Witholding Exam certificates

angelatgraceland

I got an Invoice from the school today asking for the return of 2 books and if not returned must be paid for. OK I have absolutley no problem with that. What I do object to is the line which reads:"Examination certificates will not be issued until books are returned to the library or payment is made to the office."
We have the books and they are being returned tomorrow. Im asking for a receipt for them and a signature on a photocopy of the original letter.
Is it actually legal to withold exam c ertificates? I find it hard to believe it is. Surely they are the property of either the examining board or the pupil-not the school. Do they not have an obligation to hand them over?
If it had said that failure to pay for unreturned books may result in court action I would not have a problem but witholding exam certificates I find very objectionable. Where can I find out about this/report it?
Has anyone else received a letter like this?

somethingcorporate

It was the same at our university, any outstanding debt (library book, hall fees etc) and they would not provide exam certificates until it was cleared.

[Deleted User]

My University threatened the same - but I have never heared of this actually being used or enforced. Perhapse it's just an empty threat, I'm not sure

crystaltipps

My uni can technically prevent you from graduating if you don't pay parking fines!!!

Idiophreak

As others have said, this is a pretty standard threat - Had it all the way through school and uni...

Mupette

Same when I was at school quite a few years ago,

If you did not return your books which were not your property then they would not sign you out as finished school.

Just give them back, no need to cause yourself any further problems by not doing it.

angelatgraceland

Mupette wrote: »

Same when I was at school quite a few years ago,

If you did not return your books which were not your property then they would not sign you out as finished school.

Just give them back, no need to cause yourself any further problems by not doing it.

As I did say-they are indeed having them back today-no problem with that. My question is whether such a threat can be legal. I do not like their bullying tactics.

sarahg1969

crystaltipps wrote: »

My uni can technically prevent you from graduating if you don't pay parking fines!!!

No they can't. Because for one thing, they can't fine you. They might tell you they will prevent you from graduating, but they can't. Really, they can't. I assume it's not a law degree you're doing?

tomtiddly

The college I work at does the same thing, return books, equipment and pay any fines before you get your results. Yes it's perfectly legal and without it I expect they would lose serious cash. It was probably also in some documentation/terms and conditions at the beginning of the year

Ivory_Tinkler

I too have worked in higher education and it is the norm. Outstanding books, fees practically anything that is owed can result in your certificate/conferrment being withheld. If you read your educational establishments terms or rules you will no doubt, find this clause included. If you had returned the books on time then you wouldn't have even got the letter so you have to ask yourself, who is at fault here?

EllaKeat

Might be wrong, but I think that the Uni can stop you from attending the graduation ceremony. You still graduate, that cannot be stopped, you just cannot receive your degree cert in person.