FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2024
DATCP Contact: Caleb Kulich, Public Information Officer, (608) 621-1290, caleb.kulich@wisconsin.gov
DFI Contact: Jess Noelck, Communications Director, (608) 261-4504, DFICommunications@dfi.wisconsin.gov
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), together with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and Savi, today announced they are hosting a free student loan repayment webinar on Tuesday, April 9. Join this interactive webinar to learn about federal student loan repayment plans and forgiveness programs, including the U.S. Department of Education’s one-time payment count adjustment taking place this summer.
“To qualify for the U.S. Department of Education’s one-time payment count adjustment, borrowers must have Federal Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans, commonly referred to as FFEL program loans, that are held by the U.S. Department of Education,” said DFI Secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins. “For borrowers who have commercially managed FFELs, Parent PLUS loans, Perkins loans, or Health Education Assistance Loans, known as HEAL program loans, they must apply for a Direct Consolidation Loan by April 30, 2024, to get the full benefits of the one-time payment count adjustment.”
“Borrowers don’t need to pay a fee to consolidate their loans, receive loan cancellation, or reduce their monthly payments,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Consumers can do all of this for free on the U.S. Department of Education’s website at StudentAid.gov. Borrowers with questions are encouraged to attend this informational student loan repayment webinar to learn more about the many resources available to them for free.”
“The borrower experience has been broken for too long. Savi is on a mission to change that experience for the better,” said Lindsay Clark, chief borrower advocate for Savi. “No borrower should struggle alone, which is why we’ve created this space for our community of borrowers, friends, and family members to access trusted support and guidance around their student loan debt.”
Join the “Student Loan Repayment Webinar” on Tuesday, April 9, at 12 p.m. Central Time by registering for the free webinar here.
During this interactive webinar, borrowers will learn about current student loan debt relief scams to avoid and how to use the free Wisconsin Student Loan Repayment Tool, created by public benefit corporation Savi. Savi is a technology startup on a mission to help borrowers navigate the complex student loan system. Their student loan experts will answer questions about federal student loan repayment and explain how their tool can help borrowers navigate the complexities of federal student loan repayment plans, forgiveness programs, and lowering student loan payments. Using Savi’s tool may help borrowers reduce their monthly payments and optimize their repayment plans. To learn more, visit ElevateWI.BySavi.com. Student loan borrowers can find additional free repayment resources on the DFI’s student loan debt repayment webpage.
Borrowers with questions are encouraged to call the Wisconsin Student Loan Help Hotline at (833) 589-0750 or contact Federal Student Aid. Student loan borrowers who have been the victim of a scam should report it by filing a complaint online, emailing DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov, or calling DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128.