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Student Loan Problems Mirror Those of Mortgages
Charlene Crowell
NNPA Columnist
A
n adage counsels,
“The more things
change, the more
they stay the same.” When it
comes to consumer debt,
that advice is also a truism.
After years of mortgage
borrowers
complaining
about servicing – or the lack
thereof – it appears that
problems student loan bor-
rowers face are remarkably
similar.
With student loan debt
topping the trillion-dollar
mark, another looming
credit crisis could emerge
just as the housing market is
showing signs of recovery.
According to the Survey of
Consumer Finance, today
one in four American house-
holds are headed by some-
one under the age of 35 with
student loan debt. Private
student loans account for
more than $150 billion of
outstanding debt. Moreover,
more than 850,000 of these
loans are in default and even
more are delinquent.
Like the many troubled
homeowners who did not
understand the terms of
their mortgages, student
loan borrowers are now
having the same difficulty.
Servicers, often hired by
lenders, often do not share
or know the terms of repay-
ment, available options for
refinance, or even the total
amount owed.
Recently, the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau
released a report on the
nearly 2,900 private student
loan complaints it received
since March of this year.
Approximately 65 percent
of complaints allege prob-
lems with servicers regard-
ing fees, billing, fraud and
credit reporting. Another 30
percent of borrowers filing
complaints with CFPB were
concerned with limited
repayment options, debt
collection practices and
problems related to loans in
default.
“Student loan borrower
stories of detours and dead-
ends with their servicers
bear an uncanny resem-
blance to problematic prac-
customer service to borrow-
ers. In the face of financial
hardship, unemployment or
underemployment, these
student loan borrowers
often discover few or no
options that can be adapted
for their circumstances. In
some cases, servicers
encouraged borrowers to
pay
whatever
they
could, but failed to inform
them their loan status would
still be on a path towards
default.
With fewer options for
refinance or forbearance,
some private student loan
borrowers are also claiming
they were never advised of
LEAD TRAILER MECHANIC
RITE AID is seeking a Full-Time Lead Trailer Mechanic to work in
our full service trailer shop. Qualified individuals must be customer
service driven, team oriented with the flexibility to work weekends
and some unscheduled overtime. This position has supervisory
responsibly in the absence of the Department Manager and/or the
Assistant Department Manager.
• Must have 3-5 years previous experience in trailer and lift gate repair.
• Must have Brake Certification
• This person will also be a Certified Inspector as outlined in Title 49, Part 396.19.
• Must be trained in OSHA Tire Maintenance Procedures
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be able to manage inventories and parts ordering
• Must be able to organize and prioritize a variety of tasks/projects
• Must have a proven ability to train and develop Associates
• Applicant must be able to pass a thorough background check including DMV
record, and pass a pre-employment drug screen.
Interested applicants should send their resume with a cover letter to:
rrochat@riteaid.com
or Apply on line at www.riteaid.com/careers
RITE AID is an Equal Opportunity Employer
CALL FOR BIDS
CITY OF CAMAS COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
CITY PROJECT NO. P-874A
LOUIS BLOCH PARK RESTROOM CDBG
PROJECT RE-BID
Sealed bids will be received by the City of Camas,
Office of the Finance Department, 616 NE 4th Avenue,
Camas, Washington, until 2:00 P.M., on Tuesday,
November 13, 2012, and will then and there be pub-
licly read for the construction of the improvement.
All bid proposals shall be accompanied by a bid pro-
posal deposit in cash, certified check, cashier’s check,
or surety bond in an amount equal to five percent (5%)
of the amount of such bid proposal. Should the suc-
cessful bidder fail to enter into such contract and fur-
nish satisfactory performance bond within the time
stated in the Washington State Department of Trans-
portation (WSDOT) 2012 Standard Specifications for
Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction (standard
specifications), the bid proposal deposit shall be for-
feited to the City of Camas.
Plans and specifications may be picked up at the
Camas Municipal Center, Community Development
Department, located at 616 NE 4th Avenue, Camas,
Washington 98607. Plans and Specifications will be
available for pickup after 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday,
October 23, 2012. Plans and specifications may be
purchased for $35.00 plus 8.4% Sales Tax.
The improvement for which bids will be received fol-
lows:
Bid opening on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 2:00
P.M. at the Camas Municipal Building located at 616
NE 4th Avenue, Camas, Washington 98607. Sealed
bids will be received by the City of Camas Office of the
Finance Department, 616 NE 4th Avenue, Camas,
Washington 98607, until 2:00 P.M.
Statement of Work:
tices uncovered in the mort-
gage servicing business,”
said Rohit Chopra, CFPB’s
Student Loan Ombudsman.
The vast majority of the
student loan complaints
received by CFPB were
about private loans.
Unfortunately,
private
loans typically do not have
the consumer protections
built into federal student
loans, such as lower interest
and fixed rates, income-
based repayment plans, mil-
itary
deferments
or
discharges upon death.
Instead, the typical private
student loan servicer actual-
ly works for the lender and
may not have an incentive
to provide a high level of
10-24-12
the difference between a
federal and private loan
either at the time the loan
was first originated or later
during repayment. If the
original loan was sold or if
the servicer changed, many
servicers were unable to
answer basic questions as to
who actually owns the
unpaid loan. Depending
upon loan terms, it may not
be possible to negotiate
alternative repayment.
SUB-BIDS REQUESTED
Kelly Butte Bid Package 3
Yard & Vault Piping Project
Kelly Butte Bid Package 4
Earthwork & Utilities Project
CM/GC: Hoffman Construction Co
Quotes needed for:
Trucking, Pipeline Welding,
Excavation, and Traffic Control
Bid Dates:
Pkg 3 Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:00pm
Pkg 4 Thur Nov 1, 2012 2:00pm
MOORE EXCAVATION, INC.
Bid Phone: (503) 252-1180 FAX
(503) 252-1730
P.O. BOX 30569,
Portland, OR 97294-3569
CCB #28397
** Confidentiality Agreement must be
signed to view bidding documents**
Plans and related documents are available at ARC
(Previously
Ford
Graphic)
http://www.e-
arc.com/locations/overview/arc-oregon at local plan
centers, or for viewing at our office. Please call first.
503-252-1180. Shannon.smith@themeigroup.com
We are an equal opportunity employer and request
sub-bids from small, minority, and women owned
business enterprises and ESB’s.
10-24-12
This Contract is a RE-BID of P-874 Louis Bloch
Park Restroom CDBG with a smaller restroom. This
Contract provides for a restroom facility in the Louis
Bloch Park of Camas, Washington. The work shall
consist of saw cut and removal of existing cement con-
crete curb, sidewalk, asphalt pavement, and construc-
tion of a public restroom facility including water, sewer,
and electrical services, new cement concrete curb and
sidewalk, an ADA compliant curb ramp, and other
items according to the Plans and these Specifications.
City of Camas. Please go to the Engineering page of
the City of Camas web site at www.ci.camas.wa.us for
additional information and to view Ordinance No. 2626.
For questions please contact City of Camas, Steve
Durspek (360) 817-7238
E-Verify, is an Internet based system operated by the
Department of Homeland Security in partnership with
the Social Security Administration at no charge. E-Ver-
ify has been determined to be a suitable means for
determining employment eligibility of new hires and the
validity of their Social Security numbers. Please visit
the Department of Homeland Security’s web site at
http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm and select E-Verify to
learn more or to enroll in this program.
Federal Funding:
American Made:
This project is financed through the Community Devel-
opment Block Grant Program with funds obtained from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment. The Contract is subject to regulations of the
Departments of Labor, and Housing and Urban Devel-
opment.
In an effort to maximize the creation of American jobs
and restoring economic growth, the City of Camas
encourages the use of products and services that are
made in the United States of America whenever and
wherever possible.
Attention is called to Federal provisions for equal
employment opportunity, HUD Section 3 Require-
ments, and the minimum Davis-Bacon wages as set
forth in the Contract Documents.
E-Verify Requirements:
Per City of Camas Ordinance No. 2626, as a condition
for the award or renewal of any contract after January
1, 2012, the Contractor shall enroll in the E-Verify pro-
gram through the United States Department of Home-
land Security and thereafter shall provide the City with
a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (issued
by Homeland Security), submitted with their bid pro-
posal, affirming their erollment and participation in the
program. The Contractor shall be required to continue
their participation in the program throughout the
course of their contract with the City. Prime contractors
shall require and verify that each of their subcontrac-
tors and lower tiered subcontractors are also enrolled
and participants in the E-Verify program. This is
intended to be used exclusively for employees hired
after award and for the duration of the contract with the
Disadvantaged Businesses:
The City of Camas encourages the solicitation and
recruitment, to the extent possible, of certified minori-
ty-owned (MBE), women-owned (WBE), and emerging
small (ESB) businesses, in the construction of this
project.
Civil Rights Act:
The City of Camas is an Equal Employment Opportu-
nity employer. As provided by Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Restoration Act
of 1987, the contractor, with regard to the work per-
formed by it during the contract, shall not discriminate
on the grounds of race, color, sex or national origin in
the selection and retention of sub-contractors, includ-
ing procurement of materials and leases of equipment.
The City of Camas reserves the right to reject any or
all proposals if found to be higher than the estimated
cost and to waive any formality or technicality in any
proposal in the interest of the City.
10-24-12
October 24, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 7