Assessing Your SBA Loan Default Notice
Receive an SBA loan default notice? Learn what it means, steps to take, and how Protect Law Group's expertise can help navigate legal and financial challenges.
Understand SBA loan default, its implications and how to tackle it, with the help of expert legal services offered by Protect Law Group in this insightful guide.
Perhaps you’re currently dealing with financial problems within your business and are fearing the prospect of defaulting on an SBA loan. Let’s take a thorough look at what this entails.
Protect Law Group primarily offers expert legal services that specialize in addressing your SBA and Treasury debt issues. Catering to small business owners and federal debtors throughout the United States, they provide a wide range of services to aid in resolving SBA loans and debt intricacies. These services include:
Protect Law Group attorneys have the permissions conferred by the Agency Practice Act to represent federal debtors across the country. Their jurisdictions cover the SBA, the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service. The attorneys are responsible for conducting initial case evaluations and diagnosing your case issues. They also take up the role of educators explaining your options and help in implementing an effective plan designed to resolve your SBA loan problems.
These attorneys follow a strict ethical code and leverage cutting-edge technologies to provide you with relevant information about your case in a cost-effective manner.
Protect Law Group offers a variety of services related to SBA loans:
Their aim is to manage your SBA debt in such a way that it causes minimal harm to your business or personal asset base while also avoiding foreclosure, bankruptcy, and other negative outcomes of loan default.
Protect Law Group makes several offerings to their clients, including:
What sets Protect Law Group apart from others in the industry includes their team of educated attorneys who have mastered the six key principles necessary to resolve your SBA loan problems, and a customer experience that surpasses expectations.
If you borrow money from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the expectation is for you to repay the full amount. Failure to do so results in the SBA declaring your loan to be in default, which could potentially trigger severe repercussions such as foreclosure, bankruptcy, or seizure of personal assets.
So, if you are currently facing an SBA loan default or carrying a heavy burden of SBA debt, Protect Law Group can help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them for a case evaluation. Remember, the first step towards resolving a problem is acknowledging its existence and seeking help.
Here are 10 relevant FAQs based on common search queries related to SBA loan defaults:
1. What happens if I default on my SBA loan?
When you default on an SBA loan, the lender may demand immediate payment, seize collateral, and the SBA may pursue legal action to recover the debt through personal assets.
2. How long before an SBA loan goes into default?
An SBA loan typically goes into default after 60 days of missed payments, though specific terms may vary by lender.
3. Can I negotiate an SBA loan default settlement?
Yes, borrowers can negotiate an “Offer in Compromise” with the SBA to settle the debt for less than the full amount owed.
4. Will SBA loan default affect my personal credit?
Yes, an SBA loan default will significantly impact your personal credit score since these loans typically require personal guarantees.
5. Can the SBA garnish wages for defaulted loans?
Yes, the SBA has the authority to garnish wages and can collect up to 15% of disposable income through Treasury Offset Program.
6. What assets can the SBA seize in a default?
The SBA can seize business assets, personal property, and bank accounts that were listed as collateral or covered under the personal guarantee.
7. How can I prevent SBA loan default?
Prevention strategies include maintaining open communication with lenders, requesting payment modifications, and seeking professional financial advice early.
8. Is bankruptcy an option for SBA loan default?
While bankruptcy is possible, SBA loans are typically more difficult to discharge than conventional loans, and personal guarantees may still apply.
9. Can I get another SBA loan after defaulting?
Generally, defaulting on an SBA loan makes you ineligible for future SBA loans unless the default is fully resolved.
10. What is an SBA Offer in Compromise (OIC)?
An OIC is a formal proposal to the SBA to settle the debt for less than the full amount owed, typically requiring proof of financial hardship.
Clients personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan that was referred to the Department of Treasury for collection. Treasury claimed our clients owed over $220,000 once it added its statutory collection fees and interest. We were able to negotiate a significant reduction of the total claimed amount from $220,000 to $119,000, saving the clients over $100,000 by arguing for a waiver of the statutory 28%-30% administrative fees and costs.
Small business sole proprietor obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $500,000. Client defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for aggressive collection. Treasury added $180,000 in collection fees totaling $680,000+. Client tried to negotiate with Treasury but was only offered a 3-year or 10-year repayment plan. Client hired the Firm to represent before the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery and reviewing them, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury citing a host of purported violations. The Firm was able to negotiate a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, participation in the Hardship Accommodation Plan, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.
Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $150,000. He and his wife signed personal guarantees and pledged their home as collateral. The SBA loan went into default, the term or maturity date was accelerated and demand for payment of the entire amount claimed was made. The SBA lender’s note gave it the right to adjust the default interest rate from 7.25% to 18% per annum. The business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but was dismissed after 3 years due to its inability to continue with payments under the plan. Clients wanted to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would have been a mistake as their home had significant equity to repay the SBA loan balance in full as the Trustee would likely seize and sell the home to repay the secured and unsecured creditors. However, the SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection to the SBA. Clients then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and hired the Firm to respond to it and negotiate on their behalf. Clients disputed the SBA’s alleged balance of $148,000, as several payments made to the SBA lender during the Chapter 11 reorganization were not accounted for. To challenge the SBA’s claimed debt balance, the Firm Attorneys initiated expedited discovery to obtain government records. SBA records disclosed the true amount owed was about $97,000. Moreover, because the Clients’ home had significant equity, they were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise or an immediate Release of Lien for Consideration, despite being incorrectly advised by non-attorney consulting companies that they were. Instead, our Firm Attorneys recommended a Workout of $97,000 spread over a lengthy term and a waiver of the applicable interest rate making the monthly payment affordable. After back and forth negotiations, SBA approved the Workout proposal, thereby saving the home from imminent foreclosure and reducing the Clients' liability by nearly $81,000 in incorrect principal balance, accrued interest, and statutory collection fees.