If this applies to you then listen up. Here's what the Federal Student Aid office says:
Make a payment now by credit or debit card
(We accept American Express, Discover, Master Card and Visa as repayment options. Please contact the Default Resolution Group at 1-800-621-3115 to process your credit card payment).
Student loan borrowers in default now have more options than ever before to repay their student loans. The U.S. Department of Education's (Department) Default Resolution Group is committed to assisting individuals in default by making debt repayment a simple process.
This site will provide you with information on the following loan programs:
Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), which include Federal Stafford, Federal Consolidation and Federal PLUS loans. When placed in default, these loans are first assigned to a guaranty agency (an organization that administers the FFEL Program for your state) for collection. Periodically, guaranty agencies assign loans to the Department for collection.
Direct Loans, which includes Federal Stafford Consolidation and PLUS loans that are offered through the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. When placed in default, these loans are assigned to the Department's Default Resolution Group.
Federal Perkins Loans. When placed in default, Perkins Loans may remain with the school or be assigned to the Department for collection.
Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants and National SMART Grants. In certain instances, you may have to repay part of a Federal grant that was awarded to you.
If you are not sure what type of loan you have, check your promissory note or use our National Student Loan Data System. If your loan is not one of the loans listed above, the information on this site does not apply to you.