Forum Post: Online petition helped reduce student loan penalites.

I signed the eliminate penalties when a student is unemployed change dot org petition, and I have no student loans......

I signed the unfair foreclosure petitions on change dot or, and thankfully am not under foreclosure.

Why do Occupiers revel in being seen and heard, but when it comes to using online petitions to buttress their movement, they apparently would rather text or internet surf? Is all about being seen and heard, and not about actual results?

Read below to learn more about how petition drives WORK and to keep the PRESSURE ON.

Wow -- we (STEF GRAY'S CHANGE DOT ORG PETITION) really got Sallie Mae's attention.

Yesterday morning I (STEF GRAY) delivered our petition demanding Sallie Mae drop unfair "unemployment penalties" to their office in Washington, D.C. When one of the police officers waiting for me escorted me into the building (I’m not sure why they thought I was so scary!), the exec I gave your signatures to couldn't even look me in the eye.

But less than three hours after I dropped off our petition, Sallie Mae announced they were changing their policy, and would start applying these fees towards borrowers’ loans instead of just pocketing the cash in extra profits.

I'm psyched about this development, but the policy change they announced isn't close to good enough. This is the moment to ramp up the pressure to make sure Sallie Mae knows we won't back down.

The best way to show them is to say so -- loudly and publicly. Sallie Mae has an active Facebook page for uPromise, a credit card they sell to college kids and their families that’s hugely important to their bottom line.

Will you write on Sallie Mae’s uPromise Facebook wall demanding they completely drop unemployment penalties?

Here’s a sample post to get you started, but a personal note will make even more impact:

Sallie Mae is turning education dreams into financial nightmares. It's time for Sallie Mae to drop their $50 unemployment penalty for loan forbearance.

http://chn.ge/SallieMae

Sallie Mae might think their step forward means we'll back down. But this fight is far from over for me (and the unemployed and underemployed people like me) who just can’t pay these fees.

Every extra signature will add to the pressure they're already obviously feeling -- and hopefully guarantee they end unfair "unemployment penalties" for good.

Thanks for standing with me,

• Stef Gray

  P.S. The first phone call I got after hearing about Sallie Mae’s decision to change their fee policy was from the New York Times -- and I’m a New Yorker, so getting covered by theTimes is a huge thrill for me. After you share the petition link, check out the awesome story published in today’s paper: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/education/sallie-mae-to-change-forbearance-fee-policy.html

UPROMISED FACEBOOK LINK BELOW. http://www.facebook.com/upromiseutm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=vbaCeaTVRo_cDcZBzEmIm&me=aa&sk=wall

and don't forget the unfair foreclosures petitions either. http://www.change.org/petitions/john-g-stumpf-ceo-wells-fargo-rescind-rachel-kendalls-foreclosure-auction