NEW YORK (WHEC) -- It's a costly protest as former students are trying to dodge their debt.

The NBC affiliate in New York City spoke with a man participating in debt default. He is part of an online movement through a sub-Reddit called r/studentloandefaulters/. Essentially, it's a group of former students who are refusing to pay their private loans as a way to protest.

The group hopes to spark a nationwide debt strike. He showed a stack of papers from his loan provider totaling more than $80,000. It is money he never plans on paying back.

After nine months of not paying, your loan typically goes to a collection agency. Each state has a limit on the number of years an agency can try to collect on that debt.

However, experts warn it can have costly consequences.

One expert told NBC New York, 'worst case is your credit is ruined for at least seven years or longer, your bank accounts are frozen, your wages are garnished, the interest is accruing and you can't buy or sell your home.'

The student loan crisis has hit an all-time high, with nearly 45 million Americans owing more than $1.5 trillion.