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

Helpful Information & Media Resources

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Nick C. Thompson

Nick used to work for the banks before he went to law school.He was married to the president of the Mortgage Bankers Association and worked in the state tax department as a prosecutor.He was also the assistant county attorney in Bullitt County.
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