Where do I stand - Can I get my default removed?

c00kie82

Morning All,
Hopefully this is the correct forum for this query.

Back last September I applied for a course and OUSBA paid my fees. I then decided not to take the course and wrote a letter to the Open Uni advising this (stupidly I didn't send it recorded). Didn't hear anything else till a few months later I started to get letters chasing me for the money.
I spoke to the Open Uni and thay advised that they never recevied my letter so I should pay the money, I explained how this was unfair as I had cancelled but they played hard ball and said as I cannot prove I sent the letter I must pay, and then they sent it to their solicitors.

I decided to pay the money back and my last payment is on Friday.

I have a default on my credit report from OUSBA (open uni) and feel that it has been applied unfairly( as I cancelled and yet have still paid the money) and was hoping for some advice on what action I should take.

Thanks in advance

c00kie82

Can anyone help or is this in the wrong section?

Tixy

Hi

Probably the right place to post - probably not an easy question to answer!

I think it will be tough because you have paid off the debt and cannot prove that you sent the cancellation letter.

By agreeing to pay off the debt even though you didn't think you should have to pay you have admitted to the debt and therefore the default.

It may have been possible to negotiate to see if they would consider removing the default if you agreed to pay but its obviously too late for that now.

The only 2 options I could think of is
1) to look out the default notice and look into whether it was legally compliant.
2) ask if they will conisder removing it as a goodwill gesture because you have paid it off even though you did not attend (to be honest this is probably a long shot).

c00kie82

Thanks for replying Tixy.

I didn't even think about there being a default when I agreed to pay, I didn't want to rock the boat to much as I am still planning on doing courses with them - That'll teach me. (no pun intended)

Do you have any links to explain how to identify if the default was legally compliant? - This is an area I have never looked at before.

Thanks

Tixy

Did you get a default notice in the post? If you are certain that you didn't then that would be a good starting point - in that circumstance they would have to prove they sent one or they should remove the default.

If you did get it then it should contain certain terms in it - I'm not really up on these and what it should say. I would think users 10past6 or RAS might be able to help with this (once you have the default notice).

tryingveryhard_2

Not very helpful in this instance I am afraid, but if you cancel an OU course in future it is a good idea to email them cancelling it as then you have a record of it (and they send an automatic reply), and then follow it up with a letter if you like (I have done this successfully in this past).

Sorry not to be of more help with your particular query.