CCJ for Uni Fees that I don't owe!

ashliii

Hi All...

So back in Sept 2007 I enrolled a certain London Univeristy... after enrolling, I decided to quit, and did so following procedure by writing a letter and also phoning to confirm I've 'quit'. After a few months went by... I got invoice for £3,060, after numerous phone calls to the Uni they decided that I never actually left, and they never recieved my letter or phone calls (conveniently)!
After receiving a 'final notice' we sent a copy of the withdrawal letter to the university - they still said they never recieved it and I owe £3,060.
At the time I was 18... not in full time work, and never took out a student loan.
This has been ongoing for almost 3 years, and with much hassle with the university they decided to get their solicitors onto me.
After explaining so many times that I never even attended one single lecture, and that I withdrew by following procedure they decided if I did not pay the money within 14 days they would take out a CCJ against me.
Which they did..... now I'm stuck with this CCJ on my credit report...I'm 21 and its already ruined my life, I'm in heaps of debt with other loans and credit cards, I work full time but barely earn enough to pay off my other debts!
Anyone been in this situation before? Or can anyone advise what I should do?
They've added an interest of £700 onto the money I 'owe' and I cannot afford to pay this !!!

Thank you.

Tixy

When you got the court paperwork through (before the CCJ was granted) what did you do? did you complete the papers to say that you did not admit liability to the debt? Did you attend the court hearing?

ALIBOBSY

Did you defend the case in court? If you didn't you could apply for a set aside and ask the judge to look at it again, but if you have no proof any letters were posted the judge may well believe them and award against you.

But at least them you would be no worse off than you are now.

Best bet will be to see CAB and or one of the debt charities and get everything sorted now. You need to sort out the debts and a repayment plan to give you a chance to get out of the mess.

It is hard and many of us have been where you are, but you will feel miles better once you have discussed your options and started down the road to sort things out.

good luck
ali x

ashliii

I asked for a 14 day extension (to get my head around things and get a solicitor)! During this my solictor wrote a 'defence claim' which they say they never received even though it was sent by recorded delivery..they still deny ever receiving!
Now they have put a default judgement against me which is to be 'set aside', however the CCJ has already gone onto my credit report as of yesterday!!

ashliii

Hi Alibobsy - I never got actually asked to go to a court hearing which is why I'm really confused about having the CCJ on my credit report...

I have been to many CAB's and they have either said 'pay it' or 'declare yourself bankrupt if you really can't afford' or just simply get the CCJ and pay off in installments - which it looks like I don't really have a choice now! I can't afford to pay it off, not even in installments despite not even oweing the money.
Thanks anyway.

Tixy

If the CCJ was setaside then it would go from your credit reports (as if it was never there). If you had a solicitor at the time what do they advise you do? have you got a copy of the defence claim/court forms that your solicitor completed on your behalf?

Actually technically you could end up worse off if you apply but fail to get it set aside, as it does cost to do the set aside application.

You say the CCJ has just gone on your credit file? so has this all only just happened? what was the date of the CCJ?

Tamsin_Temrin

Defence should have gone to the court, not the unis solicitors.

No hearing if no defence received by court, judgt just entered. Perhaps you need to spend some time with your solicitors and ask what exactly is going on. Take notes itll really make them nervous, and perhaps a bit more on the ball.

ashliii

The CCJ went on yesterday - and the 'set aside' application was sent off by my solicitor last week, so a bit confused what has happened there...
The uni & their solicitors all seem a bit dodgy... I thought you couldn't get a CCJ without a court hearing?

Tixy

If you don't file a defence I believe the case is just put in front of a judge and rubberstamped.
So it sounds like somehow the courts did not receive your defence.

If the CCJ has been granted then it will appear on your credit file until such time as the application to have it set aside is dealt with.

RobertoMoir

ashliii wrote: »

The CCJ went on yesterday - and the 'set aside' application was sent off by my solicitor last week, so a bit confused what has happened there...
The uni & their solicitors all seem a bit dodgy... I thought you couldn't get a CCJ without a court hearing?

What makes you think there wasn't a hearing? If your defence wasn't received and you didn't turn up then the hearing proceeds, uncontested.

ashliii

Hi RobertoMoir - Because I was never asked to go to one