Every year, thousands of Americans are contacted by student loan debt relief companies via mail and email. These companies purport to help student loan borrowers manage or reduce their student loan repayment for a fee. However, many of these companies are charging fees for services that your federal loan servicer provides for free or that you can complete on your own. 

So-called student debt relief companies claim that they can get your student loans forgiven and that they can help you avoid default by reviewing your loan files, negotiating with your lenders, and submitting an application on your behalf for student loan forgiveness. They may even have correct information about you or your loan balance, giving the impression that they are legitimate. 

The law, however, prohibits these companies from acting in unlawful, unfair, deceptive, or abusive ways, and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is here to help you.