I’ve already tweeted about this (tweets below), but I felt the need to say more.
MyGreatLakes, a popular student loan servicer, sent me an email this morning, laced with the suggestion that by not following the company on Twitter and Facebook, I would be more likely to default on my loans. This is utterly detestable. Unless the social media push offers some sort of loan forgiveness or interest reduction, why would anyone want to follow a company that you owe money?
Just because you can offer social media to connect with your consumers doesn’t mean you should.
@MyGreatLakes I think it is disingenuous to suggest that if I don't follow you here and on FB that I will default. pic.twitter.com/XCOqs2TD7m
— Brian Strunk (@bstrunk) April 26, 2013
@MyGreatLakes Additionally, the statistics don't really connect with your social media push. pic.twitter.com/KcDkiHuwZb
— Brian Strunk (@bstrunk) April 26, 2013
(edit)MyGreatLakes responded with the following replies:
@bstrunk Thank you for your feedback. Social media is new to us, so we don't have statistics to report it, but, the data we do have 1/2
— Great Lakes (@MyGreatLakes) April 26, 2013
@bstrunk indicates that connecting with us is beneficial to borrowers. We imagine social media connections will have similar benefits.
— Great Lakes (@MyGreatLakes) April 26, 2013