Constant calls from Great Lakes Educational Loan Services can turn student loan management into a daily stressor. Great Lakes transferred its accounts to Nelnet in 2018, and some borrowers still hear the Great Lakes name. Federal law, including protections against common FDCPA violations, limits what either company can do when collecting.
Key Takeaways
- Great Lakes Educational Loan Services was a Wisconsin-based servicer acquired by Nelnet in 2018 and fully absorbed by July 2023.
- Great Lakes paid $1.275 million in 2020 to settle Sass v. Great Lakes over incorrect credit reporting during COVID-19 forbearance.
- The FDCPA and TCPA both apply to how a servicer contacts you about a federal student loan.
- Unauthorized automated calls can carry $500 to $1,500 in TCPA damages, plus FDCPA damages up to $1,000.
- Federal loan wage garnishment can proceed without a lawsuit, but only after required notices and a hearing opportunity.
- The Wood Firm PLLC reviews these cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Great Lakes Educational Loan Services
Great Lakes Educational Loan Services was a Wisconsin-based student loan servicer that once handled up to 40% of outstanding federal student loans. At its peak, the company managed accounts for millions of borrowers across the country. Nelnet acquired the company in 2018, and by July 2023 Nelnet serviced all remaining Great Lakes accounts. Your loan was transferred rather than sold to a private debt buyer, but Nelnet now handles collection. The company no longer operates independently, and its Department of Education contract was not renewed in 2020.
- Status: Acquired by Nelnet in 2018, fully transitioned by July 2023
- Current Servicer Phone: 888-486-4722 | (888) 486-4722 | +1 888-486-4722 | 8884864722
- Address: P.O. Box 82561, Lincoln, NE 68501-2561
- BBB Rating: A+, despite a documented federal class action settlement
In our practice, we pull a borrower’s complete Great Lakes and Nelnet account history before responding to any collection call. Gaps between what a representative claims and what the file shows often reveal a violation.
Great Lakes Educational Loan Services Phone Numbers
Nelnet now handles all calls and correspondence for former Great Lakes accounts. Borrowers should route payments and disputes through the current servicer number.
- Main Line: 888-486-4722
- Formatted: (888) 486-4722 / +1 888-486-4722
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 82561, Lincoln, NE 68501-2561
Why Is Great Lakes Educational Loan Services Calling You
Great Lakes Educational Loan Services is calling you because your federal student loan account shows a missed or late payment. The FDCPA and TCPA still limit how the servicer, or Nelnet as its successor, can contact you. A call about a real debt does not excuse illegal collection tactics. Many borrowers first learn their loan changed hands only after the calls begin. Confirming who currently services your loan is the first step before discussing any payment.
Signs of Illegal Collection Tactics
- Excessive calling: Borrowers have reported six to twelve calls a day, which may violate FDCPA call frequency limits.
- Calls outside 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Contact outside that window in your time zone is a federal violation.
- Automated calls without consent: Dialing your cell phone without prior express consent violates the TCPA.
- Misrepresenting repayment options: Steering you toward forbearance instead of a program you qualify for can violate the FDCPA.
- Workplace calls after you said no: Continued contact at work after a request to stop is prohibited.
- Incorrect credit reporting: Reporting a payment as missed when it was made violates the FCRA.
Is Great Lakes Educational Loan Services a Scam
No. Great Lakes Educational Loan Services was a real, federally contracted student loan servicer, not a scam. An A+ BBB rating does not mean every practice was compliant. That rating reflects complaint resolution, not a review of underlying conduct.
Great Lakes faced a $1.275 million class action settlement in 2020 over allegedly misreported payments during COVID-19 forbearance. Being a large-scale servicer never exempted the company from federal consumer protection law.
In our practice, we compare a borrower’s payment history against what Nelnet reported to the bureaus. That comparison often uncovers the same reporting error at the center of the Sass settlement.
Is Great Lakes Educational Loan Services Banned by the FTC
No. The FTC has not banned Great Lakes or Nelnet from servicing loans. Borrowers can file complaints with the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A federal student loan dispute filed with the Ombudsman Group creates a formal record. That record can support a private FDCPA or TCPA claim if the servicer’s conduct violated federal law. Keep a copy of every complaint you file and any confirmation number you receive.
Can Great Lakes Educational Loan Services Garnish Your Wages
Garnishment rules differ by loan type. For federal loans, the government can garnish wages without suing first. It must still send required notices and offer a hearing. For private loans, the servicer must sue you and win a court judgment before any garnishment begins. A threat of immediate garnishment without following these steps is a false statement under the FDCPA. Document the exact wording of any such threat.
Steps to Protect Yourself and Build Your Case
You have the right to request documentation before making any payment or agreeing to a new plan. Written records protect you if a dispute over the account balance arises later.
- Document every call. Record the date, time, phone number, representative’s name, and what was said.
- Verify your servicer. Log into StudentAid.gov or call 1-800-4-FED-AID to confirm your loans transferred to Nelnet.
- Request full account documentation. Ask for the original loan amount and payment history in writing.
- Send a cease-and-desist letter. Mail it certified to the Lincoln, Nebraska address and keep your receipt.
- File a regulatory complaint. Submit details to the CFPB and the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps Stop Great Lakes and Nelnet Harassment
We review your complete interaction history with Great Lakes and Nelnet to identify every FDCPA and TCPA violation in your file. That review covers call frequency, automated dialing, misrepresented repayment options, and credit reporting errors tied to your account. Great Lakes’ $1.275 million settlement shows a servicer with real exposure to these claims. We send legal demand letters that typically stop harassment within 48 to 72 hours. You pay nothing unless we win, and if the servicer violated federal law, it pays our attorney fees. Reach The Wood Firm PLLC any time at +1-844-638-1122.
Still getting calls about a Great Lakes or Nelnet loan? ✅ Visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency. You owe nothing unless we recover on your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Lakes Educational Loan Services
Is Great Lakes Educational Loan Services still operating
No. Great Lakes no longer operates independently, and all loans transferred to Nelnet by July 2023. If you receive a call claiming to be from Great Lakes, verify the caller’s identity before sharing information.
How many times can they legally call me per day
The FDCPA does not set an exact daily number, but repeated calls meant to harass violate federal law. Document each call if you are receiving several a day.
Can they use automated systems to call my cell phone
Only with your prior express consent. Automated calls placed without consent violate the TCPA and can carry $500 to $1,500 in damages per call.
What was the Great Lakes class action lawsuit about
Great Lakes paid $1.275 million to settle Sass v. Great Lakes over payments misreported during COVID-19 forbearance. The error potentially affected millions of borrowers’ credit scores.
Can they garnish my wages without suing me
For federal loans, yes, but only after required notices and a chance to request a hearing. For private loans, the servicer must sue first and win a judgment.
How do I know if my loans transferred to Nelnet
Log into StudentAid.gov or call 1-800-4-FED-AID to verify your current servicer. Nelnet should have sent written notice of the transfer.
Can I sue Great Lakes or Nelnet for harassment
Yes, if the servicer violated the FDCPA or TCPA in your case. You generally have one year from the violation to file. A successful case can recover damages plus attorney fees.
What Should You Do Next If Great Lakes or Nelnet Contacted You
Document every call and verify your loan status through StudentAid.gov before you respond to any threat. A free case review can confirm whether the contact you received violated federal law. Call +1-844-638-1122 to speak with The Wood Firm PLLC at no cost.
Jeff Wood represents consumers exclusively, never creditors or collectors. He holds federal court admissions across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. He practices from Little Rock, AR.
