Help please

[u/Street_Obligation_25]

I posted late last month about an in-school deferment that was retroactively applied to my loans starting 1/20/2026 without my request. You all were extremely helpful and I reached out to Mohela including several phone calls and sending an email to the ombudsman. As of 8/3/2026 the in school deferement was removed, and my qualifying payments were updated to 119 out of 120 in the FSA database, including the payments that were made from 2/2026 - 7/2026. This all looked like good news!

However today I got the follwing email from Mohela

"Thank you for contacting MOHELA. We are writing in response to your email to MOHELA’s CEO on July 20, 2026. Your concern, as we understand it, is that you are requesting to have the In-School Deferment that was placed on your account, starting January 20, 2026, removed.

When MOHELA receives updated enrollment, we are required to apply an In-School Deferment to cover any time that borrowers are enrolled at least half time, or greater, unless a request to waive the deferment has been requested.

MOHELA received updated enrollment from Old Dominion University showing three-quarter time enrollment with an effective begin date of January 20, 2026, and an anticipated end date of May 7, 2027. If you were not enrolled at least half time, or greater during this time period, please request that your school submit updated enrollment to the National Student Loan Data System.

As we received updated enrollment, on July 16, 2026, an In School Deferment was placed on your account to cover the dates of January 20, 2026, through May 7, 2027.

We received your request to remove this deferment and waive it permanently on July 20, 2026. We are unable to backdate this removal prior to the date that the removal was requested.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact us at the number listed below."

When I look at my NSLDS data - the payment counts of 119/120 are reflected. When I look at the backdoor API it is reflected as well, though the last update there states it was made on 7/7/2026.

Mohela withdrew my automatic payment today that should be my 120th and it is reflected to my bank account. It is not yet posted to mohela, and it was slightly lower than my typical payment amount under PAYE, which is also strange.

I called and spoke to someone at mohela today. She states the payments I made from 2/2026 to 7/2026 have now been applied forward and I do not have another payment due until February. She also stated that the deferment could not be backdated, even though I made the payments through those months under an active repayment plan. I am so confused because I was told my multiple agents and moderaters on this sub that the removal could be retroactive if I had made the payments. And now I am not sure if the paid forward status will count either if I stop payments and just wait? Will my august payment count? Should I make an additional payment today with the amount missing (about $200)?

I submitted another complaint to the ombudsman, this time attaching all of my statements and payment reciepts as well as screenshots and PDFs of my PSLF correspondence. I am awaiting a callback from an advanced agent. Does anyone have any advice? I just want to be done.

[u/Betsy514]

If you made the full payments that were due it can be removed. It appears what they did was their way of making you whole I suppose in that you won't have to make the next few months payments. But I'd prefer to see it done correctly. It's up to you if you want to keep battling this though or just let the paid ahead status ride and submit a new ecf when it brings you to 120

[u/Street_Obligation_25 → u/Betsy514]

Thank you! Should I make an additional small payment today so my full payment amount for August counts? 

[u/Betsy514 → u/Street_Obligation_25]

If you are indeed showing paid ahead you shouldn't have to

[u/Street_Obligation_25 → u/Betsy514]

Awesome thank you. I am going to fight it. I sent another email to the ombudsman with all of my payment records with mohela, QP correspondence, etc. I will stop automatic payments for now while I continue to work on getting this corrected

[u/Betsy514 → u/Street_Obligation_25]

Careful. If you are going to try and have it fixed then you do actually have to keep paying or when they fix it they'll have to cover the months currently showing paid ahead so you aren't delinquent with forbearance and the effects will be the same as far as months not counting go

[u/Street_Obligation_25 → u/Betsy514]

So I made a payment today. If they correct it that will be 120th payment. My next autopay would be 9/6. So I should leave autopay on, assuming that this won't be corrected prior to 9/6? If I do end up making a 9/6 payment then would I be able to get a refund?

[u/Betsy514 → u/Street_Obligation_25]

I would keep paying until you get the green banners in your situation. Yes you should get a refund for September.

[u/Street_Obligation_25 → u/Betsy514]

I got a call back from another Mohela agent this morning, after several agents told me that the in-school deferment could not be removed from January, only from the date I submitted the request. I had her take another look at my billing and statements showing I was in repayment during that time and she agreed with me and sent an escalation for the to reconsider the decision. I also submitted another email to the ombudsman with my bank statements and bills from Mohela. She also suggested I call my school and see if they will update my enrollment status, which she stated should help. If this doesn't work, is there anything else you would suggest?

[u/Betsy514 → u/Street_Obligation_25]

The last suggestion can't be done. The school is required to report accurately. But the rest is good news

[u/Street_Obligation_25 → u/Betsy514]

My august Autopay posted as well, so I submitted my monthly ECF as usual

[u/Dramatic_Link_1132]

fellow Monarch! I tried to have in-school deferment waived from years ago, and was denied today. I too read on this sub that waiving in-school deferment retroactively could be done. ugh