Private Collection Agencies: What You Need to Know
If you've defaulted on an SBA guaranteed loan, you'll be hearing from one of four private collection agencies contracted by the Treasury.
The Small Business Administration provides homeowners with loans that help in rebuilding a business or home after a natural disaster. However, if the borrower goes into default, the SBA can foreclose. Read further to learn more about the SBA's disaster loans, along with their foreclosure and SBA Offer in Compromise process.
The Small Business Administration offers fixed rate, low interest loans and a Tax Offset Program to fix homes, businesses and property destroyed or damaged in a federal disaster area. Loans may be used to replace or repair:
Business owners, renters and homeowners are all eligible for SBA loans in most cases. The sections below list the most common types of disaster loans, along with the groups of borrowers most likely to benefit.
Homeowners can apply for a loan of up to $200,000 to restore a primary residence to the same condition in which it was before the disaster. Homeowners and renters may borrow $40,000 or less to replace or repair personal belongings such as clothing and furniture that are damaged or destroyed.
The SBA offers loans to business owners who incur financial losses during a natural disaster. These disaster loans can be used to replace or repair non-covered equipment that's lost during a storm, fire or earthquake.
Businesses can also qualify for loans to help pay necessary and recurring operating expenses until things are back to normal. If a business suffers economic losses because of a disaster, it can get a loan even if no damage occurs.
Because disaster help is given as a loan rather than a grant, the borrower must legally agree to a repayment plan. These loans are available directly from the agency or through participating lenders, and are serviced accordingly. For certain loans, borrowers must provide collateral such as a security interest in or a lien on the property. If the person goes into SBA loan default, the loan can be foreclosed in or out of the judicial setting after the borrower receives an SBA demand letter. A lawyer can help a borrower consider options to avoid an SBA loan foreclosure, such as bankruptcy or an SBA Offer in Compromise.
Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure
Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements
Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.
Clients personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of over $300,000. Clients also pledged their homes as additional collateral. SBA OIC accepted $87,000 with the full lien release against the home.
Clients executed several trust deeds pledging seven (7) real estate properties and unconditional personal guarantees for an SBA 7(a) loan from the participating lender. The clients' small business failed and eventually defaulted on repayment of the loan exposing all collateral pledged by the clients. The SBA subsequently acquired the loan balance from the lender, including the right to liquidate and collect all pledged collateral pursuant to the trust deed instruments.
The Firm was hired to negotiate separate release of lien proposals for all 7 real estate properties. In preparation for the work assignment, the Firm Attorneys initiated discovery to secure records from the SBA and Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. After reviewing the records and understanding the interplay between the lender and the SBA, the attorneys then prepared, submitted and negotiated the release of lien (ROL) for each of the 7 real estate properties for consideration.
After submitting the proposals, the assigned SBA Loan Specialists approved each ROL package - significantly reducing the total SBA debt claimed.
Our firm successfully resolved an SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in the original amount of $150,000 for a Florida-based borrower. The loan, issued on June 4, 2020, was secured by business assets and potential personal liability through the SBA's Security Agreement.
Following the permanent closure of the business, we guided the client through the SBA’s Business Closure Review process and prepared a comprehensive collateral analysis. We negotiated directly with the SBA, obtaining a full release of the business collateral for $2,910 — satisfying the borrower’s obligations under the Security Agreement and eliminating any further enforcement risk against the pledged assets.
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