Kevin Brown

As of July 1, sweeping federal changes to the student loan system have affected roughly half a million Connecticut residents with student debt, narrowing repayment options, increasing monthly payments for many borrowers, and limiting affordable pathways to higher education.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are receiving notices to choose a new repayment plan within 90 days.
 
Anyone who does not choose will be automatically moved into the standard repayment plan, which could mean a sharply higher monthly bill. Two long-standing affordable options, Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE), will be phased out entirely by July 1, 2028.
 
And, the Grad PLUS program, which lets students borrow up to the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Graduate borrowing for unsubsidized loans is now capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 over a lifetime. Students in certain professional fields have a higher cap.
 
Still, the practical effect for many will be a turn toward riskier private loans that carry fewer protections and are not available to everyone.

No borrower should navigate these changes alone. Connecticut is one of a limited number of states with a dedicated Student Loan Ombudsperson, Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, housed at the state Department of Banking and backed by independent statutory authority under state law.

The Ombudsperson’s office can receive and work to resolve complaints against student loan servicers, whether the loan is federal or private. It can help borrowers understand and choose among repayment options and answer questions about switching plans or consolidating.
 
The Office can also step in to address problems such as misapplied payments, incorrect interest calculations, servicer changes, and errors in payment history or credit reporting, and it can connect borrowers to educational resources and help them navigate the transition off SAVE and into a new plan.

Borrowers can call the Office at 860-240-8170 or 800-831-7225, and press option 2 or:

• Email: banking.complaints@ct.gov
• File a complaint online: portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Complaints/Student-Loan-Servicer
Borrowers can also file complaints with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at 855-411-2372.

Connecticut also puts real dollars back in borrowers’ pockets through the Student Loan Reimbursement Program (SLRP), administered by the state Office of Higher Education. Residents can apply for or learn more about the Student Loan Reimbursement Program via:

• Website: portal.ct.gov/ohe (apply through the CT Scholars portal)
• Email: OHE.SLRP@ct.gov

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Lemon Law program returned a record $8.1M to owners of defective vehicles in 2025.

Last year, the Lemon Law Program received 165 applications, 24 of which were deemed ineligible with 141 cases leading to arbitration hearings. The hearings resulted in 13 no-action decisions, 15 cash-and-keep settlements, and 113 decisions to refund or replace the vehicle. The largest refund totaled $204,000. Refunds and replacement vehicles are provided by the vehicle manufacturers.

The Lemon Law program helps owners of defective vehicles that are at or under 2 years old with a mileage of 24,000 or less.

To be eligible for arbitration, a vehicle must meet all five requirements:

1. A new motor vehicle registered as a passenger car, combination (passenger and commercial) or motorcycle purchased or leased in Connecticut
2. Does not conform to the manufacturer’s express warranty
3. Has a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, safety, or value of the motor vehicle after a reasonable number of repair attempts. The law presumes “reasonable” as four attempts
4. The vehicle has manufacturer's defects that occurred during the eligibility period of the first 2 years from the original owner's delivery date or during the first 24,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
5. The vehicle could not be immediately repaired and was returned to the consumer with the defect OR the defect was brought to the attention of the dealer, and the dealer determined it was not a defect, or the mechanic was unable to verify the issue

The Lemon Law program does not cover defects caused by a consumer’s abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification of the vehicle. In addition, the program does not cover defects that are not covered under the manufacturer’s express warranty.

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