The company handling my private loan is called XXXXGreatLakes and I have recently noticed that they are not applying my payments correctly. I have a monthly payment of {$77.00} that is due on the XXXX of each month and I end up paying {$100.00} instead to pay down the balance or so I though. What this company has been doing is using that extra amount and setting it aside labeling it as " Paid Ahead '' total thus preventing me from quickly reducing the balance. I have contacted them several times now and each representative has refused to apply that past extra amount and all future excess payments to my balance. Right now there is nothing that I can do but ask for your help. I am already burdened with a massive amount of student loan debt and this just adds to the feeling of hopelessness.