Hi I have a question that I'm hoping someone may be able to answer.

Some years ago I undertook a degree course with the University of Exeter. Unfortunately I was unable to complete the course but did do enough to claim a Cert of HE. However I had a disagreement with the uni about some fees 'owed' for a field trip and they refused to issue the certificate .... so now we arrive at today - more than 6 years later, when thinking of applying to the Open Uni, I contacted them to get official proof of credits and they still refuse citing the 6/7 year old debt as the reason. I mentioned that the debt would be statute barred by now but they still refused.

So I have two questions:

1) Are they within their rights to do this considering the debt is technically/legally not owed anymore?

2) Its possible that i may be having to apply for a DRO in the near future. If i was to do this, and add this debt on to it (even though its now not owed, would they then have to issue the relevant certs/info?

If anyone has any info/knowledge/advice they can share I would be most grateful

Cheers

Have you not tried just ordering a replacement through their on line store ?

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/administration/replacementcertificates/

The debt is statute barred and you should not be denied in this way.

Andy

HI and thanks for your reply. I did have a look at the link you posted, however it requires me to call the same dept that is refusing me the docs

I thought it was on line request ?

Where does it state you have to ring them ?

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The link appears to be for people who have graduated. As I mentioned I was unable to complete the course so was just looking to get the official modules and points earned document/transcript.

Same link....

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Thanks again but ..

"Transcripts of marks for past graduates are available ..."

I didn't graduate. So I would need to call the dept.

The debt may well be statute barred but that does nit mean the debt fizzled out of existence.

It means they cannot chase you for it.

You couldn't complete the course. ( your fault not the uni)

You had a disagreement with fees for a field trip.

Field trip costs are normally not included in tuition fees.

You went on one so you owe the money.

You need to refer to t & c's

Why should the uni issue a cert if you owe money.

 

So I have two questions:

 

1) Are they within their rights to do this considering the debt is technically/legally not owed anymore?

 

2) Its possible that i may be having to apply for a DRO in the near future. If i was to do this, and add this debt on to it (even though its now not owed, would they then have to issue the relevant certs/info?

re 1), the debt is still owed. Being statute barred is only about the ability to recover it through court proceedings. They can't bring an action in court against you, but the debt hasn't been extinguished. So if the internal rules of the University say you cannot graduate if you still owe the University money then that can apply for ever unless the debt is settled.

I have no idea whether that position would change if you included the debt in a DRO, nor, indeed, what happens if someone owing money makes themself bankrupt.

Hi.

Looking at this a different way, how much is the 'debt' you can't agree on and how important is the OU to you?

HB

You dont graduate if you owe money to the uni. Being statute barred doesnt change this, they wont bother chasing the debt but you cant demand anything from them either. the debt doesnt go away, it just isnt enforceable. The govt has a different way of collecting debts. They stop it from your state pension when you retire, even if the debt is 40 years old by then.

The govt has a different way of collecting debts. They stop it from your state pension when you retire, even if the debt is 40 years old by then.

Are you sure that would apply to debts to universities? I'd think not. Universities aren't government departments or state bodies. They are independent corporations established by Royal Charter.

I was using that as an example. The relevant bit is that the uni wont award your degree if you still owe them money. That can also include owing money to your landlord if they have their own accommodation agency

The point being that SB only means that they cant use court to collect the money owed, that doesn't mean that the rules on non payment change just because they cant sue you. They have already used the alternative- no paperwork for you until you cough up.