Slc

[veester]

I am no longer a student - have 11k in debt and 6k in arrears to the SLC

I had 3 nervous breakdowns between 1993 and 2002 due undiagnosed PTSD; my life spiraled out of control, screwed up my education and finances.

Its taken me the last 5 years to get back on track; pay off mountains of other debt.

I wrote to the SLC about 3 months ago asking for a Subject Access Request and saying i could only pay £50 pcm, they came back asking for £400 due to arrears and size of debt.

I went back and said, no can do and please issue default proceedings.

Its now been over 3 months - they have sent the SARS stuff (I think letter charges details are missing and all the letters informing me of the charges but anyway)

No default notice?!?!?! My arrears and debts are building with them, surely this is not legal....what can i do?

At least with the default i can present my details re longterm illness and everything in court and ask for understanding of the courts!

Any advise....

[nufsaid]

Hiya veester I am sorry to hear about your health but you do now seem to be getting on top of things so well done you.

Does the Subject Access Request you have received back not include all the charges ect... ?

Have you done a statement of affairs for them to see your situation a summary of your income and expenditure.

I'm not 100% on student loans but maybe some clever bod on here could tell you maybe to send off a cca request I don't know if it applies to student loans.

Keep up the good work.

NS

[veester]

Thanks NS

The Subject Access Request has some information - relating to charges - no actual statement of charges made - it further only includes correspondence relating to me not being able to pay, it does not include anything with respect to the last 5 years worth of communications at all.

They've seen my income and expenditure et all

[nufsaid]

Have you been through barracad letter templates.. they are brill...

Creditors and DCAs - Letter Templates & Budget Planner

There are letters in here for offers to pay and if payment refused ect...

Have a looksie.

I'm in a similar boat they just aren't interested with my situation they just want money I don't have, don't let them get to you, you cant give them what you don't have.

NS x

[veester]

Ta nufsaid, i think i might use the freeze debt and i'll pay this much per month and see where it goes....

i allready asked them to take me to court about 8 weeks ago, no response just keep adding on the £s....so unreasonable.

[veester]

So i used the "Please write off my debt letter" and even included a copy of medical records showing the history of breakdowns and recovery...

All i get is a letter back saying you must pay £175 (Principal) + £150 (Arrears) ...or we will issue proceedings

I think i have been more than reasonable in my approach, but they are not willing to budge, which is annoying and i believe the courts will deem highly unreasonable.

So...my response will be to say screw you, you idiots and lets go to court!

....mind you looking at it now the letter was sent 4 days before mine...so i won't jump the gun, and i'll just give them 7-days...then see...

[nufsaid]

Yes give them a chance to respond.

Let us know what comes back.

Did you send recorded ?

[veester]

Aye

No - i faxed (with fax reciept) and email (with email recieved and read reciept).

I have been trying to call them all day to get a confirmation but the lines been engaged.....tch!

[welshwizard]

Raise an official complaint with them. The first may well not be dealt with favourably but then take your complaint to 'level 2' and ask for it to be looked at again - if you're not happy ask for an independant consideration 'level 3'.

[veester]

So....after a few months of to-ing and froing with the SLC, a SARS arriving (incomplete info) there new Customer Care Department got in touch.

Basically i have a long-term trauma/shock related illness but choose to work, not very well i might add; loosing several jobs and not performing in my education etc etc, without labouring the point...but i am not registerd disabled, i am long term ill and under medication - The medical history provided to the SLC clearly links this all together.

Originally i asked for the loan to be written off, but was advised i had to registered disabled, no problem I've asked for some relief under section 9 of the SLC regulations (This is not the disability section) and asked for the loan to be frozen and for me to pay if off for a nominal amount. This would protect the tax-payers money.

Some of the CC team section feels that my case does not warrant this 'relief' or consideration, and it is a matter of opinion.


The team leader has agreed to review my case.


I feel quite intimadated at the moment, mainly because i feel like i am explaining my illness, which really is not being taken into consideration

i.e.

Q: well why did you not come to us earlier, my answer because i did not realise or understand the illness

Q: why did you not get medical help earlier, my answer because part of the trauma was caused by medical incident and apparantly one of the trauma symptoms is avoidance of areas of incident i.e Doctors.

I feel utterly stupid for not recognising the symptoms earlier at the best of times, and part of that is the stigma associated with this whole thing.

I guess i am not really looking for answers, just venting at the lack of understanding at the moment, i only hope the SLC see the light and take note of all of the evidence.

I really just want to get a successfull resolution on this....we'll see what happens on Monday when i speak to the team lead....

Otherwise court and explanation.

[veester]

So; they have turned down providing any relief at all on the loan at all.

They have now agreed to accept my reduced offer of £60 pcm while my arrears continue to build at £160 pcm.

Recently got Doc notes/letters together highlighting long-standing and ongoing illness.

Any ideas........

i can't give them what i don't have....