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Between the letters, phone calls, and emails borrowers get from companies claiming to want to help with student loan debt, it can be confusing to figure out which companies and claims are legitimate.
So what's the scoop on MOHELA? It's a legit loan servicer, and, if you've heard of them, they may be responsible for your federal loans. Here's what you need to know.
What is MOHELA?
MOHELA, or the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, is one of the nine federal student loan servicers. That means they are in charge of handling repayment and communication on federal student loans on behalf of the U.S. Dept. of Education.
The company manages roughly 1.5 million accounts and handles $31.8 billion in student loan debt. As such, they receive and track payments, work with borrowers to adjust their repayment schedules, and assist in forbearance and determent requests.
With more than 30 years in business, MOHELA has lots of experience servicing student loan accounts.
How to verify MOHELA is your provider
There are a lot of scams out there — so beware of companies that offer to help reduce your monthly payment or promise to consolidate or pay down your your federal loans for a fee. The fact is, you should never have to pay for help with your student loans, because your loan servicer can provide the same assistance for free.
If you need to confirm that MOHELA is your provider, here's how to check.
Since your federal loans are assigned by the U.S. Department of Education, you can find your servicer by going to the agency's student aid database, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). To access the database, you'll need your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which you should have received when you applied for the FAFSA. If you can't find your ID, there are password prompts on the NSLDS site.
In addition to your provider, you can find out other information about your loans, like the type of loans you have and what you owe.
How to contact MOHELA
If MOHELA is your loan servicer, you can contact the company directly through their official channels, outlined here.
It's a good idea to contact your provider if you need to change your address, email or phone number, if you need help with repayment, or if you have a question about your monthly bill or what you owe.
Don't forget to create an account with MOHELA so that it's easier to access your student loan information and make automatic payments.
See also: MOHELA Student Loans: The Ultimate Guide
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SoFi is the leading student loan refinancing provider.
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- Fixed rates: 2.49% - 7.75% APR
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- Minimum credit: 660
Connecting student borrowers to a network of over 300 community lenders with low interest rates. By partnering with these lenders, LendKey is able to give consumers direct access to the best rates available from the most borrower friendly institutions. As the servicer of all loans obtained through its platform, you can rest easy knowing your personal information will be safe and that the best customer service team will be ready to answer your questions from application until your final payment.
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I reduced my student loan payment by $152 per month, by refinancing thru Nitro
