It’s default day. I’m not proud, and if anything feeling like a shitty human being.

17k loan, paid over 10 years and still owe 24k.

Life lessons: - Monitor your credit for inaccuracies, disputing them as soon as you know. - Pay your monthly amount and set aside extra in a separate account to then make a larger payment to pay off sooner. - Don’t take out student loans. Go to trade school, join military, do literally anything. Most of the degrees are scams, and for sure the degree programs for some colleges.

Not sure what I am typing this for. Not sympathy. Empathy? Someone to say suck it up? Idk. Mainly just trying to talk and get it out, so I’m not just some close to 40y/o with no family, from another night sitting in the dark reading a book and ruminating.

———

As of 5:00pm I defaulted, and now I guess I have to wait and see if I get sued for wage garnishment or can somehow put money aside to settle with them. Had only $20 in my bank account till payday with them saying I had to pay $50 or there was nothing they could do. Granted, it was last day and I’ve getting paychecks- I had just reached end of rope and deciding I needed to take care of myself and saying enough was enough. Basically, trying to work out which of these are most likely to happen first:

A) They realize I got nothing, and don’t sue me. Out pace SOL. Doubting this since my balance is 24k, and not hundreds like others. Would have thought the 100k plus loans warranted more lawsuit, but keep reading stories of Navient suing people with lower amounts.

B) They sue me, and I show up and negotiate something with them or the judge that is actually manageable. Doubting I get lucky in that aspect. Haven’t read a situation what that has occurred.

C) They send me settlement offers and get them to settle for 20-30% that I can pay over couple years. Keep reading anywhere from 20-40%, with 40-50% being more likely. Idk.

D) Leave my job, or get fired in few months due to restructure, and cash out my mandatory retirement to make lump sum payment. Take about 30% hit, with tax bill, not to mention settlement tax bill. Might be able to offset with medical bills, but would likely be homeless with other jobs I’ve applied to past few months not coming close to pay.

——

2013 I graduated with degree in Forensic Science. Was one of two people to get on a research grant DNA typing cannabis in entire school, resulting in three published research papers. Actually thought that I would make something of myself, growing up in a single parent household and first to go to college.

About to graduate, was looking for apartments and applying for jobs only to find I had a TON of debt, and judgements in my name. Had lived on campus all through college, and found after records request that family member had used my name. Forged documents. Learned of all the money other family members gave this individual, and ultimately spent 10 years trying to fight accounts that were years passed charge off and judgements filed with state for summons never delivered to me and hidden by family member. Settled couple only to get hit with tax bills. Paid off 1-2 others in full. Fought wage garnishment for a year, finally getting one removed due to someone seeing through the crap. Consolidated rest to make affordable monthly payment, and just worked 2-3 jobs. Got PTSD, from likely all of it but mostly the years I worked as EMT on top of working other jobs. Burnt candle from both ends, paying off 2 of my own student loans that were smaller.

Last year, February of 2024, I stopped paying Navient. They kept increasing monthly payment due to variable rate, which I know is their prerogative. Asked for assistance, even asking to extend my own loan term longer just to make it more affordable. Offered 60% settlement, only to be told they had no record of it. Calls 5-10 times a day, to point where job was getting mad at me and was reprimanded and me telling Navient to which manager said they could call as many times as they wanted to. Told I had to wait for default for other programs, then getting litigation letters and then claiming they never said it. Luckily for me and my disability, I record my calls (Thanks Plaud). July/August they put me in a Forbearance because FL governor called for state of emergency- even though I didn’t apply for it. Would have been helpful sooner or other times, but okay. September I filed bankruptcy, finally realizing enough was enough and I was tired of not living a life taking on a responsibility that was never mine to begin with. December it was discharged. Income went down a couple hundred dollars, but let me tell you the relief that came from never having to pay a dollar towards debt I never should have paid to begin with.

Was finally able to go back on meds, go to doctors, go to the dentist. (No cavities after 15 years, so was doing something right). Glasses for a prescription that was nearly 10 years old. Bought a new pair of shoes, and I can’t tell you the last time I did that. I know, pathetic right?

May of 2025- requested validation of debt because of the inconsistencies when talking with Navient. They replied they were sending it to me, but never once got anything.

Tried working with them, but they said no to settlements and harassing calls again.

Feel like shit that I have spent money on myself since January on my health for once after putting it on the back burner.

Can’t buy car due to bankruptcy, but am renting one 1-2 weeks a month for on-call purposes, and using bus system to get around. Fortunate my job currently provides housing, but they are restructuring and will either need to find new one or might lose it in 8 months. Hoping to get my medical back on track, which will free up some money for me to put away in the event I’m sued, but then again if I lose job I’ll need to get an apartment or buy a cheap car to live out of until I find a place.

Anyways, hope to provide some updates in the future about how things go, or if I survive this all. May never have a family or kids, but things happen and if I can make it through being attacked and all the other shit I’ve been through, maybe something good will come of this in the end. Idk.