What the SBA’s 43% Workforce Reduction Could Mean for Your SBA Loan in 2025
Defaulting on a SBA loan with the Trump Administration's reduction in SBA staff will impact your chances for resolution. Learn about the impact and how to protect yourself.
You may have learned that your defaulted SBA loan was "charged off". You are still liable for the loan deficiency, however, and competent legal counsel is highly recommended.
The transcript of the video follows below for further review.
What is SBA's Policy Regarding Charge Off Accounts? Many times people think that because their defaulted SBA loan has been “charged off” they are not longer liable to the SBA. Unfortunately, this is not the case. “Charge off” is the process by which SBA recognizes a loss and removes the uncollectible loan account from its active receivable accounts. The SBA's policy is to be diligent and thorough in collection of debt and to promptly charge off all uncollectible accounts to more accurately reflect the status of the individual account and the Agency's entire portfolio. It should be noted that a charge off is merely an administrative determination that does NOT affect SBA's rights against any obligor nor reduce the SBA's (or a participant lender's) ability to proceed with any available remedy. A charge off is justified when the third party lender has complied with all requirements of collection and liquidation and further collection of any substantial portion of the debt is doubtful. The determination to justify a charge off may be based on one or more of the following:
a) The third party lender has exhausted all efforts in cost-effective recovery from:
Voluntary payments from the borrower;
Liquidation of collateral;
Compromise with obligor leaving only a deficiency balance; and
Consideration has been given to any legal remedies available so that no further reasonable expectation of recovery remains.
b) Estimated costs of future collection exceed any anticipated recovery;
c) Obligor cannot be located or is judgment proof;
d) The Lender/SBA's rights have expired (e.g., statute of limitations, restrictions of State law, Agency policy);
e) Debt is legally without merit;
f) Adjudication of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy as a no asset case, or completion of Chap 11/13 case;
g) The inability of the Lender to effect further worthwhile recovery.
If your defaulted SBA loan has been charged off you will still need an experienced attorney to help negotiate a settlement. Contact Protect Law Group today at (888) 756-9969 or at www.sba-attorneys.com and schedule your consultation with an SBA workout attorney.
We analyze your SBA loan problems and advise you on potential solutions such as an SBA offer in compromise for your SBA loan default.
Helping provide real solutions to individuals who are facing SBA loan problems. Contact one of our experienced SBA Attorneys and Federal Agency Practitioners today for a Case Evaluation - (888) 756-9969.
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.
Small business and guarantors obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $1,000,000. Clients defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for collection. Treasury added nearly $500,000 in collection fees totaling $1,500,000. Clients were served with the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice and exercised the Repayment option by applying for the SBA’s Hardship Accommodation Plan. However, their application was summarily rejected by the SBA without providing any meaningful reasons. Clients hired the Firm to represent them against the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury. During litigation and before the OHA court issued a final Decision and Order, the Firm successfully negotiated a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, a modification of the original repayment terms, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.
Clients obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $324,000 to buy a small business and its facility. The business and real estate had an appraisal value of $318,000 at the time of purchase. The business ultimately failed but the participating lender abandoned the business equipment and real estate collateral even though it had valid security liens. As a result, the lender recouped nearly nothing from the pledged collateral, leaving the business owners liable for the deficiency balance. The SBA paid the lender the 7(a) guaranty money and was assigned ownership of the debt, including the right to collect. However, the clients never received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and were denied the opportunity to negotiate an Offer in Compromise (OIC) or a Workout directly with the SBA before being transferred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, which added an additional $80,000 in collection fees. Treasury garnished and offset the clients' wages, federal salary and social security benefits. When the clients tried to negotiate with Treasury by themselves, they were offered an unaffordable repayment plan which would have caused severe financial hardship. Clients subsequently hired the Firm to litigate an Appeals Petition before the SBA Office & Hearings Appeals (OHA) challenging the legal enforceability and amount of the debt. The Firm successfully negotiated a term OIC that was approved by the SBA Office of General Counsel, saving the clients approximately $205,000.
Clients personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of over $300,000. Clients also pledged their homes as additional collateral. SBA OIC accepted $87,000 with the full lien release against the home.
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