I received a letter from Navient

I have sent several emails, filled out forms online and printed documents to receive a voluntary forbearance on both my federal student loans as well as my career training loans. I have received no response to my requests. We are behind on our payments due to financial hardship. I received a letter from Navient yesterday asking me to call them to discuss a “settlement” agreement. I called the number provided on the letter, 1-866-392-7348. I spoke with Michelle. I told Michelle that we were facing financial hardship due to my husband losing his job in Dec of 2011. He found another job a few months later, 6 hours away. We were paying for 2 households since he had to rent an apartment, we paid COBRA of $1800 a month, and we now have two kids in college and we have to pay cash due to the fact that we do not qualify for financial aid. I also told her that my husband was not making as much at his new job and that our taxes had gone up as of January 1, 2013. I asked what we would need for a settlement and she told me $22,000.00. I told her that we did not have that money available and asked what my other options were. I told her that I had emailed, sent forms online and through the mail requesting a forbearance for both federal and career training loans and had received no response. Michelle said that forbearance was not an option for the career training loan and my only option would be to pay the payment of $371 every month. I asked her to complete the forbearance on the federal loan and she said she could not until I had taken care of the career loan. I told her that I had received a forbearance on both loans in the past and she said the career loan forbearance is a “one time thing”. I wrote to the BBB last time I needed a forbearance because I kept getting similar responses from the people at Sallie Mae that I am getting now. I have a letter, dated August 4, 2009 stating that I have 17 months forbearance remaining for career training loans and 48 months remaining for federally insured loans. This letter is from Michael Kosloski, Customer Service Advocate, Sallie Mae. Michelle said I needed me to make arrangements immediately on the career loan. I told her that I would need to speak to my husband about what we could do and that he was working in Durango this week and I asked if I could have until Monday. She asked me to hold on and I did. When she came back on the phone she told me that she had pulled my credit report and that I was current on all my other bills, except Sallie Mae. I told her that was not correct, and she said yes you are I am looking at it right now. I said, well that is good to know I guess, because I’m not, I am behind on everything. She said I had 24 hours to call back or she would forward it to collections and it could cause liens and wage garnishments. I told her that I have been paying over $500 a month for over twenty years and asked if she could please give me until Monday. Again, she said I have 24 hours. I told her to have a super day and I hung up the phone. I have been a customer of Sallie Mae for over 20 years, making monthly payments. I am in a financial bind. I have filled out documents online, emailed and mailed printed forms to Sallie Mae requesting forbearances for both federal and career training loans