I went to a XXXX university and like many other students, I took out private loans. After graduating in XXXX XXXX, I could n't find a job. I took the first job I could get paying only $ XXXX/hour at a XXXX. XXXX of my student loan payments was over {$400.00}. It would 've taken XXXX paychecks to pay it. I called to see if there was something they could do but because it was a private loan, there was hardly any flexibility. I did the best I could to pay it but I found myself scraping for pennies. I worked XXXX jobs, seven days a week in order to send in checks. I switched to the graduate repayment plan but overtime, I would pay more interest. Little did I know how my money was being applied. I apparently accumulated {$620.00} worth of late fees in XXXX and part of XXXX. I called to see if I could get these waived and the representative said they could n't do it unless it was an error on their part. I put in a request to speak to a manager but all they could do is say they 'll put in the request and have them call me back within XXXX hours. After a week of not hearing from them, I decided to call them back and they were finally able to transfer me. I told the manager my whole story and how I was going through financial hardship at the time and if there was any way I could get these late fees waived. I also added that it is SO frustrating knowing I worked too XXXX hard just so my money can go into late fees instead of paying off the high balance on my student loans. To no avail, the manager just said, " I wish there was something I could do but I know the request would get denied. '' I just feel like these student loans are the death of me. And there are no programs out there that could help. I 'm in the right track with these loans as of XXXX. I like to tell myself that I 'm doing the right thing by paying these loans instead of taking the easy way out and placing it through bankruptcy. But I feel like these lenders are n't willing to help in any way. They have the abilities to waive late fees and yet, they make it so hard on people who are trying their hardest to do the right thing and pay back these high interest loans.