Career development loan repayment deferral?

wandakraml

Hi

I've had a look around the internet and the board but can't seem to find anything about deferring CDLs. I've been doing a masters in London and have successfully applied for a CDL to fund my studies. I've been fairly unhappy recently and have sought advice for counsellors/GP who have all agreed that I'm exhibiting symptoms of depression and that I'd benefit from long-term counselling. I've spoken to my university and they are happy for me to 'interrupt' my studies for a year as at the moment I'm just not able to concentrate on my work or do anything to a high standard. If I don't return I will still only have to pay £1800 out of the full £4800 course fees as they work it out pro-rata and can claim money I've already paid beyond that back.

My loan is with Barclays and I've called them a couple of times now to work out what my options are. They've been supremely unhelpful. The first time the lady on the phone just kept barking that I had to start repaying the loan next month and kept saying she'd mark my course down as having ended, which I didn't want since I hadn't decided anything yet, I was just working out what was/wasn't possible. I called again today and another lady told me I'd have to repay in one month. She didn't even ask why I was deferring, and treated it as though I was ending my course completely. I pressed on and told her I was suffering from depression. She checked her list and told me that depression wasn't sufficient grounds for a deferral and that you had to be suffering from an actual illness. I argued that this was an actual illness and she said it wasn't according to her list. I said I had medical documentation (something I need to support my interruption with the uni) saying that it was. At this point she said she'd send me a form and it would be considered by the team. She said I couldn't discuss my options in person with anyone and when I asked what sufficient grounds for deferral were she said she couldn't tell me. It was ridiculous.

I've since tried to phone other impartial CDL helplines but they're all more geared up towards getting you to apply for a loan rather than helping if anything goes wrong.

So basically, I just wondered if anyone had any advice here. What's the likelihood I'll be granted a deferral on medical grounds as apparently flimsy as depression? Do I have a leg to stand on?

[Deleted User]

sounds like you need to talk to somebody higher up the food chain at barclays,also is there no one at your uni who can give you sound financial advice in your position?i`m sure they would provide a letter to expalin that you have defered not ended your course and that its due to illness(they dont have to say what the illness is)
there might be someone who can give you better help on the mse student forum
HTH