Resources For Student Loan Hardship Discharge Bankruptcy
Just like the IRS, Student loan lenders and servicing companies will not tell you how to bankrupt their debts. It isn’t in their interest. They want to make money from you.They will claim that it can’t be done and will give out inaccurate information sometimes intentionally lying. At other times they won’t tell you the information you need to insure you will fail. Find a good attorney for your bankruptcy and discuss with him your options on how to discharge or manage student loans. Unfortunately I can only comment on Kentucky and Indiana cases. I do practice in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. These are just some of the resources. More resources are on another page.
US Department of Education Student Loans Income Contingent Loan Programs and other Discharge options for Federal Loans and hardship discharge mis-information
Sallie Mae Student Loans Private Lending (at higher than government student loan rates) and more mis-information
FinAid.0rg Student Loan information
Department of Education (www.ed.gov)
Department of Education Ombudsman Office (www.ombudsman.ed.gov )
William D. Ford Direct Loan Program (www.ed.gov/directloan)
Educational Credit Management Corporation (www.ecmc.org) One of the most difficult servicing companies that profits by billing the government for its collection efforts.
Code of Federal Regulations (www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR)
United States Code (www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/)
Student Loan Corporation Statistics (http://studentlendinganalytics.typepad.com/student_lending_analytics/)
Student Loan Political group www.studentloanjustice.org.
National Consumer Law Center, Student Loan Law: Collections, Intercepts, Deferments, Discharges, Repayment Plans, and Trade School Abuses (2d ed. 2002)
David J. Light, Esq., Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy (2d ed. 1999)
Department of Education ombudsman’s web site is a part of the Studentaid.gov website. Borrowers can submit problems online. The toll-free phone number is 877-557-2575 and the fax number is 202-275-0549; the mailing address is U.S. Department of Education, FSA Ombudsman, 830 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20202-5144.
Department of Education Publications “Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt ” and “Funding Education Beyond High School.” guides are updated each year and are available in English and Spanish online or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID.
A partial list of customer service offices for student loan lenders is below. If you don’t know which agency is holding your loan, check with Department of Education ombudsman or National Student Loan Data System.
American Student Assistance
Ombudsman: Grace Bartini
Phone: 1-800-999-9080 ext. 4512
E-mail: bartini@asa.org
College Assist/Nelnet Guarantor Solutions
Ombudsman: Germaine Terry
Contact Information:
Regular Mail: 3015 South Parker Road, Suite 400
Aurora, CO 80014
Phone: (303) 696-3598 (Direct line to ombudsman)
E-mail: germaine.terry@college-assist.com
EDFUND/CSAC
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) transferred its student loan portfolio, which was serviced by EdFund, to ECMC. (see ECMC information below).
Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC)
Diane Zitur
ECMC Ombudsman
651-325-3015
Ombudsman@ecmc.org
Regular Mail: ECMC
Attn: Diane Zitur
PO BOX 75906
St. Paul, MN 55175
Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation
Ombudsman
P.O. Box 7859
Madison, WI 53707-7859
Phone: (866) 486-7140 (toll free)
(608) 246-1485 (toll call)
Fax: (800) 749-8537 (toll free)
E-mail: ombudsman@glhec.org
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)
E. H. Stewart, Jr.
Compliance Officer/Ombudsman
4 Quakerbridge Plaza
P. O. Box 549
Trenton, NJ 08625-0549
(609) 588 – 3351
(609) 588 – 2427 FAX
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Ombudsman
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: 800.899.4722
Fax:847.831.8549
E-mail: isac.studentservices@isac.illinois.gov
Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Ombudsman: Elaine Brumback
Regular Mail: KHEAA Ombudsman
PO Box 798
Frankfort, KY 40602
Phone: 800-928-8926, ext. 67278
E-mail: ebrumback@kheaa.com
Michigan Guaranty Agency
Ombudsman: Pat Fromm
Mail Address: Michgan Guaranty Agency
Attn: Pat Fromm/Ombudsman
PO Box 30047
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: 800-MGA-LOAN (642-5626) Ext. 36076
E-mail: FrommP@michigan.gov
Missouri Department of Higher Education
Ombudsman: Marla Robinson
P.O. Box 1469
Phone: 800-473-6757
Email: info@dhe.mo.gov
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
National Education Servicing
Ombudsman Contact: Tracy Kaufmann
Mailing Address: 200 W. Monroe, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 800-345-4325, ext. 5189
E-mail: tkaufmann@nationaled.net
National Student Loan Program
Associate Ombudsman: Oscar Huapaya
Mail Address: NSLP Ombudsman Office
1300 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 800-735-8778, ext. 6814
ombudsman@nslp.org
More information about NSLP Ombudsman.
NY State Higher Education Services Corporation
Kristine Zaccardo
Agency Ombudsman
518-408-0004
518-474-2839 (fax)
e-mail: kzaccardo@hesc.org
Oklahoma College Assistance Program (OCAP)
Ombudsman Contact: Kim Hetzler
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3000
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-3000
Phone: 800-247-0420 (toll free)
E-mail: khetzler@ocap.org
Sallie Mae
Customer Advocate Unit
More information about Sallie Mae Customer Advocate Unit, including how to contact the Unit.
Student Loans of North Dakota
Compliance Officer: Char Feist
Phone: 1-800-472-2166, extension 5753
(701) 328-5753 (toll call)
E-mail: cfeist@nd.gov
Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation
Ombudsman: Luanne Dodge
Phone: 1 800 252-9743 extension 4502
More information about TGSLC ombudsman.
Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Ombudsman: Michelle Hansen
Mail Address: Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
The Board of Regents Bldg., The Gateway
60 S. 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: (801) 321-7225
E-mail: mhansen@utahsbr.edu
Legislator Contacts
You might also try contacting your congressional representative or senator’s office for assistance. You can find their names and contact information on-line:
Comparing Student Loan Products
- Student Loan Tips from The Project on Student Debt
- Private Loan Guide from Student Lending Analytics
- Ask the Aid Adviser
- FinAid.org
Helpful Information & Media Resources
- The Chronicle of Higher Education
- State PIRGs Higher Education Project
- Inside Higher Education
- Project on Student Debt
- Education Sector’s The Quick and The Ed
Nick C. Thompson
