For-Profit College Borrower Defense Demand Letter

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Email]

[DATE]

[SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL & SUBMITTED ONLINE]
[To: U.S. Department of Education, Borrower Defense Unit (Submit via studentaid.gov/borrower-defense)]
[City, State ZIP]

RE: RE: Borrower Defense to Repayment Application – School: [School Name]

Dear Sir or Madam:

To the Borrower Defense Unit: I am submitting this borrower defense to repayment application seeking discharge of all federal student loans used to attend [SCHOOL NAME] based on substantial misrepresentation, fraud, and violations of [STATE] consumer protection laws. Borrower & Loan Information:
Name: [YOUR FULL NAME]
Date of Birth: [DOB]
SSN (last 4): [XXXX]
School Attended: [SCHOOL NAME AND LOCATION]
Program/Degree: [PROGRAM NAME]
Attendance Dates: [START DATE] to [END DATE / Withdrawal Date]
Direct Loan Amount: [TOTAL LOAN AMOUNT] Fraudulent Misrepresentations:
The school engaged in the following fraudulent conduct that induced my enrollment and borrowing: 1. False Job Placement Rate Claims:
During recruitment in [MONTH/YEAR], recruiter [NAME] told me the [PROGRAM] had a [PERCENTAGE]% job placement rate and graduates earned average starting salaries of [AMOUNT]. School marketing materials (attached) repeated these claims. In reality:
• The school inflated placement rates by counting [any employment/unrelated jobs/excluding non-respondents]
• I and most graduates [could not find employment in the field / earned far less than promised]
• [STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL / ACCREDITOR] found the school systematically falsified placement data 2. Accreditation Misrepresentations:
The school represented that the [PROGRAM] was accredited by [ACCREDITOR NAME] and recognized by employers and state licensing boards. In reality:
• The accreditation was [not recognized by Department of Education / fake / did not cover this specific program]
• Employers did not recognize the degree as valid
• I was unable to [sit for licensing exam / gain employment / transfer credits] due to lack of proper accreditation 3. Credit Transferability Fraud:
Recruiters promised all credits would transfer to [four-year universities / specific institutions] if I wanted to pursue a bachelor's degree. In reality:
• No legitimate colleges accepted any credits from [SCHOOL NAME]
• I attempted to transfer to [INSTITUTIONS] and was told credits were worthless
• I had to start education completely over, wasting [TIME] and [LOAN AMOUNT] 4. Aggressive Recruiting & High-Pressure Tactics:
Recruiters used high-pressure sales tactics including:
• [Multiple daily phone calls/texts demanding immediate enrollment]
• [False claims of limited enrollment slots or expiring opportunities]
• [Targeting of veterans/low-income students for federal aid]
• [Discouraging research of school's accreditation or outcomes] Legal Basis for Discharge:
Under 20 U.S.C. § 1087e(h) and 34 CFR § 685.206, I am entitled to loan discharge because:
1. Substantial Misrepresentation: The school made false statements about job placement rates, accreditation, and credit transferability as defined in 34 CFR § 668.71.
2. State Law Violations: The school's conduct violated [STATE] consumer protection laws prohibiting false advertising and deceptive trade practices, specifically [STATE STATUTE].
3. Reliance & Harm: I relied on these specific misrepresentations when deciding to enroll and borrow. Had I known the truth, I would not have attended. The worthless education caused financial harm of [LOAN AMOUNT] in debt with no employment benefit. Supporting Evidence of School Misconduct:
[SELECT APPLICABLE:]
• [STATE] Attorney General lawsuit filed [DATE] finding systematic fraud
• FTC enforcement action resulting in [SETTLEMENT/JUDGMENT]
• Loss of accreditation or Department of Education sanctions
• Class action lawsuits with findings of fraud
• School closure/bankruptcy following fraud allegations Requested Relief:
1. Full discharge of all Direct Loans totaling [AMOUNT] used to attend [SCHOOL NAME] 2. Refund of any payments made on discharged loans 3. Removal of all discharged loans from credit reports 4. Notification to all servicers to cease collection activities I have attached detailed evidence including enrollment materials, recruiter communications, employment search documentation, transfer credit rejections, and evidence of school-wide fraud. Please confirm receipt of this application and provide updates on the review timeline. Respectfully submitted, [YOUR FULL NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [YOUR PHONE AND EMAIL] [DATE] Enclosures: • School marketing materials and enrollment documents • Recruiter communications and promises • Evidence of reliance and harm (job search, salary, credit rejections) • Documentation of school fraud findings • [Other supporting evidence]

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]