Response from FSA
A few weeks ago I submitted a complaint via FSA ombudsman feedback portal regarding buyback request wait times, as I’ve read here of others doing so. I didn’t have much expectation of anything happening, but I felt desperate enough to try.
So FSA actually replied via email and in the letter I received they state that my “buyback request should be completed within 45 days”. They go on to say that “due to large volume of requests, we cannot provide an estimated resolution timeframe”.
While those two sentences pretty much contradict one another, I am surprised they specifically noted 45 days. I’m not sure if this is a canned response, and while I’m not going to hold my breath that this will happen, it does give me a small piece of hope. 45 days would be just shy of the end of my 90 days to select a new repayment plan.
I submitted my initial buyback request in March 2025 (buyback case # cited in the message begins in 277). However, I previously spoke with an FSA agent over the phone who gave me a case number beginning in 336, so that was confusing. I did submit two buyback requests, but they already closed the duplicate request, so not sure why I’d be given a different case number at this point.
Either way, I thought I’d share here, as I haven’t received information that specific from FSA before regarding buyback.