OK, this board helped me through the maze of getting a reasonable and affordable rehab agreement worked out. YEAH!!! Mission was finally accomplished but not without my share of headaches. At that time I informed the Ombudsman that I thought I was being charged WAY too much and she pretty much dismissed me. I asked for the original promissory notes and was told that even without them, whatever the DOE says I owe, I owe.

I received very poor quality copies of 2 promissory notes consolidating various loans, but the two notes looked identical. Like someone made an error and created 2 consolidated accounts when I only needed one. Again, Ombudsman dismissed my requests for better copies.

Then the CA sent me their attempt at validation and low and behold, ONE promissory note and a much clearer copy. We are talking what I believe I owe (approx $50k) vs. what they say I owe $100k. I want to get this resolved before I finish rehab and get a consolidated and amortized loan.

To add to the mystery, my loans were through SM, way back in 1994 and there is only ONE SM TL on my CR for $37k.

Any ideas on how I can get to the bottom of this over 20 yr old debt? Who would be the final say on this matter? Should I go back to the Ombudsman's office?

I hate to say it but $37k could quite likely add up to $100k with the interest, fees and penalties. You defaulted which is 18.5% in collection fees. Then your FFELP loans where subrogated by the DOE...additional penalties of 42.84%. (At least that is what the DOE was charging when I was collecting!) Have you asked for a payment history or accounting from the DOE?? The CA should be able to provide it for you. Have you made significant payments on this account?? Interest rates 20 years ago were around 8% so you would probably have a lot of accruded and capitalized interest.