Student Loan

u4n90

I graduated last summer from a 3 year course, (although i had to repeat 2 years for personal reasons.) I started in Sep 2004 and graduated Jun 2009 basically. Well throughout this time i was paid the normal amount of loan plus tuition fees, and now, 6 years after starting, i am being told someone at my Local Education Authority made a mistake and paid a years fees when they shouldn't have. I now have to pay my university £1200 because the loan company have clawed it back from them. Is this fair/legal? Why am i being informed now, after i've graduated? None of this appeared on my financial notification letters, and whats even worse, i turned down a job in my final year, thinking i'm financially fine! So they made a mistake in 2004, and now 6 years later i have to pay £1200!! If they'd at least told me i could have prepared, but now they're clawing the money back, and i'm going to be billed from my uni.

this is really doing my head in now. If no-one here can help, is there a body/helpline i can contact?

dmg24

You are normally allowed 3+1 years funding, so unless you had extenuating circumstances (usually medical), it does appear that you have received too much. What were the reasons for you having to repeat the years?

u4n90

i failed one module the 1st year, but didn't take it up or grumble, thinking if i repeated the year it wouldn't be a problem. Only then there was a death in the family during exam period and i missed out by a few marks in 2 modules, but the uni wouldn't let me progress into 2nd year, (normally they withdraw after 2 failed years, but instead they allowed me to try 1st year one more time.)

If they had paid me too much 3 years ago, surely someone should have informed me, and not waited until i've graduated to spring this on me. I understand it's public money and must be paid back, but i'm trying to understand
a) how it happened,
b) how they can suddenly turn around a 4 years later demanding money,
c) and is there any way of reducing the amount on account of their incompetence or writing it off completely? (the LEA admitted they made a mistake and conveniently that person no longer works there to be held to account for it)

(I have also considered not paying the university since i already have my degree and certificate so the hell with paying for something i've already received. But no doubt they can pursue the matter.)

dmg24

I have read it that they made a mistake in paying your final years fees, not the first year. They would not have known in the first year that you were going to have to extend your studies.

If you do not pay the university they will eventually get a CCJ issued against you, and you will still be liable for the money. It really would not be worth going down this route.

It happened because mistakes do happen. As for whether you will be able to negotiate a lower repayment, you are going to need to look into the contractual agreement between you and the LEA. I am not sure what this says about overpayments/ clerical errors etc, but they should be able to provide you with a copy.