Dropped out now university, now they want fees.

makes_cents

Hello,

I attended an english university back in 2008 for 8 days before dropping out due to not being able find accommodation before the start of term. I had to self fund my first year of my current university because the student loans company wouldn't pay even though they gave me nothing to my previous university, hence these letters.

I managed to attend 8 days living in a travel lodge and as result the university in question decided to bill be 160 pounds as a result.

How far can the university take this? Can this result in a CCJ as in this thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2657111

If it this will have no affect on my credit rating then I'd prefer not to pay it, as callous as that sounds.

MrsManda

If you don't pay you can end up with a default on your credit history.

Do you agree that you owe the charge? Or are you able to contest the payment?

makes_cents

MrsManda wrote: »

If you don't pay you can end up with a default on your credit history.

Do you agree that you owe the charge? Or are you able to contest the payment?

The only dispute I have is why this is classed as a credit agreement.

mandyc

Why did they charge you £180? Normally, if you enrol and withdraw within three weeks no fees are due.

makes_cents

mandyc wrote: »

Why did they charge you £180? Normally, if you enrol and withdraw within three weeks no fees are due.

They decided to charge me as follows:

((FULL YEAR/NUMBER OF DAYS) * DAYS ATTENDED) = 180 pound.

Taiko

Sounds reasonable to me.

spheric

Many universities have a grace period, in which dropping out attracts zero fees. After that, you're normally charged a pro-rata amount based on the amount of year you actually paid.

I know the university I studied at and now work for changed their grace period this year. I think its now 4 weeks. It might be worth digging through the university rules and handbook to see if they've been overzealous.

If your university doesn't have this grace period, then I'm afraid you're likely on the hook for the debt, and they can go through the whole debt collectors, court and defaults process over it.

makes_cents

spheric wrote: »

Many universities have a grace period, in which dropping out attracts zero fees. After that, you're normally charged a pro-rata amount based on the amount of year you actually paid.

I know the university I studied at and now work for changed their grace period this year. I think its now 4 weeks. It might be worth digging through the university rules and handbook to see if they've been overzealous.

If your university doesn't have this grace period, then I'm afraid you're likely on the hook for the debt, and they can go through the whole debt collectors, court and defaults process over it.

Thanks your post has been helpful.

I wasn't saying that what the university are charging was reasonble or not, and I have less qualms paying it now considering the financial pressure the university is under.

Sambucus_Nigra

When you signed up - you should have got paperwork that you signed up to....read it! It should give you terms and conditions to your course.

makes_cents

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

When you signed up - you should have got paperwork that you signed up to....read it! It should give you terms and conditions to your course.

You don't sign anything directly with the university, it's all done through UCAS and the student loans company.

Sambucus_Nigra

makes_cents wrote: »

You don't sign anything directly with the university, it's all done through UCAS and the student loans company.

Wellllllllll..

Can you not check THAT paperwork?

Somewhere you signed up to something that said 'yes, I'll pay these fees'. You need to check the terms and conditions of whatever you signed up to.