MOHELA showing I owe $ during retroactive forbearance/IDR plan. Help!

Ugh, MOHELA is the worst! I've been dealing with similar issues for months. Have you tried calling them? It took me forever to get through, but I finally got some answers.

I found a way to get someone on the phone without waiting forever. I used this site called claimyr.com - it's a calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then sends the call to your phone when a live agent picks up. It costs $20, but it saved me hours of frustration. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/kfgsWnbb8cU

Here's what you need to do: 1. Document everything. Keep a record of all your calls, emails, and account statuses. 2. Submit a formal request for retroactive forbearance in writing. 3. If you're on an IDR plan, make sure you've recertified your income recently. 4. Check if you qualify for PSLF - that could change your options. 5. If MOHELA isn't helping, file a complaint with the FSA Ombudsman. 6. Consider reaching out to your congressperson's office - they can sometimes intervene. Don't give up! The system is confusing, but you have rights as a borrower.

lol welcome to the wonderful world of student loans 🤡 where nothing makes sense and the rules change every 5 minutes

Have you checked your account online? Sometimes the website shows more up-to-date info than what you get over the phone.

I had a similar issue last year. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that wasn't applying my forbearance correctly. Took weeks of calling to get it fixed, but they eventually sorted it out and even gave me a credit for the payments I shouldn't have had to make.

This might sound crazy, but have you tried reaching out to MOHELA on Twitter? I got a response way faster that way than through phone or email.

OP, what type of IDR plan are you on? Some plans have different rules about forbearance.

Anyone else feel like we need a support group for dealing with MOHELA? 😅 This stuff is seriously stressful!