subject: Student Loan Debt Collection: Knowledge Is Power [print this page] If you have student loans, you know what a challenge they can be to pay off. Sometimes it might seem as if you're never going to get ahead and almost all of your income goes into paying the high interest rates of these loans. Maybe that's why so many people have defaulted on their loans. When you add up expensive education, high interest to pay for it and a bad economy, it's not surprising that so many people are struggling in this area.
It's pretty easy to find yourself in the student loan debt collection trap, but sometimes it's just as easy to get yourself out of a bad situation when you take the right steps.
* Know what your loans are and whom they are with. When you have a good idea as to what you're paying and who you're paying, you'll be more likely to get into contact with them should you need to. You can often keep your student loans in good standing if you are willing to call the lender and tell them your situation. Avoiding default on your student loans is always your best bet.
* Know your rights when it comes to debt collection. If you've gotten to this point, you should know that your creditor will likely be willing to work with you, but you have to talk to them first. Tell them your situation and see what can be worked out. This is often for the better because you can help to prevent more aggressive measures from being taken against you.
* Should you find that you do have default student loans, and you're facing garnishment of your wages or other potentially drastic measures by a lender, you might want to consult a fair debt attorney. They can often help to make it possible for you to resume payments on your loans that you can better afford and help you avoid defaulting on them.
* You might also want to consider refinancing your loans before they become a big problem. Refinancing isn't going to take the debt away, but it might help to keep your credit in good standing and lower interest rates for a payment you can more easily afford.
* Sometimes, you will have to dispute a student loan. Your fair debt attorney might be able to help advise you of when it's time to take this step and how it can help your individual situation.
Student loans are great. They give many people the funds they need to get the education they want to have. The problem for many is that it can be very, very costly to repay them. By taking the right steps, you can avoid defaulting on your student loans and keep your credit and finances on stable ground.
