Student Loans and Happy Surprises

[euterpe909]

I, like anyone else who went to a private liberal arts college, have astronomical student loans to repay. My 6 month grace period is about to end, so I called the friendly people at EdFinancial to see if we could work out a deal involving consolidation or deferrment as I am in school full time. Imagine my surprise when the man on the phone said my loans had been deferred until 2010. Shocked, I thanked the man, and hung up. But I had a weird nagging feeling. No way could that be right. While I am currently in school, I'm not receiving financial aid at all. So how could they know I was in school? He must have mistaken me for someone else. Paranoid, I called back a few minutes later, and was connected to a second man. I explained that the previous man must have made a mistake, because no way could I be that lucky. He confirmed what the first man had said: No payments until I finish my degree, or 2010, whichever comes first. I could probably get 4 more degrees by 2010. I was transferred to a woman, who explained it all to me. Apparently, most schools, including Nashville Tech, will enter your name into a national database, which EdFinancial checks once a month for students who have re-enrolled in school. Those with matching names automatically have their payments deferred. It's like winning the lottery, except I didn't win, I don't get money, I just don't have to give them any. Still, I wish I had it in writing, because student loan payments are not payments you want to skip. I might call them again. Just to be sure. You never know. It could have been Opposite Day at EdFinancial today.

In a totally unrelated subject, I have a new cell phone. One I intend to use. Let me know if you want the number.