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If you have defaulted on your SBA loan, a private collection agency may start contacting you to collect the SBA loan. Who and what are private collection agencies (PCAs)?
The Department of Treasury contracts with four private collection agencies, known by their common names: Performant, Pioneer Credit, CBE Group and Conserve. If you have been contacted by one of these four PCAs, your defaulted SBA loan has been referred to the Department of Treasury for collection who has contracted with one of the PCAs to collect for the Department of Treasury. The PCAs, of course, have a financial incentive to collect on the defaulted SBA loan.
The Claims Collection Act authorizes the Department of Treasury to contract with private collection agencies. However, the Department of Treasury must retain the authority to resolve disputes, compromise claims, end collection actions and refer claims to the Department of Justice.
The PCAs are bound by the Privacy Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to debt collection practices.
The PCAs are not only tasked with sending letters and making phone calls demanding payment, but they may also send notices of administrative wage garnishments. Therefore, any letters sent by a PCA should be opened and read immediately because if a notice of administrative wage garnishment is sent, you only have a short amount of time to file a request for hearing and challenge the administrative wage garnishment.
Furthermore, the Department of Treasury may use multiple PCAs to try to collect on the defaulted SBA loan; that is, by way of example, although Performant may have the first opportunity to collect, the debt may later be transferred to Pioneer for collection. As such, if a PCA contacted you regarding your SBA loan default, do not ignore the PCA, it is time to take action and deal with the debt.
If you are facing an SBA loan default, contact Protect Law Group today at www.sba-attorneys.com or 1-888-756-9969 to schedule your FREE initial consultation.
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.
Our firm successfully assisted a client in closing an SBA Disaster Loan tied to a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The borrower obtained an EIDL loan of $153,800, but due to the prolonged economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business was unable to recover and ultimately closed.
As part of the business closure review and audit, we worked closely with the SBA to negotiate a resolution. The borrower was required to pay only $1,625 to release the remaining collateral, effectively closing the matter without further financial liability for the owner/officer.
This case highlights the importance of strategic negotiations when dealing with SBA settlements, particularly for businesses that have shut down due to unforeseen economic challenges. If you or your business are struggling with SBA loan debt, we focus on SBA Offer in Compromise (SBA OIC) solutions to help settle outstanding obligations efficiently.
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.
Clients personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan balance of $65,000 for their Texas-based business. The SBA loan was paid down to $41,000 before the business failed. The loan was referred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. Treasury assessed its collection fees increasing the debt to $66,000. The client received a Notice of Intent to Initiate Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) Proceedings. The Firm represented the client at the hearing and successfully challenged the legal enforceability of the debt. Based on our legal arguments, the Hearing Officer issued a Decision and Order terminating collection of the $66,000 debt by operation of law.
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