Got a new job, but tied in to current job with training costs to repay

sh4un

Hi All
Just looking for a bit of advice.
Today I have been offered a new job that is within 3 miles from home (currently working 20 miles away)and has great opportunities for me to develop my career.
The problem is that if i leave my current job I would have to repay back my last three years course fees that my current employer had sponsored me for. I cannot afford to repay the £4k and I am struggling each month to find the travelling costs that I need to travel to work (£30/week and rising). I do not want to appear ungratefull to my current employee nor do I want to leave on bad terms.
Do companies normally insist on the fees to be repayed in a lump sum. Can they hold my last wage as a payment for these fees.Never done this before. Thank you for any advise:question:

Poppy9

I work for a LA and yes they insist they are repaid. You could ask if your new employer would be prepared to meet a proportion of the charges.

How many years are you tied to your existing employer for?

mountainofdebt

if you signed a repyment agreement then I would imagine that your current employer would seek a refund of these costs.

I know I would.

If the new job is a financially a better bet then perhaps a loan to repay the fees may be a way to go.

Having said that it always amazes me that people sign these agreements, seek a better paid job and then bleat when their former employer seeks reimbursement. Perhaps if they don't want to repay the training costs then either a) don't do the course or b) pay for them yourself.

sh4un

Hi. I am tied in for a total of 5 years, 3 year course and two years after completion..

Sambucus_Nigra

Is it a reducing amount or the full amount for the full 5 years?

sh4un

Hi its 100% until course completion, then reduces every 6 months by 25%.

Dear Mountainofdebt. I did not seek a better paid job , the job basically came to me right place right time scenario and I am not bleating about my current employers seeking reimbursements. It is three years since I signed the agreement and a lot has changed for me financially, all I am asking is advice as to how they would seek the reimbursements. ie full payments or monthly payments...

Thank you for your help

Sambucus_Nigra

Usually they take it from your last month's wages - or will pursue you for the full amount. If the full amount is over and above your last wage then you can try and negotiate a monthly reimbursement.

If they have paid for your course presumably you should be using this knowledge to get a better paid job as a result and thus able to fund the course fees...otherwise it's a bit of a waste for everyone.

VfM4meplse

Hi Sh4un,

You can only do what is right for you at the time, and I think moving on is probably the right thing to do. It's a small world, and it's imeprative that you keep on good terms with your current employer. I would suggest that if the new job makes it financially viable, you take a loan out and pay back the investment w/o quibbling. Your employer gave you an opportunity that you're grateful for, I would just bite the bullet and see this as an advance that you now have to pay back. Although it may feel like it atm, in the scheme of a lifetime's earnings, £4k isn't that much.

chrustifer

Hi

I'm in a similar situation whereby I left my old job and there was a sliding scale of recovery of professional fees paid by my employer should I leave within a certain amount of time.

I was wondering if anyone knew whether the deduction which is to be made from my final payslip should be pre or post tax?