Got Questions?

Borrower Defense to Repayment is a federal program that allows students to have their federal student loans discharged if their school defrauded them or violated state laws. This program can result in complete loan forgiveness and refunds of payments already made. It was specifically designed to protect students who were misled by their schools about job prospects, accreditation status, program quality, or other important factors.

You may qualify if you attended a private for-profit school and experienced any of the following:

• Your school closed while you were enrolled or within 180 days of withdrawal
• Your school made false promises about job placement rates or earning potential
• Your school misrepresented accreditation status or credit transferability
• Your school provided inadequate training or facilities
• Your school engaged in aggressive or deceptive recruiting practices
• Your school falsified documents or violated state laws

Sweet v. Cardona is a class action settlement that provides automatic loan discharge for students from certain schools. If you attended schools like ITT Technical Institute, Corinthian Colleges (Everest, WyoTech, Heald), or other qualifying institutions, you may be eligible for automatic group relief without having to file an individual application. This settlement has already resulted in billions of dollars in loan forgiveness for eligible students.

The timeline varies depending on the type of discharge and the complexity of your case. Group relief cases (like Sweet v. Cardona) can be processed automatically within 3-6 months. Individual Borrower Defense applications typically take 6-18 months to process. Closed school discharge applications usually take 3-9 months. We'll keep you updated throughout the entire process and can often expedite cases in certain circumstances.

We'll help you gather all necessary documentation, which may include:

• School enrollment agreement and transcripts
• Federal student loan documentation
• Marketing materials from your school
• Email communications with school representatives
• Evidence of job placement promises or outcomes
• Any correspondence about accreditation or licensing
• Documentation of school closure (if applicable)

Yes! You can still apply for loan discharge even if you completed your program and graduated. The key factor is whether your school engaged in deceptive practices or fraud, not whether you finished the program. Many successful discharge cases involve graduates who later discovered their degrees were worthless or that their schools made false promises about job prospects and earning potential.

We offer a free consultation to review your case and determine eligibility. Our fees are contingency-based, meaning you only pay if we successfully get your loans discharged. We believe everyone should have access to these federal programs regardless of their current financial situation. During your free consultation, we'll explain all costs transparently with no hidden fees or surprises.

While you can technically apply on your own, the process is complex and requires extensive documentation and legal knowledge. The Department of Education has specific requirements for evidence and formatting that must be met. Many self-filed applications are denied due to incomplete documentation or improper presentation of the case. Our expertise significantly increases your chances of approval and ensures you receive the maximum benefits available.

Yes! If your discharge is approved, you're entitled to refunds of all payments made on the discharged loans. This includes payments you made directly, as well as any payments made through wage garnishment or tax offset. Additionally, any negative information related to the discharged loans will be removed from your credit report, potentially improving your credit score significantly.

You can still qualify for discharge even if your school is still operating. Borrower Defense to Repayment is available to students who were defrauded regardless of whether the school closed. Many successful cases involve schools that are still open but engaged in deceptive practices during the time you attended. The key is proving that the school violated state laws or engaged in fraudulent behavior.

Federal discharge programs primarily apply to federal student loans. However, we can explore other options for private loans, including state-based remedies, consumer protection claims, and potential legal actions against the school or lender. Many students have both federal and private loans, and we'll work to address your entire debt situation comprehensively.

While your discharge application is pending, your loans may be placed in forbearance, meaning you won't have to make payments and no interest will accrue. We can help request this forbearance status to provide immediate financial relief while your case is being processed. If your discharge is ultimately denied, you can typically resume your previous payment plan without penalty.

For most discharge programs, there's no specific deadline, but it's best to apply as soon as possible. Closed school discharge must be applied for within certain timeframes related to when the school closed. Some group relief programs have specific windows for automatic relief. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get relief from your student loan debt. Don't wait – call us today for a free consultation.