We are in the midst of graduations across the nation and it can be a bleak picture for graduates looking for employment. Finding a job in a specific field can be difficult, but students must also take into account looming student loan payments. Large student loan payments prevent students from making other financial investments and this has long-term repercussions for the student borrower as well as the entire economy.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently announced that it is soliciting comments from the public about borrower experiences with student loan servicing. CFPB Director Richard Cordray stated that “[t]he inquiry seeks to determine if the student loan servicing industry is doing things that make repayment more complicated and more costly for consumers.
The CFPB has taken an active role in monitoring and regulating various consumer industries such as payday loans, mortgage servicing, and credit cards. It is not surprising to learn that in light of the staggering statistics about student loan debt, the CFPB is now taking action.
There is a lot of room for improvement in terms of regulating lenders and servicers. It is good to know that the voices of student borrowers are finally being heard. Hopefully those facing crushing debt loads will soon find some relief.
Rachel Gallegos
Lead Consumer Advocate, Steve Harvey Law