Tagged as: Student Loans

North Carolina Attorney General Secures $377,000 in Settlement with Private Student Lender

​On March 27, 2017, the North Carolina Attorney General (“AG”) announced that it had settled a lawsuit filed in the Wake County, North Carolina Superior Court against a student loan company. As a result of the settlement, the parties filed a consent judgment requiring that the company pay $377,048 in restitution…

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Student Loan Debt Collector Settles with FTC for $700,000 Over Alleged FDCPA and FTC Act Violations

FTC

On February 14, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it had entered into a stipulated order with a student loan debt collector, resolving allegations that the debt collector violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) in its servicing of over two million accounts in…

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CFPB Files Lawsuit Against Largest U.S. Student Loan Servicer Over Deceptive Practices

On January 18, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it had filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against a servicer of private and federal student loans, alleging that the servicer used deceptive practices related to borrower repayment. The student loan servicer is…

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Washington AG Brings Suit Against National Student Loan Servicer for Deceptive Practices

On January 18, 2017, the Attorney General (AG) of Washington announced that it filed a lawsuit against the nation’s largest student loan servicer and related entities alleging deceptive lending, servicing, and debt collection practices. According the AG’s Complaint, ​​filed in King County, Washington Superior Court, ​the servicer engaged in a…

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Massachusetts AG Announces $2.4 Million Settlement with Student Loan Servicer Over Improper Servicing Practices

On November 22, 2016, the Massachusetts Attorney General announced that it entered into a settlement agreement with a national student loan servicing company over allegations the company violated various state and federal consumer protection laws.  The investigation into the company’s student loan servicing practices began in December 2015. According to…

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CFPB Issues Consent Order Against Education Company For Illegal Student Lending Practices

On September 12, 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) announced the issuance of a consent order with a for-profit college chain that allegedly deceived its students into taking out loans that were more expensive than advertised. For the last several years, the for-profit education company allegedly had enrolled hundreds of thousands of…

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Massachusetts AG Settles with Student Debt Relief Company Over Alleged Illegal Fees

On September 1, 2016, the Massachusetts Attorney General (“AG”) announced a settlement with a student loan debt relief company, over allegations the company charged illegal fees to enroll borrowers in income-based repayment plans and other loan modification services. The company allegedly offered “debt relief” services to borrowers, which included assisting borrowers…

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Washington AG Settles Lawsuits with Six Student Loan Adjustors for Alleged Deceptive Practices

On April 7, 2016, the Washington Attorney General (“AG”) announced settlements with six student loan adjustment companies which were alleged to have “preyed on students” by charging excessive fees. The Washington AG claimed that these firms violated Washington’s Debt Adjustment Act and Consumer Protection Act by overcharging 346 Washington students…

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CFPB Settles Illegal Fees Allegations with Student Debt Relief Company

On March 15, 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it had entered into a consent order and settlement with a national student debt relief company over allegations that the company charged illegal and excessive fees. According to the Complaint, the company operated online student debt management websites that offered services related to…

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DOJ and State AGs Obtain $100 Million in Student Debt Relief for Students of For-Profit Colleges

On November 16, 2015, the DOJ announced a settlement with a national for-profit education company over alleged violations of the False Claims Act and the Higher Education Act. The settlement resolves four separate qui tam suits filed against the company in federal court. In conjunction with the DOJ announcement, the Attorneys General…

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Washington Attorney General Victorious Against Student Loan Debt Adjustment Company

​​On November 10, 2015, the Washington Attorney General announced ​it received a judgment in Washington Superior Court against a student loan debt adjustment company for allegedly overcharging students and collecting unlawful fees. The judgment comes approximately three months after summary judgment was entered in favor of the Attorney General, as was reported ​by…

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CFPB Summarizes Supervisory Trends for May through August, 2015

On November 3, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its Supervisory Highlights report​ detailing the Bureau’s supervision efforts for May through August of 2015. The report summarizes the violations of consumer protection laws the Bureau observed during the four-month period and identifies the areas in which the Bureau has…

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CFPB Releases Guidance on Student Loan Servicing Reform

​On September 29, 2015, the CFPB released a report outlining perceived failures in servicing of both private and federal student loans.  Some of the issues identified in the report include:  servicers not disclosing alternative repayment programs; servicing transfers resulting in processing problems, such as surprise fees and lost repayment benefits; customer service…

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Washington State Attorney General Obtains Judgment Against Private Student Loan Company Over Illegal Fees

​On August 18, 2015, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced​ the entry of summary judgment​ against a regional student loan processing company in a case involving alleged illegal fees charged to borrowers. The company offered student loan modification services, including income-based repayment plans, debt consolidation, and debt forgiveness. According…

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