The Education Department's independent watchdog says the agency hasn't done enough to stop student loan servicers from breaking federal rules.
An audit released Thursday by the department's inspector general finds that officials who oversee student loans haven't properly tracked problems and rarely penalize servicers.
The office that manages student loans says it disagrees with the finding but is implementing the audit's recommendations.
The department hires outside companies to handle billing for more than $1 trillion in student loans and to help struggling borrowers explore payment options.
But the audit found that as of 2017, servicers did not always provide borrowers with enough information about repayment plans, and some miscalculated borrowers' monthly payments.
The watchdog says the department required servicers to return money for noncompliance just four times in five years.
