§ 17.72 - Methods of collection and imposition of late charges.

(a) Demand for payment. Appropriate written demands shall be made upon the debtor which shall include information relating to the consequences of his failure to cooperate.

(b) Methods of collection: Administrative and salary offset. The Department may use administrative offset and salary offset procedures as alternative methods for the collection of money owed the Department from those set out in this section. For specific procedures on administrative offset see §§17.100 through 17.118. For specific procedures on salary offset see §§17.125 through 17.140.

(c) Method of collection: Liquidation of collateral. Where the Department holds security or collateral that may be liquidated and the proceeds applied on debts due it through the exercise of a power of sale in the security instrument, such procedures will be followed if the debtor fails to pay his or her debt within a reasonable time after demand, unless the cost of disposing of the collateral will be disproportionate to its value, or unless special circumstances require judicial foreclosure.

(d) Collection in installments. Claims with accrued interest should be collected in full in one lump sum whenever this is possible. However, if the debtor is financially unable to pay the indebtedness in one lump sum, payment may be accepted in regular installments.

(e) Interest. Where prejudgment interest is not mandated by statute, contract or regulation, the minimum rate of interest to be charged on delinquent debts is the Tax and Loan Account Rate for the U.S. Treasury (also known as the Current Value of Funds rate) as prescribed and published semiannually by the Secretary of the Treasury in theFederal Register,in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717. Prejudgment interest may be waived as an inducement to voluntary payment. In such cases demand letters should inform the debtor that prejudgment interest will be collected if suit becomes necessary. When a debt is paid in installments and interest is collected, installment payments will first be applied to the payment of accrued interest and then to principal unless a different rule is prescribed by statute, contract or regulation. Prejudgment interest shall not be demanded or collected on civil penalty and forfeiture claim unless the statute under which the claim arises authorizes the collection of such interest.

(f) Omission not a defense. Failure of HUD to comply with any standard prescribed in 4 CFR parts 101 through 105 or in this subpart shall not be available as a defense to any debtor.

[36 FR 24427, Dec. 22, 1971. Redesignated and amended at 49 FR 32349, 32350, Aug. 14, 1984; 59 FR 34580, July 6, 1994]