Student Loan Debt
National Student Loan Lawyers
We Reduce Private Student Loan Debt
When you enrolled in college, you probably thought you were making an investment in your future, and you were. What you hadn’t planned on was that the economy would tank, jobs would disappear and your student loans would become a huge burden following you around for the rest of your working life. Unfortunately, that is the reality many find themselves in today. With the economic downturn and recessions of the 2000’s and 2010’s, many went to college or pursued higher education to help their chances of landing a good paying job. Consequently, student loan debt has soared, higher than ever before. In particular, many were forced to take out higher interest rate private student loans, not backed by the federal government. Some less scrupulous schools lured people into education programs with promises of high paying jobs that never materialized. With tuition costs also soaring, private student loan debt has ballooned to crisis levels in this country. If you find yourself with less income than you anticipated and unable to keep up with student loan payments, there is help with an attorney negotiated student loan debt settlement.
How Student Loan Debt Settlement Works
Under our student loan debt settlement program, a licensed attorney contacts your student loan lenders and begins a negotiation process to significantly reduce the interest AND principal the lender claims is owed. At the end of a successful student loan settlement, the borrower ends up paying only a fraction of the original balance claimed by the lender. The rest of the debt is forgiven by the lender and the settlement is a full and final settlement of the debt, leaving the borrower without the burden of student loan debt going forward. All of this is done without filing bankruptcy.
What are Private Student Loans?
There are two main categories of student loans: federal and private. Federal student loans, such as Stafford Loans are backed by the federal government and are highly regulated. We do not work with federal student loans. On the contrary, private student loans may be issued by well known banks, like Citigroup or Chase Bank. These loans may have higher interest rates than federally backed loans. Our student loan debt negotiation program is for privately issued student loans only. If you are unsure of what type of loans you have, you can contact us for a free evaluation.
Why you need a student loan lawyer to fight for you
The CFPB, the government’s financial watchdog agency, recently reported that the federal government’s own student loan debt collectors are breaking the rules. According to the CFPB, “Some of the debt collectors, who work under contracts from the Education Department and weren’t identified by the CFPB, threatened borrowers with lawsuits even though they had no intention of suing. Some used call scripts and letters that misled borrowers about the benefits of repaying their defaulted federal student loans. Misleading borrowers about their debts is generally illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.”
Are there other alternatives?
Some private student loan lenders will offer forbearance or deferment of student loans, especially after graduation, in order for you to find a job. In some cases, if you are going through difficult times, you may be able to defer private student loans. But ultimately, the principal, interests and penalties will add up and you may find yourself with student loans you cannot afford. If you have private student loans, or are unsure of what type of loans you have, please contact us for a free consultation with a student loan attorney. We will provide a free case evaluation to see if you qualify for our student loan debt settlement program.
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Loan Debt
How can a student loan attorney help me?
Student loan attorneys can provide you with legal advice, represent your interests during negotiations or lawsuits, resolve delinquencies, protect you from debt collector misconduct, and handle any credit disputes.
Am I able to discharge a federal student loan without having to file bankruptcy?
In most situations, neither federal student loans nor private student loans are eligible to be discharged in bankruptcy. However, in some cases, you can have a federal student loan discharged if you experienced serious problems with your school, worked in public service, or have a severe disability.
What is the difference between federal student loans and private student loans?
While federal student loans are offered by the government, private student loans are offered by private-sector lenders. Interest rates for private loans are generally higher, cannot be forgiven, and are never subsidized. However, private student loans are not need-based so you can qualify for a higher loan amount if you have good credit.
What are the costs of hiring a student loan lawyer?
Our services are offered on a flat fee basis calculated as a percentage of the debt. Typically, we can settle our clients’ debt for 55-60 cents on the dollar and without the need for bankruptcy. If our clients end up being sued, we represent them through the trial for $500 plus the cost of filing the answer.
