How to Stop a Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania From PHEA

Stopping a wage garnishment from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is extremely difficult if the agency has already sent you a 30-day wage garnishment notice but it is possible. Stopping the collections process before garnishment is the ideal solution but if it is already too late for that, you do have the right to appeal the garnishment if you cannot pay your debt. American Education Services is the loan-servicing department for PHEAA and is the branch of the company that you will contact to negotiate a wage garnishment.

Instructions

1

Read your garnishment notice. The notice from PHEAA informs you of your right to appeal the garnishment, information regarding repaying the debt and reasons you may have to stop the garnishment but you must follow the instructions in the letter.

2

Contact PHEAA to arrange to pay your debt. If you have no grounds for stopping the garnishment, PHEAA must agree to a repayment plan to stop the garnishment.

3

Complete the hearing requested included with the notice. Requesting a hearing enables a hearing examiner to look over all of your loan documents and documents supporting your inability to pay. The hearing examiner also rules on any challenges that you make as to PHEAA's right to collect the loan.

4

File your hearing request within 30 days of receiving the notice. If you do not respond to the notice in time, the garnishment will begin. You can still have the hearing and the garnishment will cease if the examiner rules in your favor.

5

Attend the hearing. You can hire an attorney to represent you who will cross-examine any witnesses for PHEAA. PHEAA must provide the stenographic services for any telephone or in-person hearings.