Student loans

[Alan Murray]

I have I think 120 pounds charges on my student loan account. I think the charges are for issuing a arrears letter. I made it clear right from the start that I think I should have had my account defered and I could prove it.

Speaking to student loans regarding the charges - they said they were legal and were approved by the goverment. Do you think these charges are legal?

[dolly]

They are unlawful.

Claim them back

[Alan Murray]

What do you think of there claim that they are government approved? They told me yesterday that the law only applies to the banks. I will think they will say anything but own up.

[livity]

Personally I feel that company policy or the approval of a government (civil service) department do not magically remove responsibility from any company, and certainly not the Student Loans Company, to ignore UK law and the authority of Parliament (it was the House of Lords that ruled - way back in 1905?ish - that parties to a contract may only apply charges when "an actual or liquidated cost has been incurred").

Neither the government, nor the civil service, have any right under law to ignore the law. Companies, even ones operated by the government, will employ any manner of tactics to deceive you if they feel they can get away with it. Don't let them.

Livity.

[Alan Murray]

Student loans are saying now that they contacted the office of fair trading and they say there charges are legal. I am asking for the letter.

[livity]

Regardless of what the SLC *claim*, continue to press for the return of *your* money. I doubt the SLC will let you have a copy of the OFT's letter, and strongly suspect that if you/we did see it that it would not say what the SLC claims it says. The SLC has made me very cynical.