Oh God

dancingfairy

You might actually want to appear in court - frankly it'll probably be a small room with you, the judge and quite possibly the other side won't even be bothered to turn up but you can at least contenst any action they may take. I don't believe you have to turn up though I think you can just send your paperwork in with your reasons etc but you haven't exactly got to that stage yet so don't panic.
P.S county courts can be the most dull places ever - it is not the crown court where you have the big courtrooms and judges with wigs, jurors etc trust me if you did go it would be a complete anti-climax
df

Gordon_Hose

When is the debt from by the way?

Might be worth sending a CCA request, see if it's even enforceable in court.

GardenLover

Thanks again Gordon Hose and dancingfairy.
I own nothing, no property, not even a car. I live at my folk's house. I receive an NHS bursary of £558 per month so once I've paid my folks for rent and bills and paid for food and travel i truly don't have anything left. It will hopefully change when I qualify.
I really do appreciate your advice. I feel so alone with this. Thanks.

GardenLover

The debt is three years old this summer.

Gordon_Hose

You aren't alone with this, trust me.

Just keep paying them what was agreed. If...IF...you get a letter from Northampton you can deal with it then. And the chances are that if all you can afford is £1 a month, then that is what the judge will award, and it'll have been a load of effort for nothing.

GardenLover

Thank you. I do feel less alone. Your advice is so welcome and invaluable to me. I'm haing a little weep now, it's a relief to be able to ask people who know what's what. Thank you all very much x

Hannah_10

Don't log off, I've gone to find some links.

GardenLover

I feel very humble. Thank you very much.

BigCraigJohn

Its a normal DCA scare letter. Its worded in such a way that you react pretty much as you have, where you have come on here, many others run off and borrow or up there repayment. If you havnt already you will probably get similar type letters from solicitors(usually linked), again threatening blue murder. If they take it to court it will cost them a fair few quid, on your income the judge will award £1 a month and it would take years to even get the court fee back, you cant get a charging order.
Its all in the "might", "may", "consider", "advise" theres no "will", "are" "am" etc.
You have as you say little to lose, very worst case you get a ccj which is far from the end of the world, just means they have to accept the £1 a month on the judgement rather than crying like babies.

Hannah_10

Actually ignore that, just one link will do. Read this. Including the link in what I have said to the other guy.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3156290

I would say exactly the same sorts of things to you, but in summary...

1. They are not going to take it to court because they know what will happen and it wont be in thier favour.
2. Because court is out, their best realistic option to getting paid faster is to scare the bejaysis out of you.
3. Scare only works if you let it.
4. If they were stupid enough to take you to court they will probably lose and see the case thrown out by the judge at square one on the grounds that they are vexatious (being spiteful).
5. This is because it is nothing but spite to haul up a debtor who is already paying the maximum they can afford.
6. Like life on JSA, student nursing is officially subsistance living. This means you can afford £1 a month, no more.
7. If the judge ignored the opportunity to just throw it out for being vexatious (unlikely, they hate vexatious) he would rule whether or not you owe it.
8. So you owe it, Ok, you've not disputed that, fair enough, he would rule you do.
9. Then he would rule how you had to pay it back, which means he would look at your Statement of Affairs (someone will tell you more about that later) and rule £1 a month it is.
10. Then he would rule who should pay costs, but remember, you can ONLY pay £1 a month and you have done so for 2 whole years already. He'll give THEM the costs because it's vexatious, even if he didn't just throw it out to start with. basically this is because it's not you or your behaviour which caused it to come to court, it's them.
11. That's it. Worst case scenario is that you would end up paying what you are paying now, and then when you DO get a job it's tough luck to them because you have already had your CCJ, ordering £1 a month, so you can just stick at £1 a month forever hahahaaaaaa!
12. So even, EVEN, if it went to worst case scenario for you and best case scenario for them, they have still shot themself in the foot.
13. They know this.
14. Which is why they are employing scare.

Take a deep breath Love, do not let the b*st*rds grind you down. File the letter, don't respond at all (keeps them guessing, which keeps them on thier toes) and keep sending £1 a month.