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Zoey Bianchi

FAFSA signature errors keep repeating even after signing multiple times - can't reach anyone

Hi fellow FAFSA warriors! We submitted our application back in February and now the StudentAid.gov portal is showing signature errors out of nowhere. Every time we electronically sign again, the system acknowledges it momentarily, then a day later it's back to saying we need to sign AGAIN. This has happened THREE times now! It's driving me insane because we can't get our SAI score without these signatures being accepted. The worst part? When I try calling FSA, the automated system just says "due to high call volume, we cannot take your call at this time" and HANGS UP. Not even an option to wait. Has anyone successfully navigated this signature loop nightmare? I'm worried this will delay my daughter's financial aid package since colleges need her SAI score soon.

same thing happened to me!! been trying to sign for like 2 weeks and it keeps asking for signatures again. sooo frustrating

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Are you getting any specific error code? Ours just says "signature required" but doesn't explain WHY it's not accepting the signatures we already submitted.

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This is happening to a lot of people right now. The signature system has a glitch where it doesn't always register multiple FSA IDs correctly. Try these steps that worked for me: 1. Clear your browser cache completely 2. Use a different browser than you normally use 3. Make sure all contributors are using their OWN devices (not sharing a computer) 4. Log in separately and do the signatures one at a time with 30+ minutes between each person The system sometimes doesn't register signatures properly when they're done too close together or from the same IP address because of security protocols.

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Thank you SO much for these detailed steps! We were definitely all using the same laptop to sign. I'll try having my daughter sign from her phone and me from my computer with plenty of time in between. I really appreciate your help!

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Honestly, the FAFSA system is GARBAGE this year!! I've been dealing with technical problems for months. First they lost my W-2 information, then they said my parents need to reverify their contribution even though they already did, and now I'm stuck in verification hell. WHY did they have to change the whole system right when I needed to apply? The old FAFSA wasn't perfect but at least it WORKED!

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They changed it because Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was supposed to make things easier. Obviously the implementation has been a disaster though. They weren't prepared for the technical challenges of the new system.

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I actually got thru to someone about this!!! Try signing in incognito mode from your browser that fixed it for me

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Oh that's a great tip, I'll definitely try incognito mode! Did you have to do anything special to get through to a person on the phone?

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I had the same issue with signatures disappearing. After trying for weeks to call and getting nowhere, I used Claimyr to reach FSA and finally got through to a real person who fixed it in 5 minutes. They bypass the hold system somehow. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Turns out there was a flag on our account because my son's name in the system didn't exactly match his SSN record. The agent cleared it right away and our signatures finally stuck.

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does this actually work?? i've been trying to call for so long i'm desperate

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Yes, it worked for me last week! I was skeptical but I was at my wit's end after trying to call for 3 weeks straight. Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of constant busy signals.

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The signature issue is often related to a mismatch between the information in your FAFSA and your FSA ID. Common problems include: - Name spelling differences (even minor ones) - SSN typos - Date of birth inconsistencies - Email verification issues If the browser solutions mentioned don't work, you may need to verify all contributor information matches exactly between their FSA ID account and what's entered on the FAFSA form. The system is extremely picky about exact matches this year with the new SAI calculation system.

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This is helpful information. I'm going to double-check all our information tonight. My husband might have used his nickname on one form and legal name on another - could that be causing the problem?

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Absolutely! That's one of the most common issues. The system needs exact matches between the FSA ID account details and FAFSA form entries. Have your husband log into his FSA ID account and check what name is listed there, then make sure it's identical on the FAFSA form. Even a difference between "Robert" and "Bob" will cause the signature to be rejected.

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Just wanted to update that I finally fixed the signature issue on mine! For anyone still struggling, here's what worked: 1. I had my dad create a brand new FSA ID (his old one seemed corrupted) 2. We waited 48 hours for it to process with Social Security Administration 3. Then I went in, removed him as a contributor, and added him back with the new FSA ID 4. We both signed from different devices It finally processed our application correctly and we got our SAI score yesterday. Hope this helps someone!

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Thank you for sharing this solution! It's so helpful to hear what actually worked for someone. If our current attempts fail, we'll try this approach with new FSA IDs.

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my sister had same problem but college financial aid office helped her fix it maybe call your school??

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That's a really good suggestion, I didn't even think to contact the financial aid office! I'll give them a call tomorrow.

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UPDATE: We finally fixed it! Turns out we had two issues: 1. My husband was using his nickname on the FSA ID but his legal name on the FAFSA form 2. We were all signing from the same computer We updated his FSA ID to match his legal name exactly, waited 24 hours, then signed from separate devices (me on computer, him on tablet, daughter on phone) with about an hour between each signature. Checked this morning and our application is FINALLY processing! Thanks everyone for your help!

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That's great news! Thanks for updating us. This will help other families who run into the same problem. The name matching issue is so common but rarely explained in the error messages.

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congrats!! gonna try this right now, fingers crossed it works for me too

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