In the 80s and 90s I borrowed about $34k. For about 25 years I was making payments. A few years ago I defaulted, rehabbed, and then defaulted again before getting a better job and picking up payments 6 months later. In 2014, when I defaulted, the value was $35k. Today, after 28 payments of a minimum of $500 per month ($16,100 total) the loan balance has gone *up* $3k. After the default, AES added a $6k fee. I'm paying 9% interest. The payments don't show up on my credit report because the loan just says assigned to the government.
My credit score's only 629 (I had a BK7 for medical bills in 2012) and it won't get much better because, AES says, the payments will never show on my credit report until the day the loan is fully paid off. $235 of each $500 payment goes to interest. I'm 57 now and I'll be close to 70 when it's paid off. I tried Credible but did not get a prequalified offer and, the site says, am unlikely to with a full application. I'd been thinking that even a higher interest rate would help because it would show installment payments.
I'm kind of at the end of my rope. Any ideas would be gratefully accepted. Is there another loan refinance site I could try? I do make higher payments when I can, but I live alone in California and rent alone (1-bedroom apartment) takes up a huge part of my pay. This is where I'm licensed to work and the lower salary and rent elsewhere would not make me come out ahead, I calculate.
