Student loan servicers have started placing automated phone calls to SAVE borrowers, warning them that their loans will reenter repayment when the forbearance ends and that they'll need to pick a new plan or one will be chosen for them.
Some borrowers have begun shared transcripts of the messages online. One automated message from Nelnet tells borrowers their "loans will reenter repayment when the SAVE plan ends" and that they "will need to choose a new repayment plan. If you don't choose a plan, one will be assigned for you."
The call points borrowers to StudentAid.gov, notes that the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) "becomes available starting July 1st," and reminds those enrolled in auto-debit that payments will pull automatically even if they don't select a plan and default to Standard.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!
Why It Matters
The Department of Education has been contacting borrowers in the SAVE plan forbearance over the last several months. A second email "courtesy" notice went out in May, and in an interview with The College Investor last week, Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said another round of outreach will happen in June.
This round would be the first direct outreach many SAVE borrowers will have received by phone. Roughly 7 million borrowers still need to leave SAVE, and the calls appear to be designed to ensure as many borrowers are reached as possible.
We reached out to the Department of Education for comment, but haven't heard a response.
The Details
The SAVE plan was struck down in court and the remaining borrowers in the associated SAVE forbearance will need to select a new repayment plan in the coming months.
Starting July 1, 2026, servicers begin formally notifying borrowers, who then have a 90-day window to choose a new plan. The new options include RAP and a tiered standard plan, alongside existing IBR. Borrowers who don't act risk being moved into the standard repayment plan.
RAP, the new income-driven option, sets payments based on adjusted gross income minus $50 per dependent and includes an interest subsidy and a principal match designed so on-time payments always lower the balance.
Watch Out For Scams
Major changes like the SAVE forbearance ending are exactly when scammers ramp up, preying on confused borrowers with urgent calls, texts, and emails.
Real servicers will never ask you to pay a fee to switch repayment plans, and no legitimate company needs an upfront payment to do something you can do yourself for free.
If you get a call about your loans, don't share personal information, your FSA ID, or payment details on the spot. These are red flags for student loan scams.
Hang up and reach out directly using a number you trust — call your servicer at the number on your official statements or log in at StudentAid.gov.
Picking a new plan, enrolling in RAP, and setting up auto-debit are all free and can be done quickly and easily online, and nobody needs to pay a third party to get it done.
How This Connects
This latest round of outreach matches what we heard directly from the top federal official overseeing the program. In our June 10 interview, Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent told us that the SAVE plan is "dead," that servicers would notify borrowers in tranches rather than all at once, and that another round of notices would go out to borrowers in June as a reminder ahead of the July 1 changes.
Kent's advice to borrowers was blunt: "Don't wait until July 2nd."
The automated calls now circulating appear to be exactly that June reminder wave. Kent noted more than 300,000 SAVE borrowers had already switched, leaving roughly 7 million who still need to move.
He also reiterated that broad forgiveness "is not going to happen," so borrowers should plan to repay.
The calls are likely a legitimate reminder, but borrowers shouldn't make decisions over the phone. The safest move is to log in directly at StudentAid.gov, compare RAP against the tiered standard and IBR plans using a student loan calculator, and confirm auto-debit settings before billing resumes.
Don't Miss These Other Stories:
Editor: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.