Help with old uni debt please

[oojakapipi]

Hi pugsley,

interesting point about removing you from the register, unfortunatly all universities have different rules and proceedures (I have been doing extensive research) and don't seem to be regulated. I have been searching my particular uni website and found a very small statement which says 'it is not our responsibility to contact you if your fees are not paid'. This statement is made on their on-line payment facility which did not exist in the year they are claiming I owe them.

I didn't take a student loan as in 1992 I had started a BSc that I just didn't enjoy so left in the first year. As I still had a loan from that time which I had the usual problems of deferment that everyone else has had, I wasn't entitled to a loan in 2001-2003. My student loan was fully paid off in 2005.

[tomterm8]

I am no longer welcome on CAG

[pugsley]

for a non lawyer ! wow


I just found out that I'm registered with my uni for this term only by chance, (i have a resit in August) do not need to go to classes, it would have been more appropriate of them to inform me of my reregistration by post rather than on the computer service direct. I just happened to log in and check my registration status, that is the only way I found this out.

As for your problem I think your offer is reasonable, and as said before should be accepted or will go against your university. County court judgement's can be settled within 30 days after the court hearing I believe and if so no mark will be on your credit file and it will take awhile hopefully for a court day to arrive, so it gives you a bit of time, although I don't see why it should have to go this far. If there are no regulations as to registration and attendance I would be very surprised, (although I'm still angry at my uni for messups so I probably shouldn't be).

[oojakapipi]

Yes, tomterm8 is very impressive and has spent a lot of time helping me with this.

The problem with my (possible) future employer is that the job involves a high level of trust. I am assuming that the company won't just do credit checks once, on offer of employment, but occasionally during too. In any case due to the level of trust involved I will have to be completely honest about it. I have an interview early next week and can get away with not mentioning it then as there is still no court date and negotiations are still being attempted. But, if they insist on going to court I'm stuffed.

Good luck with your resits pugsley!

[pugsley]

thanks although I'm totally bored with uni now, not worried about the resit as I didn't fail it just didn't turn up and will be capped at 40% anyway. I've been doing law lol


I'm in a similar position to yourself, I want to start the 2nd year conveyancing course I have planned to do for ages but I have to sign a form saying no unsettled defaults and I'm expecting the CLC to check this but don't know for sure if they will (risky). I think I can get my credit file cleaned up but it will take some money and time. I'm currently studying bookkeeping at a low level (and home schooling my daughter) just to get ready for the clc's bookkeeping and accounts Landlord and tenant course which is going to cost roughly £1,500 all in..... MOAN

I think you should be able to pay this university debt off if you get the job and luckily at the moment you can be checked out and pass.

I don't know how they expect you to pay them first if you are not paying your basic mortgage etc.

[emmaf01]

I was going to try for law at uni- but if they see my credit report, they'll runa mile! Better think of something else...

[pugsley]

I think alot of students start with a good credit record and come out with an awful one, well that is unless they are willing to sell their organs or pole dance.

luckily universities do not credit check you, they just throw money at you and then let you go into the scary world of debt.

[oojakapipi]

I think alot of students start with a good credit record and come out with an awful one, well that is unless they are willing to sell their organs or pole dance.

I feel guilty for laughing because that statement in painfully true but so funny.

The majority of students go to university straight from school so have no experience of managing finances and the cost of living. The credit providers literally throw money at sudents. I was out on a field trip with uni and heard a man in the factory we were visiting describe my fellow students as 'fresh meat'. I think that is how the credit providers regard students.

I don't think either of you should feel discouraged from studying law just because of your financial history. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a debt specialist solicitor who will work for legal aid. I was told by one solictor she could help me but it would cost £280 per hour, I politely told her that if I had £280 I would put it towards my mortgage! I live in hope that there are people like you who understand the debt nightmare and go and qualify to help people who are trapped in the debt loop, of which sadly, there are millions.

Anyway I shouldn't be going off topic here, maybe we should set up a 'Student Bar' on this board to discuss all things student/debt related.

[tomterm8]

Originally Posted by oojakapipi

Yes, tomterm8 is very impressive and has spent a lot of time helping me with this.

LOL

So... have you called the courts to see if they've got the paper work, yet? It seems to be taking longer than normal Maybe they are reconsidering... now you've got a soliciter to send 'em a letter.

[tomterm8]

Originally Posted by emmaf01

I was going to try for law at uni- but if they see my credit report, they'll runa mile! Better think of something else...

I really don't think you should reconsider law just because of a bad credit report... lets face it, by the time you finish a law course part time, your credit record will be clean anyway One way or another, LOL.

[oojakapipi]

Originally Posted by tomterm8

LOL

So... have you called the courts to see if they've got the paper work, yet? It seems to be taking longer than normal Maybe they are reconsidering... now you've got a soliciter to send 'em a letter.

No, I had my finger poised over the dial button yesterday, but thought better of becoming 'that annoying woman who keeps phoning and bothering the clerks'! The uni have been sent a nominally increased offer along with our request for the contract....tick tock

I also need to prepare for my interview on Tuesday so am on a 'stress reduction' course of action.

[tomterm8]

Originally Posted by oojakapipi

I also need to prepare for my interview on Tuesday so am on a 'stress reduction' course of action.

If they are interviewing you the day after a bank holiday, they are serious One of my rules of thumb is that one gets interviewed on the weekend or the day after a holiday... they pretty much already have the job

[oojakapipi]

Thanks tomterm8, I really hope so 'cause I would sell my Nana for this job lol! Ok not quite, but I REALLY want this job. I could still stuff the interview up so I'm not going to get too confident about it being in the bag. I also need to get rid of the recently acquired nervous tick!


Pugsley if your reading this I will be sneaking into the newly opened student bar occasionally if I can get passed security!

[emmaf01]

My problem always was the student bar!

I am waiting until my toddler goes to nursery (September, hopefully) and I get the SLC sorted ( hopefully in a back alley with an iron bar, but court will do). Then I get my education back on track.

What with this debt/banks stuff and a case won against the local NHS PCT this year as my cv, plus general academic stuff, I can get a place. I nearly went 4 years ago, but I then found out I was pregnant.

And this time I'll avoid the student bar!

[oojakapipi]

Just a quick update.......

Phoned the court this morning and had an er... interesting discussion with the clerk who seemed to think I had sent my paperwork to the wrong place. Several very confusing minutes later I established that the uni still hasn't sent their paperwork to the court..........It is now 3 weeks since they said they were proceeding.

Havn't heard from my solicitor either, so I have now got images of the uni debt collection department trying to find the contract and going through the student attendance records of all the tutors on my course, it will take them forever, there are 12 tutors not including 'guest' tutors.

I also asked the clerk if there was a timescale in which the claimant needs to file their claim after receiving an admitance, and he said no! I will ask my solicitor about this when I speak to him, I'm sure they can't get away with holding the paperwork for the next year (for example) and then filing.

Will update when I know more.

[tomterm8]

Originally Posted by oojakapipi

I also asked the clerk if there was a timescale in which the claimant needs to file their claim after receiving an admitance, and he said no! I will ask my solicitor about this when I speak to him, I'm sure they can't get away with holding the paperwork for the next year (for example) and then filing.

Will update when I know more.

Maybe send them another 10p increment letter, and inform them you went to an interview for a permanent job...

How did it go, btw?