MOHELA website can't find SSN but sending missed payment notices - How to fix?
I'm having trouble paying my student loan online. The website keeps saying it can't find me when I enter my social security number, but I'm still getting notifications about missed payments. Has anyone else experienced this? It's so frustrating because I'm trying to stay on top of my payments, but the system won't let me. Any advice on how to fix this or who to contact?
39 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve student loan payment website issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ld1-sHYIH8
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Zara Ahmed
One approach you might not have considered is utilizing an intermediary service like Claimyr, which can help connect you to a real human representative quicker than usual, though it's worth noting that this comes with a cost. It's a practical solution if you're struggling to make headway with traditional methods. However, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of paying for such a service against the potential benefits. If the cost deters you, persistently contacting your loan servicer directly is still a feasible path. Document any errors or communication attempts, as maintaining a detailed record can be instrumental if you need to escalate the issue further. Additionally, checking your credit report for any discrepancies can provide insight into whether the issue is isolated or indicative of a larger problem like identity theft. Ultimately, persistence is key, and standing firm in seeking resolution will protect your financial health in the long run.
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StarSeeker
Ive been dealing with a similar isue for months. its like talking to a brick wall. hang in there OP, your not alone in this mess
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Sean O'Donnell
•Solidarity! Stay persistent, we all deserve better service.
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NebulaNomad
have you tried turning it off and on again? 🤣
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Keisha Williams
•lol if only it were that simple 😅
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Freya Thomsen
•Instructions unclear, accidentally paid off entire student loan 😂
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Omar Fawaz
This is why we need student loan forgiveness. The whole system is broken af
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Chloe Martin
•Preach! 🙌
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Diego Rojas
•Yeah, cuz more gov't involvement will TOTALLY fix this 🙄
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Paolo Ricci
Ugh, I've been there. The student loan system is a nightmare. Have you tried calling their customer service? Be prepared to wait on hold for hours tho 🙄
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Anastasia Sokolov
Maybe try logging in from a different browser or clearing your cache? Sometimes these websites are just garbage and need a refresh.
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StarSeeker
•Good tip! Tech glitches are often the culprit. Hopefully, this works for OP.
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Amina Toure
This happened to me last year! Turns out there was a typo in my SSN in their system. Took forever to get it fixed, but keep pushing. Don't let them mess up your credit score over their mistake!
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Keisha Williams
•How did you eventually get it fixed? Did you have to go into an office or something?
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Amina Toure
•Nah, I had to call them like 5 times before I got someone who knew what they were doing. Just keep trying and ask to speak to a supervisor if the first person can't help.
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Natasha Volkova
Classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing 🤦♂️ These big loan servicers are a joke. Good luck, OP!
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Javier Torres
•It's so true. The bigger the company, the more disorganized they seem to be. Hope you get this sorted out soon!
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Oliver Zimmermann
Have you checked your credit report? Sometimes these issues can be a sign of identity theft. Might be worth looking into just to be safe.
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CosmicCommander
•Good point! It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your personal information.
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Emma Davis
I found a method to get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/kfgsWnbb8cU
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Malik Johnson
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Isabella Ferreira
•$20 just to talk to someone? That's highway robbery!
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Emma Davis
•I get the skepticism, but it honestly saved me hours of frustration. Worth every penny imho.
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Ravi Sharma
•How long did it take for them to get someone on the line?
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CosmicCommander
Here's what you need to do: 1. Document everything. Keep a record of all your attempts to pay, screenshots of errors, and copies of the missed payment notifications. 2. Call customer service (use that Claimyr thing if you don't want to wait on hold forever). 3. When you get someone, explain the situation calmly and ask them to verify your SSN in their system. 4. If they can't help, ask to speak to a supervisor or the technical support team. 5. Request that they put a hold on any late fees or negative credit reporting while they investigate the issue. 6. Get everything in writing. Ask for a confirmation number for your call and follow up with an email summarizing what was discussed. 7. If all else fails, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They can often light a fire under these companies. Don't give up! You're doing the right thing by trying to stay on top of your payments. Good luck!
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Keisha Williams
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps. Really appreciate you taking the time to write all this out.
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Javier Torres
•This is gold 💯 Saving this for future reference!
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Statiia Aarssizan
I had this exact same issue with MOHELA a few months ago! The website kept rejecting my SSN even though I was triple-checking it. Turns out there was a data mismatch between their payment portal and their main database. What finally worked for me was calling early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) when the wait times were shorter. The rep was able to manually verify my info and reset something on their end. Also, make sure you're using the exact SSN format they expect - some systems are picky about dashes vs no dashes. In the meantime, keep those payment attempt screenshots as proof you're trying to pay on time. This isn't your fault - their system has issues!
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Andre Dupont
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! This is actually more common than you'd think with MOHELA. A few things to try: First, double-check that you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your original loan documents - sometimes there are formatting differences. Second, try accessing the site from an incognito/private browser window, as cached data can sometimes cause issues. If that doesn't work, definitely call their customer service line. I know the wait times are brutal, but persist! When you do get through, ask them to verify your SSN is correctly entered in their system and request they put a note on your account about the technical issues while they investigate. Most importantly, keep documenting everything - screenshots of the error messages, dates/times you tried to pay, etc. This will protect you if they try to ding your credit over their own system problems. Hang in there!
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Nolan Carter
•This is really helpful advice! I especially appreciate the tip about trying incognito mode - I never would have thought of that. The documentation part is so important too. I'm going to start keeping a detailed log of everything just in case this becomes a bigger issue down the road.
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Zoe Papadakis
I've been through this exact nightmare with MOHELA! What worked for me was calling them and asking them to do a "manual account verification" - turns out their online system sometimes can't match SSNs that have been entered with different formatting over the years (like with/without dashes). The rep had to merge some duplicate records in their system. Also, while you're waiting to get this sorted, send them a written notice (email or mail) explaining that you're unable to make payments due to their system error - this creates a paper trail showing you're acting in good faith. Don't let them hit you with late fees for their technical problems! Keep fighting, and definitely escalate to a supervisor if the first person can't help.
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Logan Chiang
•Thank you for sharing your experience! The "manual account verification" tip is really valuable - I hadn't heard of that specific process before. It makes total sense that formatting differences could cause these issues over time. I'm definitely going to mention this when I call them. The written notice idea is brilliant too - creating that paper trail to show good faith effort is so important for protecting yourself from late fees and credit impacts. Really appreciate you taking the time to share what actually worked!
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Reina Salazar
I've dealt with similar SSN recognition issues with loan servicers before. One thing that helped me was checking if there are any special characters or spaces being automatically added when you type in the field - sometimes the website's form validation is buggy. Try typing your SSN in a text editor first, then copy/paste it into the field to avoid any formatting issues. Also, if you have any old loan documents or correspondence, double-check that the SSN on file matches exactly what you're entering. Sometimes there can be transcription errors from when the loan was originally processed. In the meantime, definitely keep trying to contact them by phone and document every attempt. You might also want to check if they have a secure message portal where you can explain the issue in writing - that way you have a record of reporting the problem. Stay persistent, these technical glitches are frustrating but usually fixable once you get the right person to look at it!
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Olivia Evans
•Great point about the copy/paste method! I've run into similar form validation issues on other websites where invisible characters or auto-formatting was causing problems. It's also smart to cross-reference with old documents - I never thought about transcription errors from the original processing, but that totally makes sense. The secure message portal suggestion is really good too since it creates that digital paper trail. Thanks for sharing these practical troubleshooting steps!
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Sofia Gomez
I went through this exact same frustrating situation last year! The key is to be super persistent and document everything. Here's what finally worked for me: Call them first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) when wait times are shorter, and when you get through, ask specifically for the "account reconciliation department" - they're the ones who can actually fix SSN mismatches in their system. Also, while you're dealing with this, send them a certified letter explaining that you're unable to pay due to their technical error and requesting they place a hold on any late fees or credit reporting. This protects you legally and shows you're acting in good faith. Keep screenshots of every error message with timestamps - this documentation saved me from wrongful late fees. Don't give up! Their system has known issues but it IS fixable once you get the right person to look at your account.
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Isaac Wright
•This is incredibly helpful! I had no idea there was a specific "account reconciliation department" - that's exactly the kind of insider knowledge that can save hours of being transferred around. The certified letter tip is brilliant too for creating that legal protection. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8 AM tomorrow and ask for that specific department. Thank you so much for sharing what actually worked - it gives me hope that this nightmare will eventually get resolved!
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Nia Johnson
This is such a common problem with MOHELA - you're definitely not alone! I had a similar issue where their system couldn't find my account even though I was getting bills. What finally worked for me was calling and asking them to check if there are multiple accounts under slight variations of my name or SSN. Sometimes when loans get transferred between servicers, duplicate or partial records get created. Also, try logging in using any old account numbers from previous statements if you have them - sometimes that bypasses the SSN lookup entirely. In the meantime, make sure to send them written notice (email is fine) that you're trying to pay but can't access your account due to their technical error. This protects you from late fees and credit damage while they sort it out. Keep all your documentation and don't let them make this your problem when it's clearly their system glitch!
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Zainab Mahmoud
•This is such valuable advice! I never would have thought about checking for duplicate accounts or using old account numbers to bypass the SSN lookup - that's genius! The point about loans getting messy during servicer transfers makes so much sense too. I'm definitely going to dig up my old statements and try that account number login method. And you're absolutely right about the written notice being crucial for protection. It's so reassuring to hear from others who've been through this exact situation and found solutions. Thank you for sharing these practical tips!
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