On July 21, 2026, the FTC announced a proposed order against Dennise Merdjanian tied to a student loan debt forgiveness scheme. The agency alleged false affiliation with the U.S. Department of Education and false promises of student loan forgiveness, with more than $45.9 million taken from consumers.
What changed
The proposed order would permanently ban the defendant from the debt relief industry and telemarketing. The action reinforces FTC scrutiny of debt relief marketing and student loan relief claims under telemarketing and advertising standards.
Compliance perspective
Debt relief providers, lead generators, and telemarketers should review scripts, affiliation claims, and student loan forgiveness representations. Any inbound or outbound campaign tied to debt relief should be tested against TSR requirements and substantiation standards.
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