800K Student Loans Go Poof

Good things can happen by accident. In a situation reminiscent of the home loan crisis, some of the financial institutions trying to collect student loans have managed to lose the necessary paperwork. About 800,000 people with student loan debt may find their debts forgiven, if they can establish that they are one of the ones who benefit from the mistake. The debt relief would reach about $5B, not as large as the home loan crisis, yet large enough to cause problems for some financial institutions and their investors. (What’s in your mutual funds?) While it may sound simple, it can be difficult for borrowers and lenders to ascertain whether the correct paperwork is in place. Whether this is the first domino in yet another economic crisis or not, it is evidence of little or no improvement in the handling of debt, debt collection, and financial institutions in general.

“Like Magic, US Students Owing $5 Billion Of Debt Might Suddenly Owe Nothing” – Quartz