On July 21, 2026, the FTC announced a proposed order against Dennise Merdjanian over an alleged student loan forgiveness scam. The order would permanently ban her from the debt relief industry and telemarketing, and it includes a monetary judgment of more than $45.9 million, partially suspended based on inability to pay.
What changed
The FTC advanced an enforcement action focused on false affiliation with the U.S. Department of Education and false promises of student loan forgiveness. The proposed order adds a permanent industry and telemarketing ban along with substantial monetary relief.
Compliance perspective
Debt relief companies, lead generators, and telemarketers should review scripts, affiliation claims, disclosures, and student lending representations against TSR standards and FTC deception risk. Licensing teams should also flag principals or control persons tied to similar conduct, because these facts can surface in state application disclosures.
Key date
Effective date: July 21, 2026.
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