WILL EXPANDED SBA EXPOSURE TO START UPS CAUSE MORE SBA LOAN DEFAULTS?
We provide people who are facing an SBA loan default with solutions. We analyze SBA loan problems and provide solutions such as an SBA offer in compromise.
The SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued an Alert regarding SBA EIDL Loans and the potential warning signs involving COVID-19 fraud and abuse. This video article is an exact reproduction of the SBA OIG’s Notice of Alert that was published on 7/14/2020.
The Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is part of the nation’s response to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). These economic injury loans are intended to help eligible small businesses with expenses such as:
Interest rates vary between 2.75 percent and 3.75 percent. Terms are based on the borrower’s ability to repay but may be up to a maximum of 30 years. Eligibility determination is the same as for SBA’s Payroll Protection Program loans.
Note: Beginning July 11, 2020, SBA no longer offers advances on Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Until July 10, 2020, eligible small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and territories were able to request an advance of up to $10,000.
The current maximum loan amount is $150,000 per entity or a maximum amount of $2 million for all affiliated businesses. Loan disbursements and advances are made through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s automated clearing house system as deposits from SBA.
Lenders who have questions about eligibility or need to return money should contact SBA at eidl.ach.inquiries@sba.gov
What to Do if You Suspect Fraud
Lenders who suspect attempted fraud should contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or fill out the Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Lenders may also report fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal funds involving SBA programs, operations, or personnel to the SBA OIG Hotline at (800) 767-0385. You can also submit a complaint form at https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-inspector-general/office-inspector-general-hotline#section-header-0
Seeking and obtaining advice of counsel is an important step that small businesses should utilize prior to executing the final SBA EIDL loan documents and accepting receipt of federal funds in order to defend against an SBA OIG investigation or audit for potential fraud and abuse.
Protect Law Group has proven, nationwide experience handling regulatory and compliance issues involving the SBA loan program.
Owe more than $30,000? Contact Protect Law Group for a Case Evaluation or call us toll-free at 1-888-756-9969.
We can analyze your SBA debt or Treasury problems and advise you on potential solutions.
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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 received the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice for a loan that was obtained by her small business in 2001. The SBA loan went into default in 2004 but after hearing nothing from the SBA lender or the SBA for 20 years, out of the blue, she received the SBA's collection due process notice which provided her with only one of four options: (1) repay the entire accelerated balance immediately; (2) negotiate a repayment arrangement; (3) challenge the legal enforceability of the debt with evidence; or (4) request an OHA hearing before a U.S. Administrative Law Judge.
Client hired the Firm to represent her with only 13 days left before the expiration deadline to respond to the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice. The Firm attorneys immediately researched the SBA's Official loan database to obtain information regarding the 7(a) loan. Thereafter, the Firm attorneys conducted legal research and asserted certain affirmative defenses challenging the legal enforceability of the debt. A written response was timely filed to the 60-Day Notice with the SBA subsequently agreeing with the client's affirmative defenses and legal arguments. As a result, the SBA rendered a decision immediately terminating collection of the debt against the client's alleged personal guarantee liability saving her $50,000.
Clients executed personal and corporate guarantees for an SBA 7(a) loan from a Preferred Lender Provider (PLP). The borrower corporation defaulted on the loan exposing all collateral pledged by the Clients. The SBA subsequently acquired the loan balance from the PLP, including the right to collect against all guarantors. The SBA sent the Official Pre-Referral Notice to the guarantors giving them sixty (60) days to either pay the outstanding balance in full, negotiate a Repayment (Offer in Compromise (OIC) or Structured Workout (SW)), challenge their alleged guarantor liability or file a Request for Hearing (Appeals Petition) with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals.
Because the Clients were not financially eligible for an OIC, they opted for Structured Workout negotiations directly with the SBA before the debt was transferred to the Bureau of Fiscal Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury for enforced collection.
The Firm was hired to negotiate a global Workout Agreement directly with the SBA to resolve the personal and corporate guarantees. After submitting the Structured Workout proposal, the assigned SBA Loan Specialist approved the requested terms in under ten (10) days without any lengthy back and forth negotiations.
The favorable terms of the Workout included an extended maturity at an affordable principal amount, along with a significantly reduced interest rate saving the Clients approximately $181,000 in administrative fees, penalties and interest (contract interest rate and Current Value of Funds Rate (CVFR)) as authorized by 31 U.S.C. § 3717(e) had the SBA loan been transferred to BFS.
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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