SBA Lien Release Considerations
We will analyze your SBA loan problems and advise you on potential solutions such as an SBA offer in compromise for your SBA loan default.
The transcript of the video follows below for further review.
The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires the the Department of the Treasury (DOT) to maintain a schedule of private collection agencies (PCAs), which are private sector companies with expertise in the area of debt collection, to assist the government in its debt collection efforts. As part of the Cross-Servicing program (wherein debts owed to government agencies such as the SBA are referred to the DOT for collection) the DOT attempts to collect delinquent debt through several means, including demand letters, telephone calls, the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), administrative wage garnishment, and credit bureau reporting. Once the DOT has at the very least sent a demand letter and possibly tried other collection efforts, the DOT refers debt collection to one of four PCAs. The activities of the PCAs are monitored by the personnel of the Receivables Management and Debt Services Division of Debt Management Services (DMS).
What is a private collection agency? A private collection agency (PCA) is a private sector company specializing in the collection of delinquent debt. A PCA will attempt to find and contact a debtor by searching various databases, making telephone calls, and sending collection letters. Once the debtor is located and contacted, the PCA will encourage the debtor to satisfy the debt. A PCA may help the DOT resolve the debts through negotiating payment in full, a payment agreement, utilizing administrative wage garnishment, or finding that the debt may be resolved administratively. Incredibly, often times dealing with a PCA is more productive than dealing directly with the DOT.
Fiscal Service awards PCA Task Orders. Fiscal Service awards Task Orders to PCAs for debt collection services under a General Services Administration Schedule. Fiscal Services’s current Task Orders to enlist the services of PCA contractors became effective on March 12, 2012. These Task Orders were awarded in order to increase the recovery of and resolve delinquent non-tax federal debts. The Task Orders were awarded for one base year, with four one-year options available. Fiscal Service awarded the following contractors a debt collection Task Order to provide delinquent debt collection services:
The CBE Group, Inc.
ConServe, Inc.
Performant Recovery, Inc.
Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc.
PCA regulation. The collection efforts of the PCAs are governed by various federal and state laws, including, but not limited to, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Federal Claims Collection Standards (FCCS), and the Privacy Act. If the first PCA is unable to successfully resolve or collect a debt, the debt is then referred to a second PCA. The PCAs are compensated on a performance basis.
If you have defaulted on an SBA loan please contact Protect Law Group at 1-888-756-9969 for a consultation with one of our SBA workout attorneys or contact us online.
We analyze your SBA loan problems and advise you on potential solutions such as an SBA offer in compromise for your SBA loan default.
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' 7(a) loan was referred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for enforced collection in 2015. They not only personally guaranteed the loan, but also pledged their primary residence as additional collateral. One of the clients filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy thinking that it would discharge the SBA 7(a) lien encumbering their home. They later discovered that they were mistakenly advised. The Firm was subsequently hired to review their case and defend against a series of collection actions. Eventually, we were able to negotiate a structured workout for $180,000 directly with the SBA, saving them approximately $250,000 (by reducing the default interest rate and removing Treasury's substantial collection fees) and from possible foreclosure.
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.
Our firm successfully resolved an SBA 7a loan in the original amount of $364,000 for a New Jersey-based borrower. The client filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy but the mortgage on his real estate securing the loan remained in place. The available equity amounted to $263,470 and the deficiency equaled $317,886.
We gathered the pertinent documentation and prepared a comprehensive collateral analysis. We negotiated directly with the SBA, obtaining a full release of the mortgage for $80,000.
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