My daughter could not pay her pell grant. Will the courts let her make payments? They are suing her.?

Question

In 1988 my daughter got a pell grant. She ended up not finishing college. She never could afford to repay the grant. Now she is getting sued. Do you think the courts will allow her to make payments? She owns half of a house and her x husband owns the other half? What do you think my daughter can expect to happen? This is her first time to go to court and she has no money for an attorney. Please only serious answers.

Answer 1

she had so much time to pay that grant back.  there is no excuse.  she needs to figure things out.  she's an adult.  why would the courts allow payments for something that she's had a chance to make payments on for 20 years?  are you sure it was a grant, and not a loan?  grants are usually not paid back.

Answer 2

I believe she will get off with a slap on the wrist.  They should allow her to make payments.  The worry I have is why does she have to repay a grant.  Usually grants are just that they are gratis no repayment, if she signed a loan then that sounds more like she has to repay that.  If you have or she has papers of what she signed then she can refer to it and find out what she is liable for.  There are attorneys at most legal aid offices that will allow you free advice and maybe an attorney.  You need to make the call.

Answer 3

Yes, they will allow her to make payments.  She needs to call the collection agency (it is not likely a Pell she owes on, but a student loan) and make arrangements to start paying.  The longer she puts it off, the more she will have to pay in the long run.  If she doesn't make arrangements to pay they will garnish her wages and take her income tax returns.