We’ve all received those calls from telemarketers. Those people who irritatingly call whilst we're eating dinner or watching something great on TV and try and sell everything but the kitchen sink. Most of us usually give them nothing more than an expletive and maybe a “not interested” followed by hanging-up.

Telemarketers love selling student loan consolidation.

It is true that Telemarketers usually call at the absolute worst times selling anything from credit cards, to TV packages and time shares. If you have an outstanding student loans, then you have probably received your fair share of calls about consolidating your loans. Consolidating your student loans is thought by many to be one of the best ways to manage your student loans after college.

If you do receive a call, bear in mind that, consolidating your loans can give you many money-saving benefits including a lower interest rate, lower monthly payments, and borrower incentives. Speaking to the right person on the phone can really be worth the time. The 'right person' is a Student Loan Consultant, someone who is specifically trained to be an expert on the subject of student loans and whose sole purpose is to help student loan borrowers in need of better loan management.

A Telemarketer is not the same as a Consultant

Both a Student Loan Telemarketer and Student Loan Consultant may call you, but it is important to know the difference between them. A telemarketer reads a script and says what they are told to, while a student loan consultant’s main role is customer service and satisfaction. Many times, if you get a great student loan consultant on the phone, they’ll be happy to inform you of everything you ever wanted to know about student loan consolidation and the options available to manage your loans after college better. A good student loan consultant will answer your questions because they genuinely want to help.

Once you have chosen to consider consolidating your student loans, the biggest issue is whom you should speak to for advice. After all, consolidation puts you into a relationship with your lender for years to come and the student loan consultant you speak to can be a good indicator of the type of company they represent, and who you will be dealing with.

As mentioned, student loan consolidation is a great financial tool, but pay close attention to these tell-tale signs to make sure the person you’re speaking to is not more interested in filling their own pockets then filling yours.

Handling Consolidation Calls

1) Make sure you're not bullied or rushed into making a decision. It’s important to feel comfortable and not rushed by the person you’re speaking with.

Make sure you’re treated with respect: Work with a company who makes it a point to listen to your needs. Real customer service oriented Student Loan companies want to know that each of their borrowers is happy with their consolidation solution.

2) Speak to a professional in student loans and not a telemarketer (some people are trained to make calls, not to help you consolidate your student loans properly and efficiently). If the person you are speaking to is reading from a script then they're not a consultant. Consolidation involves your personal finances and it’s nothing for someone to play around with.

Work with a company who has an excellent Training program: Few student loan companies invest enough into the training of their student loan consultants. It’s important to work with a company that does.

3) Research the company you’re speaking with before you decide to consolidate your loans. Visit their website, check out to see if they’ve had any Better Business Bureau complaints issued against them. Ask questions…if the answers don’t sound right, hang up!

Make sure the company is credible: Find out what kind of credentials the company you’re speaking with has, such as membership in their local or state chamber of commerce and Better Business Bureau.

Look for Consistency and valuable resources: The worst thing is having to go through a detailed process with one person and then having to explain it to someone else. Is the consultant willing to give you their full name? Can you call them back with questions?

4) Listen to the person on the phone. Do they mention grace rates, borrower benefits, deferment, or forbearance? If no, they may be holding back on giving you a full range of options to help you manage your student loan debt.

Make sure they’re easy to understand: Sure, the person on the phone may sound like they know what they’re talking about, but do you? It’s important that the Student Loan Consultant does their best to make the system as easy to understand as possible by using simple to understand terms and treating each borrower like a personal friend whom they’re helping.

5) Make sure you’re speaking with someone with expertise on the subject. Get the phone number and name and even the lender ID code, if available, of the company that’s calling you or that the person represents.

Work with a company that experiences successful growth: They may be few, but there are student loan companies that do hire and train professional staff, have a resourceful website and a dynamic stature that make them successful members within the student loan industry.

Find out how simple and quick the process is: Before you start the consolidation process, ask the company you’re on the phone with how long their consolidation process will take. It’s better to know and prepare yourself from the beginning than grow impatient later.

It’s important to work with a company who’s process is hassle-free. A good student loan company can help you complete your consolidation paperwork in less than an hour – some even do most of the written work for you!

Most of all, work with someone who you can tell enjoys their job of helping you.

In addition to their employees, many student loan companies do have your best interests at heart – after all, a job is a choice and many who love customer service choose to help student loan borrowers make the best choices about their loans