University

[Joa]

Hi folks. I am buoyed by my experience of claiming charges from my bank and want to try it on with our university. I am a student adviser and the university is charging a re-registration fee of £175 to every student who is late with paying tuition fees and gets de-registered. This re-registration fee is not described as a penalty but it strikes me as unreasonably high just for putting student’s name back on the register. I have asked finance people what is this fee for- exactly, but surprise surprise no replies. What angle would work best? Unfair penalty? But how could I persuade them that even if they "dress it" up as fee, it’s still a penalty? Also, students do not sign any kind of contract, by which they are obliged to pay tuition fees instalments on time, so non-payment or late payment doesn’t qualify as breach of contract.
I am telling you, educational institutions are as greedy as banks!

[Neo]

Is it the university itself or is it a financial institution. If it is not a financial institution then you may not be able to use the argument that they unfair.. with any legal backing.

[Joa]

Universities in UK (except private ones) have a charitable institution status. With regards if it's a private institution, it's THE big questions raging in a small world of education specialists. I must say I am crestfallen at the possibility that as it's not a financial institution, I may not be able to rely on a "unfair penalty" argument.

[Neo]

Maybe you cannot reply on the unfair charges argument at law, but there would be no harm writing a letter to them stating that you think it is unfair, etc. Ask them to explain their costs in writing and see what happens.

[Alison82]

They would probably define it as a service.

[Joa]

They refer to it as a "fee". That's all. And I did try to ask nicely, played "wide-eyed" innocent etc. It would be sooooooo good to force them to lower this "fee". 175 quid for a student is a huge money. Being nicey nicey doesn't help.