• A default occurs when a borrower fails to make the required payments on the debt.

  • Defaults can occur on secured debt, such as a home mortgage, or on unsecured debt, such as credit cards or student loans.
  • Defaults expose borrowers to lawsuits and may limit their access to credit in the future.
  • The US government has suspended student loan collection and interest accrual through December 31, 2022 as a COVID-19 relief measure.