We understand that health issues or financial crises can impact the education loan availed. In such circumstances, education loan cancellation is seen as the last resort. You can submit a formal request to your bank along with supporting documents to justify the reason for cancelling the loan. The process will have implications on your credit score and come with other financial implications including fees. Let’s explore important details-
| Key Takeaways |
| Loan cancellation in India is not as widely structured as it is in some countries. In India, students may qualify for partial relief or restructuring of their loan repayments |
| Some of the key scenarios for education loan cancellation include the death of the borrower, permanent disability of the borrower, and natural calamities or financial hardships. |
| You can reach out to your bank’s branch manager or loan officer and submit a written application along with relevant documents to cancel your education loan. |
Table of contents
What is Education Loan Cancellation?
Education loan cancellation refers to the situation where borrowers seek cancellation of a loan availed due to unpredictable financial crises, health reasons, or sudden changes in plans. It is different from student loan forgiveness, in the sense that education loan cancellation involves terminating the loan agreement; while the latter is forgiving the portion or all of the outstanding student debt.
Loan cancellation in India is not as widely structured as it is in some countries, but specific provisions exist for relief in certain situations, such as:
- Government schemes for economically weaker sections (EWS).
- Cases of natural calamities or unforeseen circumstances.
- Death or permanent disability of the borrower.
While complete waivers are rare, students may qualify for partial relief or restructuring of their loan repayments under bank-specific or government-mandated schemes.
Can Student Loan be Cancelled?
It is possible to cancel the education loan under certain circumstances. The situations include the borrower’s inability to complete their education due to health issues, financial crisis, and other rare instances. Borrowers need to provide all the relevant documents to prove their situation and get the education loan cancelled. Some of the documents that can be attached are-
- A formal letter stating the reasons/ intention for education loan cancellation
- Loan approval documents like the sanction letter
- Your ID proof to verify your identity as the borrower/ applicant
- Documents to prove your reason/ situation. For example- if it is a health reason- medical certificates are to be attached.
Types of Education Loan Cancellation
The cancellation can be of two types- voluntary cancellation and automatic cancellation of education loan-
- Voluntary education loan cancellation is the process where the borrowers initiate the cancellation of education loans, requesting the lender to terminate the loan agreement. The applicant must be eligible to cancel the loan and can do so by submitting the relevant documents to prove cancellation of the loan.
- Automatic education loan cancellation might occur when the lenders cancel the loan without the borrower’s request. The reasons might include full repayment of the education loan, non-fulfilment of eligibility criteria, death of the borrower, and others.
Also Read: Having a gap after higher studies for entrance preparations or career building? Check out the details about obtaining a gap certificate for an education loan.
Education Loan Cancellation After Loan Sanction
One of the first scenarios of education loan cancellation is after the loan sanction. If your education loan is approved and the funds are not yet disbursed to the university’s account, you are eligible to cancel your education loan. The decision must be a quick one and you must immediately inform the lender of the situation.
- Make sure to submit a written formal request, or communicate the same through online channels via email.
- Explain the situation clearly and provide relevant documents to prove the reasons for education loan cancellation.
Education Loan Cancellation After Loan Disbursement
Another scenario of education loan cancellation is after the loan is disbursed. This process becomes extremely complex because the lenders disburse the education loan amount directly to the university’s account. Getting it cancelled and returned to the lender becomes challenging, time-consuming and costly.
Unfortunately, the borrowers don’t get a refund for the charges like processing fees on cancelling the education loan. They must return the principal amount along with accrued interest for the banks to process the cancellation.
It is ideal to cancel your education loan during the free lock-up period. It is the time provided to the borrowers to review the loan terms and conditions. With most lenders like Bajaj Finserv, it is three days after loan disbursement. Make sure to examine the policies, benefits, and EMIs. Borrowers can take an exit and cancel the education loan if they decide to not proceed.
How to Cancel an Education Loan?
The borrowers can get their education loan cancelled by following the simple steps. It starts with initiating the cancellation request to the lender and providing them with the required documents. Here are the steps to follow-
- Submit a formal request via a written letter, email or by calling customer support. Mention the reasons for loan cancellation and express your intent to cancel the loan.
- Attach the necessary supporting documents along with the request to prove the reasons along with other documents like proof of identity, loan agreement details, and other relevant certificates.
- Once you have submitted the education loan cancellation initiation request along with supporting documents, the lender will review the same and assess your eligibility.
- Upon successful approval, your education loan will be cancelled and you will notified of the status. Your education loan will be officially terminated.
Also Read: Comparing education loan interest rates is one of the best practices before applying for a loan with any lender. Compare the education loan interest rates of leading banks and NBFCs to find the best-suited lender.
Education Loan Cancellation Letter to Bank
When you need to cancel your education loan, it’s essential to communicate your intent clearly and formally. Below is a sample template for an education loan cancellation letter that you can customize according to your situation.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
To
[Bank Name]
[Branch Name]
[Bank Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: Request for Education Loan Cancellation
Respected Sir/ Ma’am,
I am writing to formally request the cancellation of my education loan with the following details:
Loan Account Number: [Your Loan Account Number]
Loan Amount: [Amount]
Date of Loan Approval: [Approval Date]
Due to [briefly explain your reason for cancellation, e.g., unforeseen circumstances, health issues, financial difficulties], I am unable to proceed with the loan. I understand the implications of this cancellation and have attached the necessary documents to support my request, including:
– A copy of the loan approval document
– Proof of identity (e.g., Aadhar card or PAN card)
– [Any other relevant documentation]
I kindly ask you to process this cancellation request at your earliest convenience and confirm the status of my application. I appreciate your understanding and assistance in this matter. Thank you for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name and Signature]
Also Read: If you wish to extend the repayment period and raise a formal request, check out this blog on education loan extension letter to the bank.
Implications of Canceling Education Loan
Cancellation of an education loan by the borrower is not a positive sign irrespective of the reasons. The applicant must incur financial penalties by paying cancellation charges (in the case of certain lenders). The creditworthiness of the applicant is immensely affected. Here are some key implications to consider-
- The loan cancellation affects the credit score of the borrower. Lenders lose their trust and become more cautious about lending them in future.
- There may be financial consequences as the borrower may lose income tax rebates on education loan.
- Education loan cancellation invites legal obligations if mentioned in the terms and conditions. Thus, it is not always a flexible option.
- The lenders will consider checking the education loan cancellation history, which could subsequently affect and reduce the borrower’s future borrowing opportunities.
Always consider these implications before the cancellation of education loans. Some other alternatives you can consider are education loan restructuring or education loan refinancing.
This was all about education loan cancellation. Make sure to consider it a last resort and choose alternatives like education loan restructuring and refinancing to save yourself from the implications of loan cancellation.
To know more about education loans, the best bank accounts for students, forex and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
FAQs
Yes, the borrowers can cancel their education loan in case of severe health conditions, changes in financial position or other rare instances. However, it is not recommended and always consider it a last resort.
Some common grounds for cancelling an education loan include severe health conditions, changes in financial position, better interest rates and benefits from other lenders, or other rare instances.
The borrowers can get their education loan cancelled by initiating the cancellation request to the lender and providing them with the relevant documents to support the reasons/ intent to cancel the loan.
Yes. Consider cancelling the loan during the free lock-up period (usually 3-5 days after loan disbursement). It is the time provided to the borrowers to review the loan terms and conditions and examine the policies, benefits, and EMIs. Borrowers can take an exit and cancel the education loan if they decide to not proceed.
Education loan cancellation will affect your credit score and lenders lose their trust in you. Banks check the education loan cancellation history, which can affect and reduce your future borrowing opportunities. Thus, it is not advisable to cancel your education loan.
Yes, you can cancel it before disbursement. Post-disbursement, repayment of the disbursed amount and applicable charges are mandatory.
Valid reasons include health issues, financial changes, alternate funding, or discontinuation of studies. Supporting documents are required.
Yes, it can reduce your credit score and future borrowing chances. Cancel only if necessary.
Submit a written cancellation request with supporting documents to your bank. Repay disbursed funds and any charges, if applicable.
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