Write a letter to your private student loan servicer asking them to give you information on how to apply for cancellation of your private student loans on the basis of fraud and/or misrepresentation by your school.

Tell your servicer that you are entitled to a process for private student loan relief because of your school’s misconduct and describe what that misconduct was.

You can submit your letter to your servicer by:

• Uploading it through your servicer’s portal

• Mailing them a copy (if you do this, make sure you send it certified mail with a return receipt)

• Via Email (if this is available)

Make sure to keep a copy of your letter for your own records. (*TIP: make sure to put your name and your account number on each page you submit).

Be thorough but concise in explaining to your servicer why you should be entitled to relief from your private student loans. Be specific and include details such as dates, amounts owed, and how specifically your school lied to you, did not deliver what they promised to you, and/or otherwise deceived you about the education you were getting and the total costs you would owe. (*TIP: If you already filed a federal borrower defense application, you can include the same information here).

Examples of documents that you can include in support of your letter are:

• A copy of a notice from the Department of Education approving your federal borrower defense to repayment application for your federal loans for the same school that your private loans are for (this includes a Sweet v. Cardona approval letter).

• A copy of a Department of Education public announcement of school misconduct related group discharge for students that attended certain for-profit schools. These schools include:

  • Marinello Schools of Beauty

  • Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (including WyoTech, Heald and Everest)

  • ITT Technical Institute

  • Westwood College

  • College America

  • The Art Institutes

In January of 2022, Navient entered into a settlement with 39 state attorneys general regarding its lending practices at a number of for-profit schools. If you attended one of the schools listed under the terms of the settlement, reviewable here, you can highlight that in your application.

Public information about lawsuits, enforcement actions, and investigations related to your school. A broad overview of enforcement actions, lawsuits, and investigations against many predatory, for-profit schools can be found here. These cases can be cited and included in your application as proof of your school’s wrongdoing.

Any original documentation you may have from your school that includes proof of misrepresentation, deceptive recruitment tactics, or substantial misconduct (i.e. enrollment agreements, financial aid claims, recruiters’ statements, job placement claims, etc.).

If you received an arbitrary denial from your servicer, with insufficient reasoning or justification, you should file a complaint with the CFPB. Though the Trump administration has shuttered the CFPB, complaints can still be submitted.  

Forward your CFPB complaint to your members of Congress. It is important for policymakers to know that you are having trouble with your student loans and that we continue to put policymakers on notice. You can find your federal representatives here. 

You can also reach out to your state lawmakers. This list includes contact information for student loan ombudsmen in several states. Another resource can be the consumer protection unit at your state’s Attorney General’s office 

Contact your servicer for information on why you were denied, and what additional information or documents you can submit for reconsideration of your application.  

Email us at info@ppsl.org with a copy of your denial letter. 

If you don’t receive a response from your servicer in 30 days, you should file a complaint with the CFPB. Include your complete application and attachments in your complaint and note that you submitted more than 30 days ago. Be sure to check your servicer’s portal for updates related to your application.