Repaying Student Loans 2009/10 guide discussion

nicolac34

I just thought I'd update what the student loans came back with in case anyone else was wondering the same.

We completed the overseas assessment for my husband and faxed it back to them and have just received a letter stating how much we owe. We assumed it would be done by tax years, so the amount to pay would take us up until the end of March 2012 and then we'd be re-assessed. Nope, they've come back and said that he has to pay £53 per month starting on the 10th December until 30th November 2012 when he will be reassessed. We can also pay this as a lump sum, which is what we are going to do. We are very surprised by the amount as he is earning a lot more than he was in the UK and the repayment is about a quarter of what he was paying back then! No idea how they've done their calculations...but hopefully come next November we'll be in a position to clear it anyway.

As for me - I received an email from them a week or so ago - the 'trace department' of the SLC, wanting to 'discuss my time at University', I knew it was my loan and they also want repayments, but now we know it's probably going to be so little, it's not worrying us anymore!

Max85_2

If you have savings in a UK bank account capable of covering your student loan and are not making any contributions to pay off your student loan, and do not work in the UK, do the Student Loans company have any legal right to freeze your bank account without informing you or take you to court to demand payment? Would the same apply to assets? could they force the sale of a property if they felt you were avoiding paying them?
Edit: & do they have any ability to check your bank accounts to see how much you have?

Poolie

Max85 wrote: »

If you have savings in a UK bank account capable of covering your student loan and are not making any contributions to pay off your student loan, and do not work in the UK, do the Student Loans company have any legal right to freeze your bank account without informing you or take you to court to demand payment? Would the same apply to assets? could they force the sale of a property if they felt you were avoiding paying them?
Edit: & do they have any ability to check your bank accounts to see how much you have?

Student Loans do not have that authority to cease, access or freeze your bank account. They can demand payment if you have unearnt income (interest ,etc) over £2000 per annum

tinn

Can anyone tell me what part time students are entitled to on student loans as a second degree?

Many thanks

melancholly

tinn wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what part time students are entitled to on student loans as a second degree?

Many thanks

as far as i'm aware, apart from a very select group of exceptions, no student on a second degree is entitled to student finance, part or full time.

kejoxen

Hi,

Sorry for not reading the entire thread.

I have a problem, moving job regularly over the last 4 years means that HMRC seem to have not passed on £1000's worth of payments to SLC for the last financial year.

Is this something to worry about or will it all come out when HMRC update SLC this year?

If it is something to worry about, who do I contact first HMRC or SLC?

Thanks,

Poolie

Moving jobs can update the student loans system at HMRC especially if a P45 or P46 get out of sync.

Do you have the details of the employers, PAYE references, dates and amounts you paid during your employment periods. Copies of payslips and P60 (if available) will be required.

I would contact SLC but go through each tax year one at a time as the advisor will need to jump between different screens and go hunting for different files to check which will take time. They are more than likely going to end up referring this to the specialised department who have detailed knowledge and can get into the case in much more deepth and liaise with HMRC.

Nena78

Ive read through the thread, very interesting! Still have some doubts about what to do in my situation though.
I moved abroad within the EU (unplanned decision-went on holiday, never came back) over 4 years ago, wasnt earning so forgot about the student loan which in my case is from 99.
Since then have had one job, earning under the threshhold, and am now self-employed, earning well over the threshhold, and would like to pay the loan off.
Im scared to contact the Student Loans Company telling them Ive lived abroad for years for fear of charges for not having informed them of my situation earlier. Would it be wiser to say Ive been unemployed and that Im moving abroad now?
Secondly, being self-employed makes it complicated to tell them exactly what Im earning, as I believe I pay taxes on a special scheme that doesnt require me to inform my current countries government of my exact earnings. Im not sure what paperwork theyd need exactly. Would I be better off not providing them the info, opening up a uk bank account and have them deduct the default amount? Or paying off the whole amount without having to answer any of their questions?
I hate paperwork! and also hate having a loan over my head.
All of this is a worry, any advice much appreciated!

amiehall

They won't fine you. You are DEFINITELY best to contact them before they contact you! They'll be able to offer suitable advice on your self-employed earnings when you contact them. If you were in the UK, you'd have to pay the student loan repayment with your tax when you did your tax return. SLC will have experience of dealing with people doing this overseas.

Nena78

Thanks amiehall, in that case Il contact them asap. Another thing, would they be willing to settle the debt for a lower amount? I would think not but Im being advised to propose this to them as it often works in the case of debt collection agencies in general.