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Are you looking down the barrel of an arbitration clause in your consumer/creditor agreement?  I’ve posted before (Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts – How to Avoid Being Thrown out of Court) on some local case law here in Florida to help avoid arbitration clauses – but here’s a new case in the consumer’s favor in Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.

The Bankruptcy Court ruled that an arbitration clause did not constrain the court’s contempt powers, “[w]ords in a consumer agreement cannot deprive the bankruptcy court of the inherent power to enforce compliance with an injunction.”  Verizon Wireless Personal Communications, LP v. Bateman, No. 14-5369, Adv. Pro. No. 18-1394 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 24, 2019).

So if you’re in bankruptcy, or had a previously filed one that you can reopen (without a filing fee), challenge the arbitration clause in bankruptcy – you may be much more likely to win!

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https://www.tampabankruptcylawyerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/christie_d._arkovich_p.a_1_small.jpgAs a student loan attorney, I find this appalling.  What if someone hired me as their attorney and I failed to comply with the law 61% of the time?  I bet I’d be hearing from the Florida Bar pretty quickly and I’d probably lose my license to practice law.

But what happens when the federal student loan servicers fail to comply with the law 61% of the time?  Well the Department of Education doesn’t really seem to care.

Here are some key points raised in a 52 page an audit by the Office of Inspector General released recently (that we’ve been liberally sharing with our bankruptcy judges to show why the new Student Loan Management Program in bankruptcy court is needed):

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We are speaking at a number of student loan related presentations over the next couple months.  Please put any of interest on your calendar and send to other interested parties!

11/6/19 2:00 – 5:00 Bench Bar presentation on Student Loan Management Program (Tampa) (this is the day before the View From the Bench program – provided to our Judges etc. in advance)

11/7/19 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. NACA webinar (How and When to Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy) – focusing on private loan adversary cases.

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First off, to be covered under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the debt must be a consumer debt.

  • i.e. not a business debt.
  • Examples are credit cards used for personal/household items; a home loan, a student loan, a phone bill/utility bill, dishonored personal check, rent etc.
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https://www.tampabankruptcylawyerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/christie_d._arkovich_p.a_1_small.jpgThere is a separate process from the Social Security Administration’s process that is available through NelNet to discharge federal student loans (no matter who the servicer is).  It’s called a Total and Permanent Disability Application.  The good news is that it has been taking our firm only about two months to obtain this 100% discharge of student loans.  It’s also tax free for any applications approved prior to 2025.  After that, it will depend upon whether the program’s tax forgiveness waiver is extended by Congress.

A couple critical issues arise when filing these applications.  First, is the need to get it right the first time around — in other words don’t file a half-%$$ application and expect it to be approved by the Department of Education.  Second, many jobs nowadays are performed remotely and at all hours of the day or night.  So an employer’s inability to reasonably accommodate an employee under the Americans with Disabilities Act may need to be explored and included as a supplement to the TPD application.  Third, you can work, although at a minimal level and earning no more than the poverty level for a family of two.

This begs the question:  how much work can be performed, but yet qualify as being unable to engage in “substantial gainful activity”.

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https://www.tampabankruptcylawyerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/christie_d._arkovich_p.a_1_small.jpgWe often hear from clients who have tried to dispute, settle or otherwise get rid of student loan debt — with little results except for hours upon hours of telephone conversations with reps.  Consider hiring a student loan attorney to help you.  This review was posted by a happy client just yesterday!  Three months and she’s now debt free!

Years of stress and debt dismissed

5.0 stars

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https://www.tampabankruptcylawyerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/christie_d._arkovich_p.a_1_small.jpgThe TEPSLF was established for public service employees who had the correct loans, Direct loans, but were making a payment under a non-income driven plan – such as Extended, a 20-30 yr Standard, Graduated etc.  They key is you have to apply for PSLF, be denied, and then submit a second request to the TEPSLF as follows:

TEPSLF forgives debt for borrowers who meet the following requirements:

  • Have at least 10 years of full-time work experience for a qualifying non-profit or government employer
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This is a pretty cool map that shows the southeastern U.S. as ground zero for the student loan crisis.  Most all of Florida shows this to be a High, Very High or Extremely High debt level according to this map.

I’m glad our bankruptcy court for the Middle District of Florida is taking this very important step to implement a new Student Loan Management Program for all debtors in Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Ocala – and surrounding areas in between.  The program goes live on October 1 — and anyone who is a debtor in a pending case is eligible for this relief, as well as all future debtors!

Please reach out to us if you want to know more about the student loan program now being offered by our bankruptcy court.  We are also available to co-counsel on any cases with bankruptcy counsel who may be unfamiliar with the options available under this program.

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https://www.tampabankruptcylawyerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/07/christie_d._arkovich_p.a_1_small.jpgIf someone were to ask me what could be done legislatively to help student loan borrowers manage or reduce their student loan debt, I’d suggest and have suggested:

  • 1) simplification of the IDR programs- President Trump has included this in the two most recent budget proposals – one plan that fits all paying 12.5% of discretionary income for 15 yrs – but it should based upon the borrower’s income, not including their spouse;
  • 2) decrease interest rate for existing borrowers – many new federal loans are 3-4%, but many older ones are 6.8% which is high in today’s market, those with higher degrees range from 8-8.5%; and private loans are all over the place – 10-16% is not unheard of;
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