TD sought over $50,000 from a grieving mother who thought her daughter's loan was insured

TD Bank reportedly sought nearly $40,000 in Canadian dollars from a mourning mother for a student loan she had co-signed for her deceased daughter.

Although the loan, which totaled around $56,000 in U.S. dollars as of November 2026 exchange rates, had purportedly come with life insurance, TD told the mother that the life insurance had expired and that the mother was now on the hook for the loan balance.

Here's what to know

Joyel Singfield co-signed the student loan in 2020, and her daughter, Maari, graduated in 2023, according to a post by CBC News (@cbcnews) on TikTok. 

Tragically, Maari later died from breast cancer at the age of 30. Arguing that Singfield was now obligated to pay back the loan, TD attributed the cancellation of the life insurance to the student loan becoming a personal loan upon graduation.

@cbcnews When Joyel Singfield co-signed her daughter's TD student loan in 2020, it included life insurance. But after her daughter died in 2025 of breast cancer, the bank told Singfield the life insurance had expired — so she was on the hook for close to $40,000. #Banking #StudentLoans #Finance #Business #Canada #News ♬ original sound - CBC News

Singfield indicated that she had received no notice of the change in coverage. It was only after Maari died in 2025 that she learned that "the life insurance had expired," reportedly with about CA$38,000 (US$54,000) remaining to pay.

"We committed to that loan with insurance," Singfield told CBC News.

On whether knowing about the lapse would have prompted her to act, Singfield answered, "Absolutely."

More background

CBC's Go Public investigation found evidence that TD had delivered several other notices to Singfield — "just not the important one about the expired insurance." That finding contrasted with the bank's explanation that her prior decision to decline standard loan notification messages meant it was not required to notify her about the insurance cancellation.

The report drew frustrated responses from viewers, who supported Singfield's decision to challenge the repayment demand. 

One commenter wrote that they were "so glad she went after this and didn't pay," adding, "Banks are getting away with too much!"

What's being done?

After being contacted by CBC's Go Public investigators, TD sent Singfield an email saying it had paid her $41,000 debt in full, bringing the repayment demand to an end. 

However, Singfield still questioned TD's explanation. According to CBC News, the bank maintained in an email that it had handled the matter correctly and had chosen to help because of Singfield's hardship.

"I think as a bank, you cannot dig your way out of that one," Singfield said, per CBC News. "Somebody went 'uh oh,' and that was, that check was cut. I don't think they paid out of the goodness of their heart."

In the end, Singfield was thankful to have the matter resolved but still disappointed that the situation had gone as far as it did. 

"Very relieved. I'm very grateful," she said, per CBC News. "I'm also a little bit disheartened at how this had to get to this point."

Where can I learn more?

Singfield's fight with TD has parallels in other families' disputes over debt, life insurance, and bank reimbursements.

• U.S. student lenders charged rates reaching 18%.

• A North Carolina family received a delayed life insurance payout within 24 hours of WBTV's call.

• A widow faced her late husband's solar debt, but the company refused to speak with her.

• In Canada, TD refused to repay an 88-year-old's losses from a deepfake scam totaling CA$450,000.

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