I need help and don’t know where else to go. I’m not even sure if this is the right place to ask this but this forum was the closest topic to my situation.
I just finished my Master’s Degree and I am now doing a year of service with AmeriCorps*VISTA. My federal loans will not be a problem for me since they will defer during my year of service. However, during my undergrad I had to take some CiTiAssist loans that my dad actually signed me up for; having no knowledge of loans or the process of acquiring one myself. CiTi refuses to give me any sort of loan deferment (economic hardship) or forbearance because “private loans do not qualify” even though it states on the website that service with AmeriCorps is a “mandatory forbearance.”
At one point they were going to qualify me for a 6 month forbearance but when I told them that AmeriCorps is a year long commitment and that my situation would not change in 6 months they denied me forbearance once again.
It does not make sense. It was still a student loan and just because it is a private loan does not change the fact that I am doing a year of volunteer work for America and cannot afford a $300+ a month loan payment. They told me my co-signer would have to pay but he can’t afford it either right now.
They have also told me that I cannot qualify for a reduced payment.
Is there anything I can do?

I have a CitiAssist loan from law school and of all my lenders, I found CitiAssist to be the least flexible. What is happening to you is happening to others. I think I got one deferral/forbearance for about 6 months.  After that, the late payment started to accumulate.  Once I went to work full-time, I brought the account current. I just think the company is difficult and there is nothing in you do except pay them off as soon as you can and NEVER do business with them again. 

I know this may not have helped a lot but just know that CitiAssist is doing this to more than just you.

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Unfortunately, private student loans are not regulated the same way federal student loans are, and the lenders are not required to provide flexible repayment options or forbearance for borrowers.  They CAN if they want, but are notoriously difficult to work with, some lenders more than others.

Please consider providing information about your situation to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  They have requested information in their efforts to start regulation of private lenders.  See my blog post about that here: http://askheatherjarvis.com/blog/why-heather-jarvis-thinks-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-is-reall

In general, private lenders only have to do what they promised they would in the underlying contract.  Borrowers should review their Promissory Note and loan documents (you can request them from your lender if you don’t have them already).