Penalty Amount
$45,900,000
The FTC permanently banned Dennise Merdjanian from the debt relief industry and telemarketing after she and Superior Servicing LLC allegedly ran a student loan forgiveness scam that took more than $45.9 million from consumers. The proposed stipulated order imposes a partially suspended monetary judgment and resolves the FTC's litigation against the remaining defendants.
Merdjanian is permanently banned from debt relief services and telemarketing. The order imposes a monetary judgment of more than $45.9 million, partially suspended due to inability to pay, with the full amount immediately due if she materially misrepresents her finances.
In-house legal teams should review vendor, marketing, and telemarketing agreements with lead generators, call centers, and debt-relief service providers to ensure compliance with the FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales Rule. Contracts should include representations and warranties prohibiting false claims of government affiliation or guaranteed forgiveness, require advance-fee prohibitions, and impose audit/termination rights for deceptive practices. Data-processing clauses should restrict the use of student loan borrower personal information and require consent before sharing for marketing purposes, with indemnification for regulatory penalties.
Entity
Dennise Merdjanian
Industry
Financial ServicesOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/07/student-loan-forgiveness-scammer-permanently-banned-debt-relief-industry-telemarketing
superior servicing tro
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/superior_servicing_tro.pdf
StipulatedOrder EricCaldwell
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/StipulatedOrder-EricCaldwell.pdf
StipulatedOrder DavidHernandez
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/StipulatedOrder-DavidHernandez.pdf
OrderGrantingStipulatedPIforDefDenniseMerdjanian
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/OrderGrantingStipulatedPIforDefDenniseMerdjanian.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"Dennise Merdjanian, an operator of a student loan debt forgiveness scheme"
"imposes a monetary judgment of more than $45.9 million"
"prohibits him from violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule"
"pretended to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education and falsely promised student loan forgiveness"
"permanently banned from the debt relief industry and telemarketing"
"July 21, 2026"
$600K
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