My Offset exp so far with dept of ed -a lot to read

[NikkiL]

I’ve had the offset line show my offset for department of education since December. I went about my life after noticing it in December, had major surgery in January so it was the last thing on my mind. Sometime in early Feb I began loan consolidation with Great Lakes and got email to fill out their income based repayment but didn’t complete it yet. About a week before path was to be lifted I got a hold of my credit report and contacted the collections agency and setup an income based repayment plan bc I thought that’s who I should go through bc my Great Lakes email said some loans couldn’t be consolidated. I made two payments of $5 to the collection company but was told could only pay two up front and after that can only pay once a month. I asked them if they could lift the offset they said they would inform dept of ed of the payment plan and payments made but couldn’t guarantee offset would be lifted. The week after path lift around mid week I contacted the offset line and spoke to an agent after being on hold 1 hr 45 mins and ask if my offset would be lifted and explained my situation about my surgery and not working and was advised to call dept of ed. So I called dept of ed and after being on hold for 1 hr and a half was told they did see the offset was pending to be removed to contact Great Lakes. So I assume since I setup that income based payment plan with collections I was ok but apparently not. I called Great Lakes only held a couple mins before getting a live agent and explained I setup income based repayment plan with collections and already made two payments but was told I needed to complete my consolidation with Great Lakes and was confused. She told me to complete my income based repayment application with Great Lakes but continue making payments to collections. I completed it and sent it in with my 2018 tax return and document from my doctor on my surgery and how I’m out of work on doctors orders at the moment. A few days later I received an email stating my loans would be consolidated within 10 days but later that after my offset was no longer showing on the offset line. I am on being processed and have been the day after Path was over. Just my experience in case anyone else is going through it. Hopefully this means I’ll get my refund.