Sallie Mae Using Tinder to Collect Student Debt
Student debt collector Sallie Mae is usingÂ Tinder in an attempt to collect outstanding student debt. According toÂ multiple reports, the nation's largest student lender isÂ employing debt collectors withÂ Tinder profiles posingÂ as young singles looking for dates. When theyÂ finally meet their targets in person, the employee demandsÂ the debtor pay up. âI matched with Jessica last week. She was cute. Like girlfriend cute. Her car selfies were reallyâ¦ real,â says Taylor Jameson, a Tinder user and indebted graduate. âSo we got to chatting. And then I asked her out for a drink. When I met her, she looked just like her pictures. So I thought something might be up. âI opened a tab, she asked the bartender for my credit card, and the next thing I knew I was paying off my student debt! That was by far the most expensive Tinder date I've ever been on. And I've matched with a prostitute before.â Sallie Mae has been hiring âabove a sixâ employees in hopes of directly confronting these deadbeat graduates. The employee simply makes a âbelievableâ Tinder profile and then starts swiping. Chances are at least 60 percent of their matches are in student debt. Although the approach may seem extreme to some, companies have usedÂ Tinder for advertising. TV shows like The Mindy ProjectÂ employed the dating app to lure potential viewers with profiles of the show's fictional characters. Sallie Mae, for its part, isÂ known for its aggressive collection practices. Although the company's newÂ approach isn't that far fetched, it is labor intensive. Instead of an automatic message, the Tinder collectorsÂ must carry out âengaging conversationâ with matches until the match agrees to meet for a date. So far, Sallie Maeâs strategy has been working. âYes, matches are disappointed, but meeting debt holders face to face has proven to be more efficient than phone calls and Facebook messages. People are less likely to lie to your face than over the phone,â says Jamie Thompson, a Sallie Mae project manager. âI think itâs incredibly offensive,â said Ashley Roberts, a Tinder user in Los Angeles. âHere I was thinking finally I found my Tinder unicorn, Luke. He was tall, built, and had a car (a rarity in L.A.). Â We had a great date, but when I was leaving his apartment the next morning, I noticed my credit card was gone. Next thing I knew my student debt was almost paid off! âNow I canât afford my weekly blowouts at Dry Bar! Not only that, but Luke wonât call me back,â Roberts sulked while downing a venti pumpkin-spiced latte. âIâll be honest, I feel bad for the girls that match with my employees,â said Thompson. âBut I donât feel bad for the men. On average a male on Tinder spends $60 on a date. If he could pay that much a week to Sallie Mae, he could pay off his debt in about five years. And girls, who are paid .75 to every dollar a man makes in about seven years,â explained Thompson. Sallie Mae is excited about the success of its Tinder venture, but realizes soon former students will catch on. âIâm not worried,â said Thompson. âEvery day thereâs a new app, and a new way to lure dumb Americans into giving you their money. Like Kickstarter.â This year a guy raised $50,000 for âmaking potato salad.â SoÂ if your Tinder match seems too good to be true, remember that they may beÂ a debt collector.