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At Protect Law Group, we are proud to be the go-to law firm for small business owners facing loan challenges. If your business is struggling to make loan payments, you may be dreading the possibility of defaulting on your SBA loan. Your thoughts may be running wild with questions such as, “what happens if I can’t keep up with my SBA payments?” or “what are the consequences of defaulting?”
If you’re wondering what happens when you default on an SBA loan, you’re not alone. In today’s blog, we’re discussing four important things you need to know about defaulting on an SBA loan. Keep reading to learn more, then reach out to our SBA loan attorneys today.
Your Creditor has the Right to Accelerate Payments
When you default on an SBA loan, the creditor has the right to immediately demand payment on the entire balance of the loan. This means that even if there are more payments due on the loan, they can now be immediately due and payable. This can be a massive financial burden for any small business owner to bear.
You Are Liable for Collection Costs
As part of the loan documents, you likely agreed that you would be liable for the costs associated with the creditor collecting the loan in case of a default. This can include attorney’s fees and other collection costs.
Defaulted Loans Can Hurt Your Credit Score
Along with financial repercussions, defaulting on an SBA loan can also have a negative impact on your credit score. A defaulted loan appears on your credit report and affects your credit score, making it more difficult to get loans or credit in the future.
Defaulted Loans Can Lead to Legal Action
Just as defaulting on a loan could seriously damage your credit, it can also trigger legal action. If your creditor is unable to collect the loan balance, they may take legal action against you. In extreme cases, your assets may be seized, or your wages could be garnished.
Defaulting on an SBA loan can have serious consequences if not handled carefully. Thankfully, we offer the SBA loan help you need to get through the difficulty and find relief. Business debt relief is possible — and our SBA loan attorneys can help provide you with the assistance you need to navigate the nuances of a difficult system and get the loan forgiveness you need.
At Protect Law Group, our passionate SBA loan attorneys have the knowledge and experience to help guide you through the legal process and identify the best solution for your financial situation. From SBA loan investigation and discovery to deferment and modification, our mission is to ensure you have advice tailored to suit your needs. If you have any questions regarding defaulting on an SBA loan or what you can do in your specific situation, don’t hesitate to contact us now!
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.
Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $750,000. She and her husband signed personal guarantees exposing all of their non-exempt income and assets. With just 18 months left on the maturity date and payment on the remaining balance, the Great Recession of 2008 hit, which ultimately caused the business to fail and default on the loan terms. The 7(a) lender accelerated and sent a demand for full payment of the remaining loan balance. The SBA lender’s note allowed for a default interest rate of about 7% per year. In response to the lender's aggressive collection action, Client's husband filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in an attempt to protect against their personal assets. However, his bankruptcy discharge did not relieve the Client's personal guarantee liability for the SBA debt. The SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection against the Client to the SBA. The Client then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice. After conducting a Case Evaluation with her, she then hired the Firm to respond and negotiate on her behalf with just 34 days left before the impending referral to Treasury. The Client wanted to dispute the SBA’s alleged debt balance as stated in the 60-Day Notice by claiming the 7(a) lender failed to liquidate business collateral in a commercially reasonable manner - which if done properly - proceeds would have paid back the entire debt balance. However, due to time constraints, waivers contained in the SBA loan instruments, including the fact the Client was not able to inspect the SBA's records for investigation purposes before the remaining deadline, Client agreed to submit a Structured Workout for the alleged balance in response to the Official 60-Day Notice as she was not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) because of equity in non-exempt income and assets. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist approved the Workout proposal, reducing the Client's purported liability by nearly $142,142.27 in accrued interest, and statutory collection fees. Without the Firm's intervention and subsequent approval of the Workout proposal, the Client's debt amount (with accrued interest, Treasury's statutory collection fee and Treasury's interest based on the Current Value of Funds Rate (CVFR) would have been nearly $291,030.
Client personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of $58,000. The client received a notice of Intent to initiate Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) Proceedings. We represented the client at the hearing and successfully defeated the AWG Order based on several legal and equitable grounds.
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.
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