Here’s why we’re the #1
Default Management Service
Step 1: Gathering Data
A. Schools in our Program begin by sending data for students who have graduated or withdrawn and still have outstanding loans. This data can be sent online, e-mail, or hard copy. For each student on the list the school must include:
- SSN
- Address
- Date of Birth
- Last Day of Attendance
- Name
- Telephone
- Servicer of the Loan
- Number of Loans Outstanding
References will be requested on a case by case basis. After this initial list is sent to WISS, the school should continue to update WISS of recent graduated and drops with loans. In addition, if the school receives information from its guarantor or lender that a loan is delinquent they should immediately send this information to WISS.
B. WISS loads each account on our tracking systems. Confirmation is made with the servicer to determine the status of each student’s account. The initial contact with the servicer serves to confirm the account status and collect any current information helpful in our process. Each account will be tracked until the applicable cohort period has ended. WISS will keep your accounts out of default until they can no longer harm your CDR (cohort default rate).
Step 2: Account Assignment
Once we have identified a student that is past due, the student’s account is assigned to a WISS representative. When a student calls on any line including our toll free number, the call is transferred to the student’s own personal WISS representative.
Step 3: Contact
A. When contact is made with the student, the WISS representative makes a polite introduction to assure the student that this is not a collection call. The representative discusses the student’s rights emphasizing the many alternatives that are available to them (payments, deferment, forbearance, and IBR options). Once a plan of action has been established, the representative initiates a conference call between the student, the WISS representative and the servicer of the loan.
With all three (3) parties connected, the WISS representative requests that the servicer send proper forms to the student. In a majority of cases, this will be the first telephone contact between the student and the servicer!
B. If initial attempts at telephone contact are unsuccessful, a letter is sent introducing WISS and the representative asking the student to call us toll free. Additional telephone calls are attempted if it is believed that the number is a valid working number. All the proper deferment and forbearance forms are sent to the student with a postage paid envelope.
C. If the telephone number is found to be invalid or returned mail is received a “DEEP SKIP TRACE” is attempted. This includes attempts to contact, by both mail and telephone, all references provided by the school. In addition, we will access a database of billions of current and historical records that helps us locate students with old or partial information. We also access more than 98 million telephone numbers that are not included in directory assistance including millions of unpublished and cell phone numbers.
Step 4: Follow Up
A. After a reasonable time, WISS confirms receipt of appropriate documents or payments processed. This is accomplished by contacting the servicer of the loan to check the account status. If the account has been successfully processed, the school is notified.
B. If the student account has not been brought current, forborne, deferred or put in an IBR, the student is contacted again and this process is repeated from STEP TWO if required. In addition a series of letters are sent to educate the student emphasizing our desire to assist the student and stressing his or her rights and responsibilities.
We will continue to call, send letters and skip trace your students until we can help them. We do not limit the number of calls or letters like many other services and we will not quit until the student is current or defaults.