Factors That Can Affect the Success of an SBA Offer in Compromise Application
Factors That Can Affect the Success of an SBA Offer in Compromise Application
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.
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.
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.
Clients executed several trust deeds pledging seven (7) real estate properties and unconditional personal guarantees for an SBA 7(a) loan from the participating lender. The clients' small business failed and eventually defaulted on repayment of the loan exposing all collateral pledged by the clients. The SBA subsequently acquired the loan balance from the lender, including the right to liquidate and collect all pledged collateral pursuant to the trust deed instruments.
The Firm was hired to negotiate separate release of lien proposals for all 7 real estate properties. In preparation for the work assignment, the Firm Attorneys initiated discovery to secure records from the SBA and Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. After reviewing the records and understanding the interplay between the lender and the SBA, the attorneys then prepared, submitted and negotiated the release of lien (ROL) for each of the 7 real estate properties for consideration.
After submitting the proposals, the assigned SBA Loan Specialists approved each ROL package - significantly reducing the total SBA debt claimed.
.jpg)
