Introduce yourself

Introduce yourself
#66

Hi,

My name is Michael and I live in the Hudson Valley in New York. For years I worked at a book store before transitioning to construction work. I currently work odd jobs as a carpenter as I search for a full time job with a company that suits me. Or find work in another field. I haven’t had the most luck in that search.

I graduated from college in 2013 with a chunk of debt and have went through various repayment plans (full payment, income based, deferred). Once COVID hit, I took the chance to stop paying it back and begin saving money for the first time as an adult.

In the past, I have spent time knocking on doors for various candidates and progressive causes and really miss those conversations and interactions. I’m searching for a way to advocate for debt relief in my area either remotely or by doing some kind of COVID safe canvasing. I really am eager to lend a hand any way I can as I have more free time lately. If anyone knows a working group in or near Dutchess/Ulster county, by all means let me know.

Learning and working with others to lift that shadow of debt off our backs as apart of broader emancipatory mission for everyone is why I have joined this collective. Hopefully, I can get plugged in here and help out in some small way.

Thanks so much,
-M

#67

Hello! My name is Joe. I am a full time musician, and manage an educational youth development program using music to build critical thinking and social skills in under-resourced neighborhoods. I’ve worked at a 501©3 for over 10 years but still do not qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. I’m tired of dealing with this and have decided not to pay my federal loans back ever. I want to participate in an organized strike with millions of other people in similar situations. I invested in my education, spend thousands of dollars, and have given back to my community more than I ever imagined. This student loan problem is bigger than me, and i’m ready to move on from it. Let’s get this done together.

#68

Hey everyone, my name is Elias, I’m transgender and have been having a financially difficult time the last few years. The cost of living in Los Angeles and medical costs put me into severe credit card debt. I am now being sued by JP Morgan Chase bank after my debt went to collections. With everything going on right now I am very stressed and am way out of my depth here and could really use some help.

#69

Hello. I’m Brian from NJ.

I graduated with a BS in Sociology with a concentration in Inequality and Social Justice. My debt burden stands at around $63k.

I worked for the American Red Cross before the site shut down. I’m hoping to fill out my PSFL waiver, but not sure if the time I worked there qualifies for the program.

I’m pleased to be here and meet anyone. Any help and information is appreciated.

B

#70

Hello, my name is Lillie Jordan and I need support getting my student loans forgiven. I keep running into a wall with Navient and this new loan servicer Modela. I attended both Heald College and DeVry University both false promises and faultuate schools and they are both on the list. How do I get started. I have been paying Naviet faithfully and they will not remove a late payment from Sallie Mae which I was not late, but that’s a whole other story. I just want justice and both loans forgiven. Please help. My email address is: Lillie.Jordan@kp.org.

#71

Hello…i don’t see any new postings. Is this still active?

I was in a low paying job that I was able to get using my bachelor’s of science in marine science. I had no debt.

I went back to school to get my Master’s so I could get a better paying job. I accumulated $37,000 in debt. I was sure I could pay that back with a good job. I didn’t know that this is a field you get into based on WHO you know, not WHAT you know.

I’ve been unable to get a full time job that would allow me to make student, as well as normal, living payments.

I currently have a 10% interest rate, $250,000 in debt, can’t even make the interest payments and will never be able to pay this off.

I read that in FL if you don’t have any contact with the lender for 7 years, the loan is discharged.

Does anyone know of this or any other helpful strategy?
Lisa

#72

To Davidtokeefe

How did you get forgiveness?
Lisa

#73

Hi, my mother and I have so much student loan debt. We live in NYC. I’m in my 40s and my mom is in her 70s. I’m want to focus on her first, because it’s some sort of twisted thing with her own loans from the 80s, a parent plus loan for my brother and then consolidating them. And it’s been long enough for pete’s sake.
So I’m basically looking for anyone who can help us untangle the whole thing, she’s been paying hundreds a month for years and it has never budged. But we can’t find out anything, for some reason. Her social security and pension is her only income now. I just want to get rid of this for her, it’s just beyond the pale how much they’ve taken. And it’s been DECADES.

What should I do first? Is there anyone who can help get some answers at least? Thank you so much, what an incredible group!

#74

Hi, my name is Mike Ciccone. I have $42,000 in student loan debt from my Bachelors Degree in Geology, conferred in 2003, as well as my attempts at a Masters Degree. My Bachelors Degree was from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, now known as the Edinboro Campus of Pennsylvania Western University, after the consolidation of some of our state colleges and universities. I am currently on an income based repayment plan, but even the low monthly payments of around $100 per month are too much for me. I have been unable to find consistent employment as a Geologist in Pennsylvania or elsewhere for nearly 20 years. Our state, technically The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires a person to have 5 years of work experience from 3 licensed professional geologists to sit for the Professional Geologist licensure exam, also known as the ASBOG. Although I have a currently working Licensed Professional Geologist in Pennsylvania who is willing to vouch for almost 3 years of experience, other persons who I would like to use for references, either are retired, have passed away, or just don’t respond when I have attempted to contact them for the exam. People who are Licensed professional geologists that I have worked with or for, who hold licenses in other states do not count toward the 3 people necessary to take the exam in PA. Unlicensed Geologists practicing in states that do not have licensure for Geologists also do not count. To become a Geologist in a state where a license is not required usually requires one to have been licensed in a state that has licensure, etc. I figured this out in 2012 and took the Geologist in Training exam. I was the 15th person in Pennsylvania to take the GIT, as it is called. Unfortunately, I have been unable to resume working as a Geologist since before COVID. I left a job with the Commonwealth of PA due to an excessive commute, diagnosis of 2 mental health conditions, and workplace bullying. I also realized that I should not work in an office, and need to work outdoors. My love of the outdoors and travel is the reason why I choose to study Geology in the first place. Since I have been unable to find work as a Geologist, I have taken other work. I now work at a Target store, making $15.93 an hour. Even with overtime, I have not made over $40,000 per year in 3 years. I am unhappy at my present job, and unable to pay my bills, which include car payments, car insurance, TV/ Internet, and Student loans. I also pay my mom $200 per month in rent, as I cannot earn enough to live on my own. Target offers free education, but because I am in so much debt I am not able to partake in it. I would have to also be earning more than I am earning now, while obtaining education, and why isn’t the education I have already spent 6 years of my life on worth anything? I want to travel and be outdoors. Sitting in front of a computer for hours every day horrifies me. I do not qualify for the $10,000 Joe Biden Loan Forgiveness program because my student loans are with a loan servicing company and not the Federal Government. My loans are with Aspire and the interest rate is 2.875%. You are not going to find an interest rate that low anywhere. I would have needed to have refinanced my loans to be direct loans at some date before Joe Biden announced the loan forgiveness program. How would I have been able to know what the president was going to do ahead of time? Any refinancing I do in 2022 will result in significantly higher interest rates (more than double or triple what my interest rate is with Aspire), thus causing the amount of interest I accrue each month to be more than what is accruing now, even if I did qualify for and receive $10,000 loan forgiveness. Any increase in actual interest accrual would result in a higher monthly payment, and how is that going to help me, when I already can’t pay the $100 a month (all interest) that I need to be paying right now? I still owe 98% of the principle of my student loans, which were consolidated in 2005. Since I live with my mom, I have to follow here rules which are restrictive for a 42 year old. Basically, a girlfriend, marriage, etc. and having kids are all stopped until I can afford rent of my own place.

Mike Ciccone

#75

Hello everyone my name is Chad. I am the Rural Organizer for Common Defense in Arizona. I am a disabled combat veteran that served in the United States Navy from 2000 to 2006. I first lost a home to foreclosure in the housing crash of 2008 when we had just began a new family after I returned home from Iraq. The triplets were 3 and we had a newborn. We never really got back on our feet after losing that property and have been housing insecure ever since then. We are unfortunately divorced, and I have a 2/2 apartment now, but I am within 30 days of eviction after accidentally letting the deferment I was given go into default while I was waiting for the county to get back to me about assistance. I also have about ~$30,000 in credit card debt which accrued over the last 3 years mostly from helping to keep the kids and I fed. I owe $15k to this property management co. to bring my rent current. I hope you all have an eviction toolkit for AZ, if not I anxiously await one.

#76

Hi! My name is Natala. I’m from NJ. My total debt is around $26K, comprised of credit card, student loan, and medical debt. My husband is the only one who works full-time. I’ve been out of work since 2020. My husband was involved in a car accident last year. Our insurance coverage didn’t cover all of the damages for the other driver’s vehicle so their insurer is currently suing us. We’re looking at a possible judgment of $23K! We’ve got no savings and no property other than our cars. Bankruptcy is looking like our only recourse. I’m chasing down every avenue I can for decreasing our debts, looking for work, etc. I came across an article about the Collective and thought it could be a great resource.

#77

Hi there. I’m sure everyone has heard the horror stories (and then some!) about being held down by the overwhelming weight of student loan debt. My story is no different.

My name is Sonny and I graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle in 1990 when I was 23 years old and had my whole life ahead of me. I am now 56 years old and my life is all behind me yet I am still saddled with this debt that I got myself into when I thought I was doing something to better myself.

What started as a manageable debt at $20K is now approaching $100K with no sign of being paid off. I put everything on hold (career, marriage, kids) just so I wouldn’t have this on my plate. So, basically, I let the last 30 years go by. I don’t get any do overs but I still have to pay this thing off. It’s beyond frustrating.

I was so busy throwing money at this life-consuming dragon that I missed out on the whole Sweet v. Cardona settlement. Had I known about it I would have jumped aboard that train. Again, it is so frustrating.

I feel I got suckered in by Navient when they told me to consolidate my loans because it would make my payments lower. I didn’t realize that it would be at a 10% FIXED interest rate!

There is more to this story but like I said I am sure you have heard it all before.

I feel I am on the right path with Debt Collective and some of the facebook groups I belong to. I just wanted to connect with others that are in the same boat I am in.

Thanks for having me and I look forward to getting to know others that are in the same predicament .

#78

Hello! My name is Kat. I graduated from a public school in Denver, Colorado with a bachelor’s in communications and a minor in studio art.
I have recently decided to pursue grad school and hope to gain my Master’s in Social Work within the next few years. I am employed, but I’m not sure how long it will last considering that I will need to do field placement for graduate school. These two degrees are going to kick my butt in terms of student debt. Along with having to struggle to afford housing and healthcare, the fact that we have to pay such a staggering amount for student debt-plus interest- while large corporations and banks get bailed out every year makes me angry. I want to channel that anger into activism. I’m very glad to be here.

#79

Hello. I am Mel (she/her). I joined the Debt Collective a couple months ago. I read Can’t Pay Won’t Pay. I was at the rally in DC in February. I went to my first Debtor’s Assembly this week. Before I knew about the Debt Collective, my spouse and I have been actively trying to eliminate our own debt. I have about $32k in student loans and $118k in housing debt left. My spouse and I both work and still can’t seem to get ahead. I want to be able to save for kids’ college so they don’t take on debt and for our retirement. But right now, it’s too hard to just get our basic needs covered sometimes and it’s so frustrating.

#80

Hello, I’m Tricia

I went back to school for a mid life career change to what I thought would be an exciting career in landscape architecture. Except that it was over sold and there are NO “jobs everywhere”.

I would like to start an organizing group for architecture school debt and specifically landscape architecture. Is anyone interested?

#82

Hello,

I’m new to the group, just recently joined after completing the book, Can’t Pay Won’t Pay, and have to say that the book gets a 5/5 stars. I am the most critical when it comes to reading and reviewing literature like this, but I love the fact that the writers understand that politics is power and that accountability (not just merely voting) and applying political pressure through numbers are what will shape politics in our favor. I love how the book empowers those of us in debt. The book was brief yet informative (especially with mentioning how American slavery/Jim Crow and the Haitian Revolution set the tone for the modern day debtor-creditor system). I especially loved the fact that the book and this organization do not stop at just debt relief, but are big supporters of reparations and anti-bigotry.

This movement understands what a true solidarity movement is about, and I appreciate it. There is appreciation for other groups within this one to have their own space and still push back in this communal effort…

A little bit about me is that I completed my undergrad in the Spring of 2018. Borrowed $29,000 from the private student loan company, Sallie Mae, and today I owe them $70,000. I worried about these interest rates while I was in undergrad, and was repeatedly told that I wouldn’t have to worry about them… Today, I am 32 days behind on a payment and they are threatening delinquent status. I cannot afford these rates, rent, and other daily bills. I recently became a contractor and have not been paid in the last three months. So this book really encouraged me. I plan to be active in this group, because I want to be a part of saving mine and others’ futures.