Student Loan and Emigrated....

emigrated_and_confused

Hi, i have read about what you need to do if you leave the UK for more than 3 months, that you have to notify the SLC and they will work out repayments based on the income you earn in the country you are in, and that there are severe penalties if you don't keep them informed, etc etc.

What i am really wondering is that if someone moves away from the UK permanently, what is the point of the SLC making threats of serious penalties, if you are never going to be living or working in the UK to pay them?? Can they ruin your credit or your life in a foreign country if you do not inform them or make payments? And if not, then surely it is not something to lose sleep over.... or am i missing something major here?

I have a 2005 loan that i have paid some off over the past few years as i have been working in the UK, but now i have just emigrated to Canada with my partner, and i am now pregnant so will probably be quite hit and miss with my working life for quite a while. I know i can do the right thing and keep telling them my circumstances every time they ask, but i wonder what real impact it will have on my future life if i don't? Are they really going to arrest me if i set foot in the UK again?? And if not, then what can they actually do?

Thanks.

Raggs_2

If you ever decide to move back to the UK they can start automatically deducting from your wage. Obviously only a problem if you move back, and start working, but there's no way to confirm you won't.

They will be able to level fines against you, so if you do return, you'll have more to pay.

Easiest thing, especially if you aren't working, is just tell them that. If you only work sporadically, then inform them of it when they ask to see last years details, and plans for working in the future.

They cannot automatically deduct your wages in a foreign country, you have to set up a payment plan, and then it is only 9% of your earnings above the minimum (if minimum is 15000, you only get taxed 9% on anything above 15000).

They're pretty helpful (have been with me), and I forgot to inform them for about a year (told them once I started working).

It's not that much hassle, and would be a lot more stressful if you left it till you returned to the UK.

As for them chasing you, it may be that they can, I couldn't say, but I suspect if any lender can get your around the world (especially if your in a commonwealth country), then it's the SLC.

Emmzi

unpaid debt in a prior country can affect your residency applications - so be surre to check with the immigration people wherever you are thinking of settling, and remember that the rules may change over time.