Hello to all !

Snowgirl · 24th November 2007, 13:23

I have just signed up today and hope someone is able to help. I graduated from university in 1995. Whilst at college I had a Student loan. Unfortunately due to ill health I have not been in paid employment since that time and so my Student loan has been deferred each year. For some reason, this year the SLC have decided that they want me to pay just under £500. The first communication I received was in May from a company called Smith Lawson and Company. I have written several letters and phoned the Student loan company. They have ignored all my letters. Since July I have received threatening letters from NCO Europe and I have lost count as to the number of times they have phoned me ! They tend to leave messages on my answerphone asking me to phone them back. I have answered the phone on occasions and then the line just goes dead. They have sent me 2 postcards announcing that P.Edwards will be calling on Tuesday. No one has called.
I am finding all this very stressful. Any ideas ?

Hippy-chick · 26th November 2007, 04:08

Hi Snowgirl

Nice to meet you.

First of all, don't panic. Smith Lawson and Co are Student Loans Company by another name -clever, not, that use of initials!

They will bully you, and try and get you to pay.

But - let's get this into perspective. You've deferred? Yes? And you are not earning enough, and this is the old style student loan. So they can bully, and they will. But they can't do much else.

First -refuse to talk to them on the phone and insist that any further communication is in writing. They won't go away, but at least it makes it more manageable.

If you'd like me to post a templete for you, please shout and I'll happily do so.

xx

Snowgirl · 26th November 2007, 20:24

Thanks a template would be good. A clever trick Smith Lawson and Company and Student Loan Company! I await my next phone call from NCO and shall tell them to write and not phone.

Hippy-chick · 27th November 2007, 02:04

Hi Snowgirl

Sorry, was out tonight. Anyway, here's a letter you can use that i've nicked from Johnny2bad:

Your Street
Town
City
Postcode

DATE HERE

Company Name
Road
Town
City / County
Postcode

Re: Harassment by telephone

ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXXXXX

Dear Sirs

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.

I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls. (Delete if necessary)

I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.

I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.

Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company will be recorded. (**Even if you don‘t yet have recording equipment!!**)

Yours faithfully,

[NAME HERE]

************

PRINT your mane, don't sign your usual signature. Send it recorded delivery, so you have proof of delivery.

And let us know how you get on.. xx
.

Snowgirl · 27th November 2007, 02:26

Many thanks !! Hope you enjoyed your evening out as much as I shall enjoy posting this letter!!

Hippy-chick · 27th November 2007, 03:03

Glad to help.

And don't forget to share any response you get with us. We like a laugh.

Snowgirl · 19th December 2007, 02:04

I received a letter from NCO Europe saying they were returing my loan to Student Loan Company. I thought, great, a relief ! However the very next day I received a letter from another debt collection company, Credit Solutions Ltd demanding £2014.88.
They then phoned me 6 times in a couple of days. All these were automated calls and I was cut off when I pressed 1 confirming my identity. A friend then called their number on my behalf because I was really upset. The woman operator he talked to refused to listen to him and ended the conversation. My friend was being very calm and reasonable on the phone but this woman just kept talking over him and would not listen.
Following your template, I sent them a letter and a copy to Student Loan Company by recorded delivery on the 8th of December. I have not heard anything since.
I have a meeting with my MP Wednesday afternoon to discuss this and hope he might be able to help. I shall update ! Again many thanks for your help x

Hippy-chick · 19th December 2007, 02:14

Hi snowgirl

Nice to hear from you.

Send Credit Solutions the same letter.

Also, imo, time to start asking these folk if they have the authority to collect this debt.

Post back if you'd like to know how to do this. Good luck with your MP.

And remember - many of us have gone through this and come out the other side laughing and fighting. We're all here for you. Together we will beat them - and you will even start enjoying it.

xx

Hippy-chick · 19th December 2007, 02:20

Oh - and snowgirl - don't talk to them on the phone any more - however upset you are - that's what they want - they will bully and coerce.

Letters are far easier to deal with.

patrickq1 · 19th December 2007, 09:08

have credit solutions added any more monies owed to you bill

Hippy-chick · 20th December 2007, 01:36

My thinking exactly, Patrickq1

Time to start finding out snowgirl

I'd want to know if they have the authority to collect on this debt (by doing a CCA request) and, if so, what they are authorised to collect (by a Subject Access Request).

Please post again snowgirl so we can help you with this.

xx

Snowgirl · 21st December 2007, 02:41

Hi !
Yes they've added an additional charge of £10 to £2004.88 they demanding.

Snowgirl · 21st December 2007, 02:44

Hi Hippy-Chick !

How do I go about doing a CCA request and a S.A.R. ?
Saw my MP and he said he was horrified by the level of harassment and is going to take up my case! Could be hopeful ??!!

Hippy-chick · 21st December 2007, 02:49

OK Snowgirl.

Time to start fighting back. You could start by seeing if they have the relevant paperwork to collect on this by asking for a copy of the original agreement (CCA them). This costs you £1. However, SLC often do. It does buy you time, but might not be a solution. A better way might to be to ask for a full statement of all your details (Subject Access Request them). This costs you £10 initially, but is well worth it if you can use the info to dispute some of the charges.

As you want to pay all and only what you owe - right?

Would you like some template letters?

xx

Snowgirl · 21st December 2007, 03:51

Hi Hippy-Chick,
Yes please some template letters would, like the other one you sent, be very helpful. Again many thanks.

Hippy-chick · 21st December 2007, 04:11

Hi snowgirl.

Sorry - I'm away with the pixies tonight.

Here's the links in no particular order. Subject Access Request :

1. Data Protection Act, Subject Access Request letter - List of charges

Modify as needed - as this is to do with bank charges, but it gives you the general ida.

CCA: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...templates.html

Letter N here

Glad you had a good meeting with your MP.

Let us know how you're getting on.

HCxx

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