Small Business Bankruptcy: A Guide to Chapter 11, Subchapter 5
Chapter 11, Subchapter 5 went into effect in February. Discover what the new law means for you, and how it affects small business bankruptcy.
We help people who need to avoid an SBA loan default by advising them about the SBA offer in compromise and about other various SBA loan problems.
Book a Consultation CallDealing with the idea that you might be facing SBA loan default can be terrifying. The SBA attorneys in our office are skilled at helping clients understand all of the facets of their situations. If, for instance, you need to know what an SBA offer in compromise is, you can simply ask your lawyer. You should never face SBA loan problems alone. It is important to retain the services of an attorney who can help you through this difficult time in your life. We urge you to read about the services that we have available and to contact us if you believe that we can be of assistance to you right now.
Many Borrowers ask the question - can I modify my note? In certain circumstances a note can be modified. With regard to 7(a) Loans sold on the secondary market, the Secondary Participation Guaranty Agreement (SBA Form 1086) prohibits any change to the repayment terms of the Note unless the guaranteed portion of the loan has been purchased by SBA or the written consent of the secondary market investor has been obtained—unless the modification involves a one-time deferment that does not exceed a continuous period of three monthly installments.
The date that regularly scheduled installment payments are due may be modified to facilitate the Borrower's ability to repay the loan or a workout. For example, payments originally scheduled to be made on a monthly basis, may be changed to a quarterly or annual basis if there is justification for the change such as the seasonal or cyclical nature of the Borrower's revenue stream.
A loan may be changed from a revolving loan to a non-revolving loan to facilitate the repayment or orderly liquidation of the loan.
The installment amount due under a Note may be modified to ensure that the loan balance is properly amortized over the remaining life of the loan, to help a viable Borrower meet long or short term goals, or to facilitate a workout.
The interest rate on the Note may be modified to help a viable Borrower meet long or short term goals, or to facilitate the recovery on a loan in liquidation status. For example, the interest rate may be modified as part of a workout agreement designed to achieve the highest possible recovery in the shortest amount of time.
Finally, the maturity date of a Note may be extended for up to 10 years beyond its original maturity date if:
a. The extension is requested before the SBA loan guaranty expires, i.e., less than 180 calendar days after the original maturity date; and
b. The extension will aid in the orderly repayment of the loan.
If you are in default on your SBA loan, please contact us at 888-756-9969 for your FREE case evaluation.
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 obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for their small business in the amount of $298,000. They pledged their primary residence and personal guarantees as direct collateral for the loan. The business failed, the lender was paid the 7(a) guaranty money and the debt was assigned to the SBA. Clients received the Official 60-Day Notice giving them a couple of options to resolve the debt balance directly with the SBA before referral to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. The risk of referral to Treasury would add nearly $95,000 to the SBA principal loan balance. With the default interest rate at 7.5%, the amount of money to pay toward interest was projected at $198,600. Clients hired the Firm with only 4 days left to respond to the 60-Day due process notice. Because the clients were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) due to the significant equity in their home and the SBA lien encumbering it, the Firm Attorneys proposed a Structured Workout to resolve the SBA debt. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist assigned to the case approved the Workout terms which prevented potential foreclosure of their home, but also saved the clients approximately $294,000 over the agreed-upon Workout term with a waiver of all contractual and statutory administrative fees, collection costs, penalties, and interest.
Client personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan for $100,000 from the lender. The SBA loan went into early default in 2006 less than 12 months from disbursement. The SBA paid the 7(a) guaranty monies to the lender and subsequently acquired the deficiency balance of about $96,000, including the right to collect against the guarantor. However, the SBA sent the Official 60-Day Due Process Notice to the Client's defunct business address instead of his personal residence, which he never received. As a result, the debt was transferred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service where substantial collection fees were assessed, including accrued interest per the promissory note. Treasury eventually referred the debt to a Private Collection Agency (PCA) - Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. Pioneer sent a demand letter claiming a debt balance of almost $310,000 - a shocking 223% increase from the original loan amount assigned to the SBA. Client's social security disability benefits were seized through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). Client hired the Firm to represent him as the debt continued to snowball despite seizure of his social security benefits and federal tax refunds as the involuntary payments were first applied to Treasury's collection fees, then to accrued interest with minimal allocation to the SBA principal balance.
We initially submitted a Cross-Servicing Dispute (CSD) challenging the referral of the debt to Treasury based on the defective notice sent to the defunct business address. Despite overwhelming evidence proving a violation of the Client's Due Process rights, the SBA still rejected the CSD. As a result, an Appeals Petition was filed with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) Court challenging the SBA decision and its certification the debt was legally enforceable in the amount claimed. After several months of litigation before the SBA OHA Court, our Firm Attorney successfully negotiated an Offer in Compromise (OIC) Term Workout with the SBA Supervising Trial Attorney for $82,000 spread over a term of 74 months at a significantly reduced interest rate saving the Client an estimated $241,000 in Treasury collection fees, accrued interest (contract interest rate and Current Value of Funds Rate (CVFR)), and the PCA contingency fee.
Client personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of over $150,000. Business failed and eventually shut down. SBA then pursued client for the balance. We intervened and was able to present an SBA OIC that was accepted for $30,000.
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