| # | First Name | Last Name | Please provide a comment or personal story. |
|---|
| 1451 | Brent | Blair | Government taking advantage of our young. |
| 1452 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I am living in a country where I worked three jobs in college (one for 5 years w/o benefits). While ending up in 42,000 dollars in student loans (I also invested in a prof. certificate). Now attempting to further my education and go to law school, I have a hard decision to make. Either go further into debt by simply learning, or just go find a job (which is pretty difficult in this market). If only I were a shopping addict that could just file for chapter 7 and in 7-10 years my credit history would be okay! |
| 1453 | Narmin | Pirani | I have been paying my student loan forever. I feel as though I will never finish playing off my debt. I need some help to finish paying off my loans..grants, loan forgiveness..anything that I could be eligible for. I hope signing this petition will help my petition!!! |
| 1454 | JC | penn....y | I pay 150 a month on interest alone and do not have employment using my degree.....maybe I should have taken a trade, I would be much better off right now, it is much cheaper to take and wages are good and needs are high.....theprogram is not good for university students because it takes a long time to get a undergrad/grad degree...i am big time indebt and in a crapy situation, it is hard enough to get by with gas/heating costs butto top it off with interest payments for an education that is not presenting me wit opportunities stinks. not to mention the problems dealing with dealing with the incompatance that accompanies the student loan, lost paper work and invalid info, questions that don't get answered....i could go on and on....it sucks....once again hosed by the gov't...i guess I should go out west n come back home on max poogie as revenge...lol |
| 1455 | peter | san | I went to the offices of the FCA in Ottawa in an attempt to negoitate a repayment to in good faith. I was method by insults and abuse, to a a degree I have never in my life been subjected to. Soon after FCA brought a judgement against me, thus increasing the debt, and this was without anyone notifiying me about the pending legal action. |
| 1456 | richard | cooke | I am a recent father and undergraduate student. My family's future needs to be secure. If I have a difficult time managing a student loan then this can adversely effect my family. |
| 1457 | Amanda | Mastin | I haven’t even made my first payment yet, and I get a headache each and every time I speak to them on the phone. It is a hassle to get through recorded message after recorded message, and once I finally get through to a real person, he/she is incompetent! It is ridiculous and something needs to be done with the system. Oh and another thing – there is no way I am giving those idiots as much interest as they want to make off me – 9.5 YEARS??? I think not....I cannot wait for the day when my loan is paid in full and I can call the National centre and bid them good riddance! |
| 1458 | Anonymous | Anonymous | This reform is urgently needed. I currently have 4 loans with 3 different institutions, all of whom want several hundred dollars a month. I've had to resort to interest relief because I just can't pay even remotely that much to one, much less to them all. It would cost the government less to let me declare bankruptcy & default on them than it's costing them in interest relief payments.
Under point 6, the binding terms should have a provision for re-negotiation if the person loses their job or otherwise has something serious which would reduce their ability to pay. |
| 1459 | Dan | Garvey | I am recently married, my wife has graduated and is trying to pay off her student loans. I am still in school and I just found out my wife is supposed to contribute to my education, my osap has been severely reduced. Had I known this, maybe we could have put off marriage for a few more years. This is unfair. |
| 1460 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I'll be turning 40 soon and I still have $13000 hanging over me; which, by the way, is about 160% of the original loan. There should be no interest on student loans at all in my opinion. It's an immoral thing to do to a young person just starting out and taking the initiative to get an education.
Is it not enough to charge tuition?! Must they make debt slaves of everyone too? At the very least, a cap on student loan interest - like a 5% MAXIMUM of the original principal, needs to be adopted.
It's an unfair tax on less privileged students, plain and simple. |
| 1461 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I am working to save money to continue with my studies because I have just realised the debt that I have put mysef into, but collection agencies will not leave me alone because of the student loan i owe. It is just crazy for a student to concentrate on their studies with this hussles. The government needs to think about this!!! |
| 1462 | Hélène | McLaughlin | Hi,
Like many others here, I thought that having a postsecondary education was going to ensure me and my family a "better" life.
I was a teen mother at 17 and dropped out of school. I went back, got my highschool diploma and I also went to the university for 5 years and ended up with a bachelors degree and 43 000$ in dept.
Now I have to wait till I am 43 years old to finish paying my student loans. I didn't realize at that time that the interest on the student loans would be so high. On a payment of 440$ a month only 90$ goes on the capital. This is ridiculous.
Before my studies, I had a little house, I was working at minimum wage and I was a happy person.
After graduation, I was forced to sell my house because the house payments and the student loans where just to much.
Since the day I finished my studies, I have been taking contracts and part-time jobs here and there (on top of my regular job) to be able to pay all my bills. I can pay my bills alwright but now I don't have any time for me, my familly or friends, because I don't have time for anything else than working to pay and pay and pay bills.
Thinking back, I was happier working at minimum wage and having some time to spend with my familly and friends.
Yes, really higher education in canada is really only made for people who can afford to go without having to take on loans.
I really hope this petition will wake up someone somewhere who can do something about this mess. I really think that our governement really doesn't care about any of this. |
| 1463 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I graduated with 30 thousand worth of debt 10 years ago...i tried for several years to pay it off but ended up borrowing money on my credit cards since i was out of work to pay the loan... my life went out of control and i ended up declaring bankruptcy... they call even today, 6 years after my bankruptcy ... i was on welfare for almost a full year after my bankruptcy, getting food from a soup kitchen, and still interest was charged... now the debt is $70,000 and i will leave my home country soon to leave behind this 19th century policy of creating indentured servants out of poor people just trying to get ahead in life... canadians might sleep better at night thinking how "nice" they are but the policies of the student loan program make a joke of that... if it is my right to declare bankruptcy on debt then it is MY right... the banks dont run things... or do they? i guess that in order to "make it" in Canada you better already be rich... make sure that if you are poor that you remember your place in society... at the bottom.... |
| 1464 | Dave | Anderson | I entered university an idealistic young adult who believed higher eduction was an institution that served as a platform to better oneself.
In reality, university education in Canada is simply a big business that focuses on the bottom line. This is evident in by the fact that a sizable amount of professors are employed on a part-time or contract basis. It is additionally evident in way universities take in large amounts of graduate students so they can use them to teach first year courses and complete the majority of the marking tasks.
My story is no different than the others. Osap has ruined my credit history and has turned this once hopeful student into a cynic focused on the bottom line. I guess things come full circle. |
| 1465 | condia | hill | I can never get ahead of my student loans. I have been paying $300.00 per month for two years and my loan is the same due to interest. The student loan program is the least flexible program I have ever had to deal with. Every rep I have spoken to has said what a terrible, restrictive program - that they are forced to administer....why is the gov profitting from students. By the time I am finished paying my student loan - I will have paid them over 15, 000 in interest. - and that's only my federal loan. - glad I got that degree...... |
| 1466 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2001 with a BSc in Geography. NO JUNIOR JOBS AVAILABLE. Now my education is out of date and I'm stuck with a $40,000 Student Loan from 4 different places and at the rate I am going it will take another 12 years to pay it off. I can't go back to school as I can't afford it. |
| 1467 | Anonymous | Anonymous | My parents are divorced, one filed for bankruptcy last year, the other makes quite a bit of money buy has the lowest credit rating possible, is in deep debt and regularly supports three children. I myself work part-time and go to school full-time, but can only muster up around $100 a week with the hours my employer is giving me. OSAP is the only way I'll get enough money to pay for university and I have yet to know how much I will be getting. But the crippling debt will surely leave me as financially desolate as my parents are. |
| 1468 | Anonymous | Anonymous | When I started University I was under the understanding that I would owe $7000 per year that I complete because I was a single parent. However, by the time I graduated in 2003 that was changed and they offered a 'credit' instead that was over the $7000 per year. I am now in debt for $103000 I have two more children and a husband on Disability. I cannot afford to pay back almost $3000 per month on a $13 an hour job or the $11 an hour job I got after University. I cannot pay it back I am barely making our $1050 housing payment and everything else that comes with 'living' a mere existence. I will have a better job coming out of college than I did going to University. There is no way I will be able to afford the payments, I have 4 dependents. There are no options for betterment or assistance in helping our situation. Between the interest and the loan itself, I will never be able to get out from underneath this debt and my children will suffer because of it...so much for reducing child poverty |
| 1469 | Anonymous | Anonymous | School in Canada should be free. It is unfair that the government is taking interests on student loans... |
| 1470 | Brendan | Foubert | And eliminate the interest accumulation that occurs during summer months while still in school! theres no need for that! |
| 1471 | Matthew | Boddy | I think student loans in canada are a complete joke.
the nslsc is run by people who don't care or don't know what they're talking about.
criteria for any sort of assistance is completely out of reach of the average person. |
| 1472 | Stephanie | Pope | I can't believe the government is MAKING money off of me. I went to school to become a better citizen, I pay taxes and contribute back to our society unlike some people in our country who get knocked up with kids and live on the welfare system. Why am I being charged 8.75% interest when people can get loans from the bank lowere than that!!!! Do not borrow student loans, you will pay for it big time when you get out of school!!!!! |
| 1473 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I've recently had to repay (the 2nd time) a student loan that was paid off close to 20 yrs ago.
I have lived in the US for almost 10 yrs. I went to school at Holland college in PEI in 1990 and took out a student loan of $ 3,500 CAD that was paid off by 1995. 4 years later, I moved to the US and closed out all of my canadian accts. A couple of months ago, I received a summons by a US attorney acting on behalf of the REceiver gen for a $15,000 bill for that same student loan that was paid over 18 yrs ago. Needless to say I am outraged at the bookkeeping that exists for CSLs as I was not able to find any records going back that far - I was forced to pay that amount which will ultimately be closer to 30,000 as I had to put it on my credit card) or face a judgement on my credit - which can costs hundreds of thousands and keep you out of the running for any job opps...
please, please, do not let this happen to others - make them fix the record keeping system! |
| 1474 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I was experiencing financial hardship so I did a consumer proposal in 2000. Which got rid of the debts I could manage ($10,000) in credit cards) but did not get rid of the real problem ($45,000 in student loans). My situation has not improved, in fact with the inflation of Gas and food prices it is actually worse now, but my bankruptcy trustee is now telling me that I may not be eligable for a second consumer proposal or bankruptcy to discharge my debt even though I am past the minimum time after graduation, due to the fact I have already done a consumer proposal in the past (would I have been better off to not do the 1st one?). I have experienced a phone call from a collection agency who refused to give me information about their company and instead started speaking to me in a harrassing tone of voice telling me they were not going to give me that information. Collection agencies have been threatening to take action against me when I am unable to make payments, yet they do not do what they say they are going to do (are they lying?). The information I am getting from multiple collection agencies regarding a single OSAP loan are given contradicting information about the balance and interest rate. One has stated they are charging me 19% interest, which is outrageously high. I am in too deep, I don't know what to do, the interest is increasing the size of my loans faster than I am capable of making payments. |
| 1475 | Catherine | Lamarre |
| 1476 | Anonymous | Anonymous | My monthly interest payments are making it difficult for me to live. |
| 1477 | Jeff | Heikkinen |
| 1478 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I have had student loans twice in my life. Once for undergrad and once for grad school. It took me 6 years to pay off my undergrad student loans and another few years for grad school. If I had known up front how much higher the student loan interest rate was over other bank loans I would never have taken them!!! The government is obviously in this to make money off young students who still do not really know the ramifications of this type of debt load. It is disgusting that they are charging so much above prime!!! But what else is new? Politicians are pigs always looking for a trough... oink oink you bastards. |
| 1479 | Mike | Bowser | Over the course of 7 yrs schooling, I have surmounted 50,000 in debt to provincial, federal, risk shared and 2 emergency lines of credit. I make 6 minimum payments per month that amount to 700 dollars. When I am done, I will have paid back double than what I borrowed. I think this is wrong, but I have no choice. How else could I have paid for my education? Now I have a good career, but my bottom line is similar to when I was working minimum wage - I can not get ahead- heck I can hardly afford to live...I have to share an apartment with 3 others just to make ends meet. Canada wants to retain its educated professionals, but expect them to live like students well beyond school.
Im frustrated and dont know what to do. I feel like im in a hole i cant climb out of. |
| 1480 | lemuel | jerry | meeting my personal need in school |
| 1481 | Brian | Newman | Fixed PLUS loans are making it very tough to keep up. |
| 1482 | Eric | Roof | going to culinary school was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. in the end it equaled 70k in about a year to get a degree. unfortunatly during the last few months of my schooling i became heavily depressed and almost killed myself resulting in an inability to work or go to school for an extended period of time. every month i was required to turn in a letter from my doctor stating that i was unable to go to school OR work. on the last month of my leave of absence my doctor had a baby and i was in a period of finding more help but was unable to turn in my letter to my school. i was then kicked out of school a month before getting my degree. then was being asked to pay my bills of $700 a month as well as a bill for kicking me out (what the hell?) for $700. i asked why i wasnt being given a 6th month grace period at least, but was told because i wasnt in school for 6 months, that was my grace period. i have been looking for work for awhile now with no luck, i have bill collectors calling me all the time. my credit is shot and i find myself trapped with my parents with nothing i can do and no sympathy for my situation at all. apparently almost dieing means nothing to people who want their money. i was once a wide eyed optimist excited about the world i was going to set into. now i hate it. |
| 1483 | Andrew | Janssen |
| 1484 | Anonymous | Anonymous |
| 1485 | Michael | Vacirca | Hi,
We are trying to help students who find themselves in these tough spots.
Please come visit us at http://www.screwcollegeloans.com
Share your story, and be eligible to receive a portion of the donations we collect. |
| 1486 | Magdalena | Whitlock |
| 1487 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I sent in an application for interest relief but they forgot to process it and called in my loan. When I called in to ask about it, they admitted a mistake but did not fix it. On top of that, they gave to credit agency my wrong address so I did not receive any of the letters regarding repayment until it was too late. |
| 1488 | Kelly | Carew | Change is needed....Student Loans are not and never were a good idea. |
| 1489 | Doug | Smith |
| 1490 | Krista | Walsh |
| 1491 | Wanda | Bulger | yessir! |
| 1492 | Anonymous | Anonymous |
| 1493 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I believed that obtaining an education would offer me a future without poverty. I had two children with a deadbeat dad and only a high school education. I was young and wanted my future to be better. I believed University would allow me to do that. Student Loans offered us the hope of making our lives better. My loans were granted based on my poverty.
I continued receiving loans, and eventually decided that I should get into the workforce as soon as possible to reduce the amount of debt that was going to face me. I began working at below the poverty level for my family size and region. I had education, but no experience, and there simply were no jobs that paid much more.
A few years later, when I married a man (who has since become my ex-husband) I began to pay back my loans first at a rate of about $400 per month. I couldn’t actually afford this amount, but tried and eventually had to revise my terms. The amount went down to about $375 month, and was still not manageable. My loan went to collections. I was forced to get loans from family and friends (at the collection agents insistence) to pay off the interest outstanding, and to reduce my payments to a total of $345 month. This was a factor in my divorce, and has since caused financial distress and default because I am back to being unable to pay – unless of course I do not provide food or shelter for my sons.
I applied for Debt Relief in Repayment, and received ~ $3,000 of a principal of $31,000. I explained that I am only able to pay a very small amount but this did not change the amount of my loan in any substantial way. I still cannot pay.
I am currently facing loans that grow larger every day. I have no way of realistically repaying them. I never will.
I was granted these loans based on my inability to pay, and now that I am again unable to pay I have been forced to become what is equivalent to being an indentured servant. I need help, but it is apparent that there is none. Thanks. |
| 1494 | Rodney | Boyd |
| 1495 | Susan | Devison |
| 1496 | Anonymous | Anonymous | Even with a good career, I am finding it hard to make ends meet while paying back my loans. |
| 1497 | gemma | doncaster | husband has a student loan- enough said |
| 1498 | chris | shea | have a student loan- enough said |
| 1499 | Gordon | Brown |
| 1500 | J | Jaros | I agree and concur with the above statement. Changes must be made to a system that believes it is unaccountable to the welfare, humanity and state of our future in Canada |
