American Education Services Reviews

  • 4,697,285 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
  • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
  • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
  • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

About American Education Services

This profile has not been claimed by the company. See reviews below to learn more or submit your own review.

American Education Services manages student loans and financial aid services. It provides loan servicing, repayment plans and financial literacy resources to borrowers.

Pros
  • Flexible payment options available
  • User-friendly online platform
  • Responsive customer service team
Cons
  • Frequent communication issues
  • High interest rates on loans
  • Harassment from debt collectors

American Education Services Reviews

Filter by Rating

  • (2)
  • (1)
  • (5)
  • (14)
  • (320)

Popular Mentions

    How do I know I can trust these reviews about American Education Services?
    • 4,697,285 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
    • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
    • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
    • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
    Recent
    • Recent
    • Oldest
    • Most helpful

    A link has directed you to this review. Its location on this page may change next time you visit.

    How do I know I can trust these reviews about American Education Services?
    • 4,697,285 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
    • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
    • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
    • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
    Page 2 Reviews 10 - 40
    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed July 11, 2024

    American Education Services (AES) is the worst. Just spoke with Rachel who was condescending and did not answer any of my questions. She kept saying, "As I've been trying to tell you, we don't know anything contact Borrower Defense." When I told her Borrower Defense advised me to contact AES in regards to several matters, she would cut me off and simply tell me to call Borrower Defense again. Even when I tried asking a separate question she huffed and puffed, claimed to know nothing while insisting I didn't understand until I just had to hang up with my questions unresolved.

    Thanks for your vote!
    Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

    Reviewed July 10, 2024

    I am still trying to figure out if they are a collection agency or a loan for education. If you're even a couple days late they call multiple times. They will never leave a message and treat you as if you are a terrible person, very condescending and not very helpful. Again more of a collection agency with practices I do wonder cross the line.

    Thanks for your vote!
    Staff

    Reviewed June 25, 2024

    I called to try to figure out why one of the loans they claim I owe isn't showing up with the FSA. The woman I spoke to was extremely belligerent, nasty, contradicting me at every turn and not letting me explain myself. She insisted, over and over, that they've only had my loan for the past 10 days, and tried to foist me off on someone else when I insisted that no,

    I've been communicating with AES for a while now about this loan. I kept getting bounced back to her. Finally I dug out the electronic communication I'd had in the past with them and told her I'd communicated with them about these specific things a year ago. It was then she realized SHE HAD THE YEAR WRONG. She had been talking to me extremely nastily and condescendingly while the whole time she had been making a huge error. She didn't apologize, just finally managed to foist me off on someone else. It was a horrible experience and if I never have to deal with AES again I'll be happy.

    Thanks for your vote!
    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed June 13, 2024

    I’ve been an AES “customer” for 8 years. They are by far the absolute worst and most obnoxious loan servicer I’ve ever had the displeasure of working with. Rude, nasty, threatening employees, and they deliberately make taking literally any action in regards to your student loans as complicated as possible. Terrible website, terrible customer service, hostile, predatory policies: avoid these inhumane parasites at all costs.

    Thanks for your vote!
    Customer ServiceStaff

    Reviewed June 9, 2024

    I have a private student loan originally for $50,000.00. I paid roughly 47,000.00. Today I owe more than 80,000.00 and my payments are over $1000.00. At this moment I am not working because I take care of my elderly parents and a sister who has cancer and I called the company to see if I could get a reduction or forbearance and I was just declined without any remorse to my situation. They have zero humanity and zero integrity. AES should be embarrassed by their practices and evil behavior and actions!!! Please do not attain a loan from them. You will have a life of regret.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed March 24, 2024

    I've had a loan with AES since 2005. Never late on a payment and have auto pay. I have paid through the COVID pandemic (did not grant any relief as it's not considered a federal loan) and a health care professional. They offer no options for public service loan forgiveness just an option to consolidate but this is very difficult to do and since it's considered through private lender, it doesn't count towards forgiveness. They also have my information incorrect and it is up to me to send them a ton of documentation to fix an error on their end. They will not offer any type of deferment or forgiveness options as I don't check all their boxes or meet all their documentation requirements. This company needs to be held accountable for their predatory actions.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Dec. 16, 2023

    I took out a 15K student loan in 2006 to go to school. Fast forward it's almost 2024 and my balance has somehow increased to 24K and my minimum monthly payment goes up every month (Currently 480). I called today to get payment options/forbearance and told this loan doesn't qualify for either and I need to make my minimum payment or my account will get reported as delinquent. I told the representative, "Go ahead. This loan place is a joke. How have I paid all these years on time and my loan has done nothing but increase and now due to the current economic inflation." I need lower payments or time extended to make a payment but they have no options for me. At this point. I don't care I will never send another dime to AES. Report me. :-)

    Thanks for your vote!
    Profile pic of the author.

    Reviewed Oct. 22, 2023

    We consolidated two loans back in 2000 with this company. They take the monthly payment and split a percentage between the two loans, so you make one payment to them, but they put the money on TWO loans. I am still paying on a $8000 loan from 2000. When I tried to arrange overpayment, they took my overpayment and split THAT between the two loans. Now I see where they are "offering" targeted payments online again. I'm going to try it and hopefully, it will work out. If not, I'll refinance the loan with another company, something I should have done YEARS AGO. Let this be a cautionary tale. Do not use this company. If you are stuck here, get out as soon as you can.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Oct. 9, 2023

    This site won't let me leave a 0 rating, so I had to leave a 1. This company is either incompetent or malicious. For 3 months, I sent them payment via BillPay the same way that I send other payments. The account number is on two different places on the check, and no one else has ever had issues with it. 3 months in a row, I have to contact AES about a missing payment and submit a copy of the cancelled checks. Each time, they "magically" found it. Had I not been the type to monitor my accounts, I wouldn't have known that the payments had not been credited. I've asked more than once what the issue is, and no response. Either this company is completely incompetent, or they purposely do this in hopes that they'll collect late fees.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed June 11, 2023

    Did anyone else keep applying for forbearances, reduced payment plans, or deferments yet AES kept claiming they had no record of those applications? This kept happening to me with this company and it impeded my ability to get help making affordable payments, and also led to me thinking they were processing the forms only to learn that the debt was just accruing. When they’d say they’d then send more forms they didn’t. When they’d say they’d forbear while forms are processing they didn’t. Every time I talked to them it was like ask previous conversations and forms I already did just ceased to exist. They then would dismiss me when I’d try to find out why this was happening.

    Additionally, their site was frequently down or crashing, making it difficult to handle the business online. Then when you call if you’re lucky enough to get through to a human in a reasonable amount of time (rare), they try To then push you to the crashing glitchy website rather than help you. It’s a loop of their bad website, disorganization, and poor customer service that interferes with customers' ability to pay back loans within their ability to do so.

    They didn’t defer for Covid either which is uncool. Further, it looks like some of my federal loans had been moved over to this private servicer which is also uncool. Those should have stayed with federal loan services so I could defer during Covid. Anyone else that has had similar inability to address their loans ands needs should communicate with each other. They need to be sued. They’re driving people into default by always losing applications and then making you do it again and again. Meanwhile, late payments add up because you can’t get help from them.

    Thanks for your vote!
    Profile pic of the author.

    Reviewed June 2, 2023

    My experience with AES has been one of constant attrition. For context, I live in poverty and my monthly payment was unreasonable for my income. It was almost half my rent. My income has always been low, and it was sometimes $0 during some periods of unemployment due to disability. However, AES would not help calculate a different payment based on income, and would not allow me to defer my loan, even on the basis of extreme hardship during COVID-19. I simply had to go without a lot of things I needed to make these payments so my credit would not take a hit, which would make life even harder. I spoke with them and they offered no alternatives.

    Fast forward through three years of this, I have somehow managed to make full payments on time every month, and I just made my last payment. My loan is finally paid in full. A few days later I logged into my account to check, and it's showing a balance of $0.03 and has listed by loan status as "delinquent." I have never been late on a payment and made my final payment in full, on time. I am currently in communication with them to resolve this, but even if they properly update my account it will not change my review. Do not do business with this servicer.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed April 25, 2023

    I took out a 7k loan to pay for a semester of college in 2006. It is now 2023. I’ve made an $85 a month payment every month on time since and somehow I have only paid the balance down to 5k. I’ve paid the loan back 2 1/2 times and still nowhere close. Something seems very off about this as the interest rate is not that much. I think there is enough people who have this same issue to file a class action lawsuit. When I’ve called to inquire about this, I’ve been made to feel like I’m a terrible person for even asking. Like I’m a total inconvenience that they even have to answer the phone and look up my account. People do not use this company and for the people that are in my position. I think we move forward with class action. From the reviews, it looks like I am not the only one.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed March 10, 2023

    I called to discuss my personal account, and I was provided -what seemed like- purely ‘scripted’ information spoken ‘at’ me in the most flat, matter-of-fact, robotic, and rude tone and manner. Like a child. I had received correspondence from AES in the mail, and I was calling to get clarity, to better understand the information about my loans. As well as inquiring about the Biden Student Relief program and my particular financial loan circumstances. I was consistently redirected throughout the ‘conversation’ to go online as if AES (and the tone of the customer service agent) is being very inconvenienced by taking care of their customers' questions and concerns…and I should just go online for the information and not call or bother them regarding my loan account with them! I was seeking clarity and confirmation.

    When the manager came on the phone after the phone-call was escalated, this person’s tone and demeanor sounded even more rude and professionally inappropriate than the first. The customer service team at American Education Services is obviously ‘burned-out’ or exhausted regarding providing acceptable, reasonable, and considerate customer service practices. No accommodations. Students or previous students are left to find answers on their own?? Super disappointing. At one time, AES’ customer service was exceptional! Not now.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Oct. 12, 2022

    Hi, AES is refusing to honor my application for consolidation that I filed online at ** on September 5th, 2022. According to their OWN website, if I file this consolidation application before the end of October 2022 I qualify for direct loan consolidation and cares act benefits and PSFL and IDR count adjustments. I am already in the public service loan forgiveness program and the IDR program. I qualify yet they are refusing to process my consolidation application.

    I also qualify for the one time federal forgiveness of $10K for my commercially held FFELP student loans if I apply for consolidation before September 29th, 2022 according to THEIR OWN website FAQ. I did. I applied on September 5th, 2022. They also arbitrarily applied a fraudulent “in school” forbearance to both my loans during the consolidation process. I am 50 years old. I took out the loans in 2005. I did not apply for this nor am I am in school. This was fraudulently applied. I did not request this AT ALL. I have filed compliant after complaint and they deny my consolation application and tell me I don’t qualify when I clearly do. They are breaking federal law and committing fraud.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Aug. 24, 2022

    My loans were assumed by AES from Brazos (I had no choice) well over a decade ago. Since I graduated in 2002, I have repaid over $50k. And yet, somehow my principal balance (which began at around $80k) has somehow gone UP (!) since this all began. They have never been able to sufficiently explain HOW this is possible. I even appealed to the ombudsman. There is clearly something "fishy" going on. I can't believe that I'm likely going to die with my student loans and AES will probably then just try to pursue my poor children. And now, to rub salt in the wound, I won't even be able to take advantage of Biden's $10k student loan forgiveness program because my formerly Federal loans are no longer held directly by the government. Who knew consolidating your loans would turn out to be such a grave mistake in the end?

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed July 5, 2022

    They blatantly lied to an old widow and put her in a position I was forced to take over the note to protect her. These people are scum. I hope you never do business with them. They will lie. They cheat. They are frauds and I hope you stay as far away as you can. God bless. This review is as honest as civility will allow.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed June 30, 2022

    They call me at work all the time, when I tell them not to, and they ask for me to call them back, but getting a hold of a person take 5+ minutes. Why do they get to call my direct line, but I get put on hold. They have no payment plans. Just 2-5 months of no payments, but when it starts back up it's more expensive. Much better places to use than this ** company.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed June 27, 2022

    Was just told that my balance is 82k on an 80k loan that I have been paying on for well over 10 years. They just informed me that my payment is going up now. What?! Paid almost 60k on an 80k balance and my balance hasn't moved in over 10 years w/ no deferment. Can we get a class action lawsuit together?

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed March 11, 2022

    Avoid AES at all cost and avoid MEFA loans because they use AES to manage the loan after closing. Two daughters and 5 years of dealing with the mind numbing incompetence, frustration, hours of my life I will never get back. I could literally type for an hour citing dozens of examples, but the truth is every single time I ever had to call or have them do something it was a nightmare. We just refinanced with a different company and can not be happier to be finally free from the worst company I have ever had to deal with and now that my son is going to college, we will not even think of using MEFA or any company that pawns of the loans to AES.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Feb. 19, 2022

    I found in January that my loans were due. I assumed because I finished school that I had grace period. That was not the case. Not only were loans not on hold under the Cares Act, I wasn't given a grace period because you only get one per the life of the loan. So fast forward I re up my IDR. AES said it would take 7-14 business days (it took everyone else 3 days) however the minute I made a payment, the IDR was improved. Not cool.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Feb. 4, 2022

    In 2021, I ran into financial trouble because I no longer had a job so I called AES to get a deferment on my student loan. I was advised by a representative there that my deferment was accepted and would be between 6-8 months which I thought at the time was generous. Recently, upon trying to login to my online account I could not gain access so I called. Not only was I put on hold but was given the run around because I am a Canadian and don’t have a Social Security Number. I was then informed that my account is now in default and AES no longer handles my loan.

    Received absolutely no calls, emails or letters informing me that my deferment period ended, so now I’m stuck not knowing what to do and possibly bad credit because of AES. Also no correspondence from any company who took over. Payment department has lost numerous payments from me in the past and have also applied my payments to wrong accounts. Such a mess and if you go to school in the U.S., do not, I repeat do not get a loan through this company! No help to the consumer whatsoever.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Feb. 1, 2022

    Tried to lower my payments...and make no mistake I give them what I can in monetary money. But they keep bloodsucking me... They loved me when I gave them more money... Automated phone operator sounds like Hugh Hefner on his death bed. Live phone operators are super sweet and apologetic, they can't help you and legit apologize for the loan you are locked into.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Nov. 1, 2021

    I have Never heard of a loan company reporting a customer to the credit unions for paying too much/too early on their loan? Yes, it's true, confirmed by phone. So here is the warning, if you can refi and get away from AES or any of their many companies Do IT. My son, I am the co-signer, paid his loan early and more than the minimum payment to help himself get out of this debt. According to AES, if you pat 5 days early or 5 days late it is considered by their guidelines and a LATE Payment!!! So my son paying in this manner for 3 years has a bad mark on his and MY credit. So now he is paying the minimum, on the effective due date, auto-drafted. The issue is now we start a new 48-month cycle to get this corrected so I can be removed as co-signing. BUT the credit marks stay. Red tape and a game for sure and AES couldn't care.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Oct. 23, 2021

    Consolidating my loans with AES was one of the worst decisions I've ever made. I'm not complaining to get anything because I know that AES is an unethical company. I also am on track to pay off my debt in the next few years, so this isn't sour grapes. I just want to warn others to NEVER do business with AES. Here's why. At this point, I've paid over $72,000 on $93,000 worth of loans, but I still owe $72,000. How can this be?? Well, it all started back in 2009 when I applied for income-based payments because I made $20,000 that year from my two part-time jobs. The economy had tanked in Michigan and I was not able to find a full time job. The only option for staying current with my loan—according to AES—was to put the loan in forbearance.

    My income continued to be about $20,000 for a few years, but all that time, AES insisted that I should have been able to make standard payments on my student loans. Even when I was homeless, AES was sure I could make standard payments, and when I said I couldn't, forbearance was the only way to stop my loan from going into default.

    This year I have paid over $16,000 on my loans. Ironically, quitting my low-paying teaching job, and starting my own business, which I could have done without a degree, has given me an infusion of cash to help knock out my student loan debt. But, even though I have paid more than twice the amount that is due for the year, I can't postpone the automatic debits. I did really well earlier this year, so I paid the bulk of the $16,000 before June. I was still making payments, but I wanted to do it on my own terms. The small interest deduction for automatic debit is something I want to keep, so I don't want to stop the direct debit altogether, but I thought since I had paid so much already this year, I would have control over when the debits were withdrawn. Turns out, that's not the case. Even though the student loan payments due for the year is $6,000, and I've paid $16,000, I can't postpone the automatic debit payments.

    The lawsuit that the attorney general of Massachusetts won against AES details the systemic problems borrowers have experienced with this company. These aren't mistakes. Forcing borrowers into forbearance instead of offering income-based repayment plans keeps borrowers on the hook for longer, and it ensures that they don't have access to student loan forgiveness after 20-25 years of payments. This is exactly what happened to me, so I emailed the ombudsman at AES asking for an account audit. They emailed me back to say that no additional loans had been added to the original loan. For the record, I didn't say anything about that. I asked about the $19,000 of capitalization that had been added to my loan. I wanted to know why I hadn't been eligible for an income-based payment plan. Unfortunately, that question was not answered or addressed at all in the email I received.

    After sending a second email asking for clarification, I received a response that said my loans had been in forbearance from 2007-2012. I was in school in 2007 and 2008, so that's not true. I also was able to use income-based payment plan for the first six months of 2009. Was capitalization added for that time period even though I was making payments? AES sent my payment history, which doesn't answer the questions I asked. This is another reason why I'd love to have an audit of my account, but AES refuses to provide one.

    In addition to dishonest business practices, AES just plain does not care about their customers. I did not see any stoppage of income during the pandemic, but SO many people were downsized or they lost their jobs. AES used a loophole to ignore the CARES Act. So, regardless of what happened to borrowers during the pandemic, they needed to pay up, or take a forbearance. Don't do business with these people. They are extremely dishonest and unethical.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Aug. 19, 2021

    When I started school in 2007 I applied for financial aid. Coming from a community college financial aid meant state aid. But, apparently with the vocational school, I was tricked into signing student loans, I was young so I didn't understand. This school had no entrance exam. The student loan that was apparently the original was Barclays something and AES bought the contract I guess. Well the interest won't stop accruing. I made my payments and had it on forbearance. I could have swore it ended in October, yet they ended it in July and I found out just today I am past due and they want almost $500, I started a chat with them and they said it ended in July, they didn't seem to care. I asked what can I do since I cannot afford it, they put what seemed like a copy and past about how I should apply for a Income driven payment. I was like ok, apparently I can no longer put it in forbearance because I did it too many times.

    When it was on forbearance I paid what I could but it is never enough. 4 separate loans with their own interest is awful, I feel like it is a scam to get more money. I am not sure what to do now. I am trying to do the IDP but it needs me to mail all of this information. I explained the school closed and when I applied it was for government aid, they said, "Well we are a bank owned company." I hope they get shut down and all loans individuals have with them voided. If I could go back in time I would never have gone to that school at all and instead went to community college where it is Government based and not Bank owned.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed July 15, 2021

    Just found out I'm delinquent on my loans because they don't fall under the cares act. They never sent communication letting me know. They said I happened to be ahead in payments that's why it's just showing now.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed June 28, 2021

    American Education Services is robbing Americans of their hard-earned money. As others who have reviewed this company have noted, they are shady and provide no assistance to the borrower. I just recently found out that they do not fall under the Care Act, so during the pandemic, we did not get deferred interest even if they were federal loans. I have been out of college for almost 15 years and only borrowed $21,000 for school. I worked and got grants to supplement the cost. I have NEVER missed a payment on my loans or put them in forbearance and to this date, I have paid them $26,741.40 and $15K of that total is interest alone. They're saying I still owe them over $9K.

    THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH STUDENT LOANS IN AMERICA TODAY! There needs to be a cap on how these companies can charge interest on student loans. I would love to go back to get my master's degree, but I won't do it simply because of what I've gone through with undergrad. PLEASE SHUT THIS COMPANY DOWN!!

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed March 20, 2021

    I had AES loans for over 27yrs. My original loan balance was $41,989.57 and additional $3,850 for 2 courses after the Master's degree. The total amount of loans at that time was $45,839.57. By the end of year 2000 the interest amount was $19,642.72 which made my total loan amount increased to $76,098.24. I paid off several of the smaller subsidized and nonsubsidized loans over the years. As years went by, I struggled to pay off loans, no matter what I paid the interest kept going. I was told in 2000 I consolidated my loans at 8.25% which I don't remember doing. My loans were in and out of forbearance and deferment since then. Now today, my loans has increased to $108,339.29. That's $62,499.71 interest added on a 45,839.58 student loan. No matter how much I have pleaded with them over the years, they simply say, "there's nothing we could do about it". These loans are designed to destroy young people rather than help.

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Jan. 25, 2021

    Probably the worse thing I ever did was refinance with this shady company. Horrible company to communicate and deal with. They dont fall under the Cares Act so of course are not offering relief during the pandemic. They are semi quasi-government and hide behind that when it comes to making mistakes or lawsuits from what I hear. I hope President Biden passes the student loan payment forgiveness soon and cancels student loans and puts all of them on the unemployment line!!!! #cancelAES Cancel student loans put AES out of business!

    Thanks for your vote!

    Reviewed Jan. 9, 2021

    So I get 2 emails about my credit being delinquent on Saturday morning. I pay my bills on time. My good credit destroyed over interest that I didn’t know was due. Less than 100.00. They reported on my credit report the full amount of the loan being delinquent. Interest was apparently due. No notification by mail or email. I thought student loan interest was 0% till end of year because of Covid. I can’t even create an account online my information they have isn’t correct. Can’t talk to anybody because it’s Saturday. My daughters account showing nothing due. She doesn’t even have the loan in her name and I can’t create on online account in my name. I plan on getting a loan through my bank if I can because my credit is now ruined on Monday and plan on never dealing with with company again. Shame on our PA government for allowing this company to operate.

    Thanks for your vote!
    Loading more reviews...

    American Education Services Company Information

    Company Name:
    American Education Services
    Address:
    1200 North 7th Street
    City:
    Harrisburg
    State/Province:
    PA
    Postal Code:
    17102
    Country:
    United States
    Website:
    www.aessuccess.org