Education & Student Aid · Surprise rank #159
Student-Loan Problem in NY? Get Free One-on-One EDCAP Counseling—and a State Complaint Route
New York funds free student-loan counseling through EDCAP and gives borrowers protections and a Department of Financial Services complaint route for covered servicer problems.
Who
New York student-loan borrowers seeking help with federal or private loan repayment, servicing or borrower-rights problems.
What to do
Start here: Contact EDCAP for counseling first if you need help choosing a repayment or forgiveness strategy; file a DFS complaint when the problem involves a covered student-loan servicer or lender practice.
Eligibility: EDCAP counseling is broadly available to New York borrowers. A DFS complaint must involve conduct within the agency's jurisdiction and applicable New York law.
What you get
EDCAP provides free one-on-one counseling on repayment, forgiveness, default and other student-loan issues, while DFS enforces New York student-borrower protections.
Benefit: Free professional counseling plus access to a state regulator for covered servicing complaints.
Possible value: Potentially substantial if counseling helps avoid default, find forgiveness or correct servicing problems; no fixed cash award.
Good to know
Important: EDCAP does not erase debt by itself and DFS cannot guarantee a favorable resolution. Federal loan rules still control federal repayment and forgiveness programs.
Availability: Active
Why people miss it: Borrowers often pay private 'student debt relief' companies without realizing New York funds independent counseling for free.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026