You can know if your student loans are in default by checking the following signs and sources:
- Time past due: For most federal student loans, default occurs if you have not made a payment for more than 270 days (about nine months)
. For private student loans, default often happens after missing three monthly payments or about 90 days, but this can vary by lender
- Notifications from your loan servicer: If your loans become delinquent or enter default, your loan servicer will usually notify you by mail, phone, or email about your late payments and default status
- Credit reports: Defaulted student loans will appear as derogatory marks on your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). You can check your credit report for free weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com to see if your loans are listed as in default
- Federal Student Aid website: Log in to your account at StudentAid.gov using your FSA ID to view the status of your federal student loans. If your loans are marked as "defaulted" or held by a collection agency, they are in default
- Contact your loan servicer or collection agency: If you are receiving calls or letters from debt collectors, that is a strong sign your loans are in default. You can also directly ask your servicer about your loan status
Summary of how to check if your student loans are in default:
- Confirm if payments are over 270 days late for federal loans (or 90 days for private loans).
- Look for notices from your loan servicer.
- Check your credit report for default listings.
- Log in to StudentAid.gov for federal loan status.
- Contact your loan servicer or collection agency for clarification.
If you find your loans are in default, it is important to take action promptly to avoid severe consequences such as wage garnishment, tax refund withholding, and damage to your credit score
