Taking out student loans is a necessary step for many students who need to finance their education by means other than personal income and forms of financial aid. Taking out these loans is a big responsibility on the part of the student. Unfortunately, college debt can be overwhelming, and many students find themselves unable to make payments when their loans eventually come due. As a current or prospective loan holder, you should know that defaulting on your student loans is not an option you should ever consider. Learning how defaulting on your loans can harm you in the future may help you to make the right decision when it comes to your student loans.
You've heard of people declaring bankruptcy and losing their homes. Similarly, people who default on car loans have their vehicles repossessed. While these situations are hardly desirable, a person who loses his or her house or car is no longer responsible for payments on the loans. As a student who is overwhelmed by student loan debt, you may think that defaulting is also an option for you. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.
What happens when you default on your loans? For one, you can never really get out of paying back your loans. If you default, your guarantor will garnish your wages, meaning that they will force your employer to take money out of your paycheck until your debt is paid. Your annual tax refund will also be garnished to be put towards your debt. Lottery winnings may even be taken. In other words, you have no choice but to eventually repay what you owe.
In addition, defaulting on your student loan will actually increase the total that you owe. Why? Because by turning over your debt to a collection agency, your guarantor incurs a fee that will be passed along to you, the defaulter. Your debt could increase by as much as 25 percent, simply because a collection agency has been brought into the picture.
You'll also harm your credit by defaulting on a student loan. If you are a young student, you may not think having good credit is important to you, but just wait until you want to buy a house or a car! You won't be able to, since no lender will trust you or accept you as a borrower due to your history of defaulting on your student loans.
Of course, economic hardship is a reality for many recent college graduates. If you have not found a job by the time your loans come due, or if you are experiencing financial difficulties, you have options. Talk to your lender about deferment, forbearance, and other options that you have to put off or reduce the amount of your loan payments until you get back on your feet.
Undergoing financial counseling both before and after taking out student loans is always a good idea. This way, you'll be aware of all your options as well as the consequences of your actions if you default on a student loan.
For many students, incurring debt to pay for college is unavoidable. Student loans can creep up on you. What can be avoided are the results of irresponsible loan management. Consider all the options to help lower a college tuition, such as online classes, before committing to a school and taking out any loans.
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