A third party isn’t required to pay off your student loans. Neither is the stress that comes from messages urging loan holders to pay off those loans quickly.
“It looks like they’re trying to create a sense of urgency with you by saying this is the final notice,” Fogel said. They don’t have any of your payment information, they don’t have any of your loan balance, anything you can do to consolidate your loans typically doesn’t have an expiration date”
If you get a letter in the mail, a phone call, or an email about student loans and are skeptical, you should reach out to your student loan provider first, especially before spending your money.