CCJ for Uni Fees that I don't owe!

the_insider

ashliii wrote: »

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!

If you've never acknowledged the debt and never paid anything toward it how can it have caused you 'heaps of debt with other loans and credit cards'? Sounds like you've just run your finances into the ground. You need to chase up your solicitors but it sounds like you need to take a serious look at your finances and figure out what your situation actually is.

inmypocketnottheirs

the_insider, my thoughts entirely.

ALIBOBSY

I wouldn't discourage her from getting the CCJ set aside, but like the others have said you need to get hold of the debts now before things get worse at your age its a good lesson to learn and you have time to pay things off and improve you rating before you get to the stage of house buying/marriage/kids when it is so much harder to get out of.

Worth seeing CAB or contacting one of the debt charities and getting arrangements sorted on the debts to stop things spiralling and take control. The see what the solicitors say about the CCJ.

good luck

ali x

Wiah to god I had learnt the perils of easy credit and debt at 21.

nategreen

A Similar-ish thing happened to me about four and a half years ago. I'd left uni in the second year but didn't officially inform the uni I'd left, several months had passed and I got a demand for around £1000 (it was before the uni fees were increased).

My parents had paid my fees in the first year, the situation was complicated in that they had separated between the time of means testing and the fees being due and I didn't know my father didn't pay until I received the demand letter. I contacted the Student Union for advice, they assured me it was unlikely I would have to pay because of the change in circumstances and helped me to liaise with my L.E.A - then about a week later I received the county court claim form.

I was really annoyed with the S.U at the time because they had assured me they had been in touch with the uni's financial office/dept to give more time but being young and pretty naive about anything financial, I just brought the form to the S.U, they helped me fill it in and just accepted responsibility for it.

I paid the amount off within a year but just think it's a shame it's affected my credit rating for the past 4 and a half years and will do for the next one and a half. I obviously haven't taken out any credit (or tried to) in the past four and a half years, but it's even more disappointing because my general credit rating should be very good. I've had 3 storecards, 1 credit card and one loan over the past 7 years (taken out before I got the ccj), the loan and one storecard is paid, and I would say I've probably been late with less than ten payments in that time in total, and those were never more than 1-2 days late, all other payments have been made on time. I've also never been late with a payment on my mobile phone contract or gym membership. I was so stupid at the time because I should have put the amount on a credit card within the 28 days or whatever they give you to stop it from being registered on your credit file.

Ultimately, it's no-one's fault but my own.

I don't want to scare the original poster, but the ccj has affected my life quite considerably. For a start, it's been tough because this is literally the first time I've ever 'discussed' it with anyone. None of my family/friends know. It feels like I've had to set my life on hold in many ways because of it in that while a lot of my friends are moving on with successful careers and getting on the housing ladder, I can't. I work in a bank (was already an employee before getting the ccj) and I feel I can't progress with any career because I can't move to another company as they would do a credit check (I haven't even tried doing this, too scared they would carry out a credit check and wonder how on earth I've already got a job when I have a ccj). I'm massively underachieving, I have 3 A's at A level in English Lit, Biology and History but I have no degree and I'm earning less than £12,000 a year at nearly 26 years old! So it feels like I've been ticking off days looking to reach the six years since the judgement was made so I can finally move on and start doing something with my life.

It doesn't have to affect you (OP) in the same way and I sincerely hope it doesn't, but like others have said, you need to do something about it and your finances in general NOW and not bury your head in the sand.

nategreen

Sorry for such a long post, I guess that was kinda cathartic for me

pixiechick_2

nategreen - like alibobsy said, I wish I'd learnt the lesson that you have when I was in my 20s. I'm double your age and probably about to go bankrupt. At least you've got decades to get yourself back on track, having learnt a valuable lesson. I've less than 10 years of my working life left :-(

nategreen

I'm sorry to hear that pixiechick

I wish neither of us had to learn it at all

pixiechick_2

nategreen wrote: »

I wish neither of us had to learn it at all

Well said!!!

Good Luck for the future.

ashliii

Hi MrsManda, sorry for the late reply...
I never got a grant/loan etc because I knew I wasn't going to stay there, and if somehow I did end up staying..you can take a student loan out a few days after you joined.
Thanks for the help anyway. I've still got my ccj against me and no longer can afford to pay solicitor fees. Very annoyed.