I've done a little research on the national debt line website which states: "Student loan agreements are simple contracts and this gives the Student Loans Company (SLC) 6 years from the date you last paid or acknowledged the debt to go to court to enforce the agreement. There are two sorts of student loans and different rules apply depending upon when you took out the loan" The loan was taken out prior to 1998 which makes it one of the older style agreements and, as such, I believe they only have 6 years.

I have just discovered this site and have to say that just from reading some previous threads it has really helped to put my mind at rest. I am hoping someone may be able to offer me some advice: In 1997 I graduated from University owing nearly £6000 to the Student Loans Company. I am not proud of it but never started paying the balance back... I guess it's the old 'Ostrich' scenario hoping the debt would go away. I have recently (only this summer) been contacted by Mackenzie Hall asking me to pay the amount in full. However, my personal circumstances will not allow me to do this and I am starting to receive regular phone calls and texts to my home phone from this company chasing me for payment. About a month ago they sent me a letter stating that 'even at this late stage the creditor is willing to agree payment terms' and asked me to pay £300 per month. I ignored this as it was still totally unaffordable (I have 2 young children and 1 on the way). They have recently written to me again offering a repayment plan of £50 per month for the next few years. I thought this was quite reasonable and phoned them to acceot this offer. At this point, they told me that, despite what the letter states, they want full payment or at least a sizeable chunk of it before agreeing to payment terms. This all smells very fishy to me. They are regularly threatening me with court action and, to be quite honest, I would now welcome this going to court. At least then I know I will be dealt with more fairly. It sounds to me like it's not worth communicating with them at all anymore as they will not stick to the agreements they make. Can anyone offer me any advice on how best to deal with them? Many thanks TerryBee