Best way NOT to communicate with Navient/MOHELA
Posted by HauntingGap4593@reddit | studentloandefaulters | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Private student loan with Navient/MOHELA (20k), that is going on 8 months of non-payment. Basically, what is the best way to communicate (or not communicate).
Either to get to point of settlement, or pass SOL.
I own nothing. Even if they garnish wages, it would be less that what I offered and said I could afford each month at beginning of year. Plus I’m looking to get job in a state that is garnishment friendly towards borrowers.
I can’t get higher paying job, because I don’t have money to finish my degree, so stuck with not making more. Current job provides housing and utilities, so even if I did get another job I’d then have other expenses.
If I did get new job, my plan is to cash out my retirement and settle. I know I’ll take a penalty and pay my taxes, but how do I get to that point… how do I delay getting sued for as long as possible for me to work this in my favor?
miranlopez11@reddit
go radio silent no communication with them at ALL. Do not respond to anything they say/do unless its a court summons that has a date and time to appear in court. everything else ignore
Aggravating_Storm493@reddit
Hey there u/miranlopez11
I’m about hit default once September 30th passes, so I’ve been doing research for what to do when that time comes and goes.
Do you mind me asking why go radio silent? I’m asking because I’m already freaked out but really have no other option except for default, I literally can not pay the $800 a month and still keep a roof over my head. So I’ve seen you and a few others say to go radio silent and wanted to know why?
The only reason I was thinking to respond to them was to try to make sure they don’t harass friends/family and that by maybe communicating with them, they won’t go after others. And since I’m already in an anxious embarrassed state (even though I shouldn’t be in it) I don’t want my friends/family to know and I definitely don’t want them getting harassed in an effort to get to me.
But if responding is detrimental, then I won’t do it
miranlopez11@reddit
it's best to be under the radar. don't answer their calls, text, emails etc none of it. make it hard for them to find you. once you stop paying thats when you cease all communication with them. get a google voice number or keep your same number and block their calls. it's inevitable. they are going to call your co signer, friends, family and possibly your job (if you have one). they use lexus nexis for skip tracing. skip tracing is used to find those people related to you and they call them so they can give them info to locate you. this is why you should talk to family/friends and let them know you are defaulting etc if they call you just say "wrong number" "don't call me again" or simply hang up the phone. creditors do that to embarrass you and to make you feel the pressure so that you'll pay but don't feed into the BS. most of the time when they call relatives/friends they usually say its a "business matter" they don't say this is a debt collector. i'm so used to blocking their numbers it doesn't even bother me anymore and sallie mae emails are sent to spam so i don't even see it. just relax. don't communicate with them and don't engage in conversation with them. wait the statue of limitations out and if they decide to sue you get an attorney and have them help you settle. only respond to a court summons everything else throw it in the trash lol you got this! don't stress about it. so many people default on loans think of it as a business strategy.
Aggravating_Storm493@reddit
The last payment was in December 2024, and Firstmark had been radio silent since then until August. There were some “complications” due to a bankruptcy filing but now Firstmark is back. I stupidly did respond to Firstmark before I found this sub, but my plan is to follow your advice and go under the radar.
Thankfully, I don’t have social media anymore except Reddit and am self employed, so is my dad. And prior to all of this even happening way back a few years ago, I made a google voice number and an email address specifically for just student loan stuff so I wouldn’t have to see the stuff front and center in my main email accounts.
With the skip tracing, in the event they contact family/friends, do I just tell them to block the numbers or should they pick up and tell whoever is on the line to not call back?
And thank you so much just in general for responding to me. I’m obviously really anxious and scared but being able to communicate with people like you has made me feel less frantic and like I’ll end up ok after all.
On your end, did your default end up resolved yet, if you went through it? Like if you did, did you end up getting a settlement or did you pass the SOL?
In any case, I want tot hank you again for helping my dad self out because I feel less anxious and now more capable of following through. Not like I even had the funds to pay the monthly amount, it was an extortionate amount though if t goes settlement, I’ll hopefully be able to save money for that by not paying the monthly bill / get a decent offer like I’ve seen others on the sub getting.
miranlopez11@reddit
i stopped paying like feb 2025 i believe so i have a couple years to pass the sol. and you can either tell them to block the number or tell them to not call back anymore either one works. they have to comply because they're not the one with the loans..
Aggravating_Storm493@reddit
Thank you for the reply!! I appreciate the help you’re providing. I’ll make sure any people I care about know what they should say should they get contacted. I hope you keep updating on your case over the years as it happens if you’re willing and able to! I’ll def try to do the same. In any case, thank you so much for all the great help you’ve provided already, it’s really calmed me down and helping solidify the default path for me.