daughter: student loans and credit card company

fermi

TessaHerts wrote: »

Thank you Fermi (am not looking forward to all of this, I need to develop my kicking up a fuss side!). Sorry to sound dim, but what do I do if I tell them to recall the debts handed on to collection agencies? Would that mean that they will all get handled centrally?

It would be taken back to the SLC in Glasgow.

I can't find the letter I wrote just this moment.

However, I did also pull them up on the phone about the daft threats and statements they (and their collectors) made regarding what they could and couldn't do, etc....

Have a read through this: http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

That will give you an idea of the things they shouldn't "try on".

In the end I just demanded to speak to some guy's boss and made a formal complaint, saying that I expected them to instruct the debt collectors to back off and that I would only deal with SLC direct.

They took it back, and I got a letter of apology.

TessaHerts

Thank you for that: perhaps I should just tell them that we will only deal with SLC directly and that we would like to defer and organise payment of any outstanding amounts immediately?

abby1234519

Just be persistant in writing to SLC at their Darlington address, eventually they will get the hint!

dollybeads

Hi Tessa

Saw on another post a really good letter to use, if you get anyone chasing you or your daughter by phone, which quotes various bits of legislation regarding harrassment and to only deal with you by letter. These telephone calls can be very intimidating, you might not need it yet, but will go have a look and then post the link or a copy on here for you. Good luck to you both, will be interested to hear how you get on.

TessaHerts

Thanks Abby
So I should use Darlington and not Glasgow addresses?

Dollybeads that would be really useful - I suspect this is why her phone has been permanently off for months, really this would be the last thing she needs. If we insist it's all done by letter that would be so much better. I might be pre-emptive.

dollybeads

Hi Tessa

Yer tis


http://www.consumerwiki.co.uk/index.php/Harassment_by_telephone

this is a good template used by many on here, you just need to put your details in.

Keep going there will be lots more great advice and support coming your way.

Dolly x

dancingfairy

I agree with savingcaz (post 10) she needs to write to everyone she owes money to - explain that she is trying to sort herself out and that she will be seeking advice from a debt charity and enclosing a token payment of 1 pound to give her some grace to go through her options.
It is important that she goes to a free charity like National Debtline or CCCS or her local CAB - anyone who charges for their advice or who advertises to 'write off all your debts' or 'we use little known governement legislation' should be avoided at all costs - 1) they will undoubtedly charge for help when she can get help for free and 2) some of the places are designed to 'sell' you a product -ie an IVA or bankruptcy 3) the quality varies enormously -from helpful to those that rip you off or leave you in a worse mess and there's no real way to know the good from the bad from the ugly.
She really needs to do an SOA (thorough budget)see here:
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html so she can see how much each month she has to pay back the debts with - whether it's 5 pounds a month or whatever- whatever the level of debts there is a solution ranging from token payments, to dmp (debt management plans), DRO (debt reduction order's), IVA(Individual Voluntary Arrangements) to bankruptcy - she just needs to take her time to find the right solution and this is something the debt charities can help with.
df

abby1234519

TessaHerts wrote: »

Thanks Abby
So I should use Darlington and not Glasgow addresses?

Dollybeads that would be really useful - I suspect this is why her phone has been permanently off for months, really this would be the last thing she needs. If we insist it's all done by letter that would be so much better. I might be pre-emptive.

My understanding (btw we are talking English student loans here not scottish?) is that Darlington is the hub that will then direct the post to the right place. They open it all there and then use internal mail to send it to the correct department.

fermi

I've always been told to send anything direct to the main Glasgow offices.

Student Loans Company Limited
100 Bothwell Street
GLASGOW
G2 7JD

Wherever you write to, the golden rule is to send it recorded delivery.

If you don't, SLC have a habit of losing correspondence, and then denying that they ever received it.

They are quite spectacularly incompetent [STRIKE]at times[/STRIKE] most of the time.

TessaHerts

I think my post went astray so I am trying again: I (we) have just finished drafting letters to student loans company and natwest: as I am not certain that we have all her post, I wanted to get everything into writing, ask the exact situation and tell them we are getting advice from counsellors. I have also included the harassment letter to stop the phone calls.

I am particularly annoyed that looking at the requirements for proof of low income to defer pre-1998 student loans, they are particularly difficult for oeople on low income: especially if they work on short term contracts and as freelancers: made me furious - perhaps this is something for :money:the man himself?

Fingerscrossed!