An Analysis of the Language Scaring Student Borrowers Out of Their SAVE Plans Prematurely
"Second Notice"
Lovely start to an email from someone I owe money. Maybe if the first notice hadn't been on April 1st, I wouldn't need this second one to remind me it was serious.
Oh, look, A panic inducing icon. Such commanding language, telling me I MUST do something. OR ELSE? Yes, there is an "or..." right there, isn't there? Getting forcibly moved onto a different repayment plan sounds vaguely threatening, doesn't it? Looks like this big strong button will make everything okay, though, maybe I should just click on it...
This is usually where most people who would fall for a scam in this vein would stop reading and begin to panic.
Now, if we look a little past that, we get a little more information, like you would expect from a government agency:
"In the coming months, your loan servicer will contact you about your specific deadline to choose a different repayment plan. Once you hear from your loan servicer, you'll have 90 days to choose another repayment plan. This gives you time to select the plan that works best for you."
But no actual date for MY DEADLINE.
"Our newest repayment plans—the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and Tiered Standard Plan—will be available starting on July 1, 2026. Visit StudentAid.gov/bigupdates to learn more about these new repayment plans and other changes to the federal student aid programs."
Why do I need to be warned multiple times, months before I am even able to sign up for these plans, when I will be notified and will have months to do so AFTER they become available?
"If you don't want to wait until July 1, 2026, you can choose a different repayment plan that fits your needs and goals now."
There it is.
"Since our first email about the SAVE Plan ending, hundreds of thousands of borrowers have applied for a different plan."
A naked appeal to the very human fear of being left out or left behind. Classic.
So, what if I don't?
Bold Question. Bold... PARTS of multiple sentences. The above passage is priming readers to read the bold words as the answers to the question without having to read the rest of the paragraph.
This acts like it is intended for "Clarity" but rather functions to select the information the author wants readers to catch, while diminishing the rest. Reading like this, it gives the impression that if you are not on a new plan before "The Deadline" then your payments will increase dramatically. Is that July 1st?
No. The diminished information clarifies that it's the deadline the LOAN SERVICER sets for YOUR individual account that will trigger this consequence.
NOT the date of July 1st, the only date in this email so far.
Then we have another panic icon and some more canned financial advice designed to sound smart, but urgent.
The rest of the email reads like a normal correspondence from Financial Aid. Everything above this reads like a scam email without the misspellings and strange characters used to circumvent spam filters.
DO NOT COMPLY IN ADVANCE.
Personally, I have a hunch that this is intended to trick people into signing up for more expensive payment plans, and sooner than necessary, in order to funnel money to the government in a shorter time-frame.
I suspect someone (or everyone) in the Cabinet Circus is seeing the blood on the walls, looking to embezzle what they can, and run.
I am going to wait till after July 1st for the payment plans that will be less likely to put me out of house and home and I would encourage anyone else to do the same.
I am not providing Financial Advice. Only a request to withhold whatever you are able from a Corrupt Regime.
Contact your Loan Servicer to confirm your best options.
But please...
DO NOT GIVE THEM MONEY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO.