Avoiding Default

Your student loan is considered delinquent if you are past due in making your payment to your loan holder or servicer(s); this will be reported to the national credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). If you are past due, contact your loan holder or servicer(s) immediately.

The key to avoiding default on your past due student loan is to talk to your loan holder or servicer(s) about the repayment options available to you:  

• Change to a repayment plan that fits within your budget.

• You may be eligible for a deferment or forbearance to help bring your loan current. Check with your loan holder or servicer(s) to see if you qualify.

• Check into loan consolidation. This may allow you to combine your eligible student loan debt into a new loan with new terms and payments over a longer period time.   

• Review your budget and, if necessary, seek professional financial counseling. To get on a better financial path, speak to a local, nonprofit professional credit counselor regarding money management services. 

• In certain cases you may be eligible to have your student loans forgiven, canceled or discharged. Your loan holder or servicer(s) will help you determine if you qualify.

Don’t know your loan holder or servicer(s)? Use the National Student Loan Data System to access your student loan account and determine your total debt and the servicer(s) of your loans. You may also retrieve this information by calling 800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). You will need your FSA ID to access your NSLDS records.