My Ex-student Nightmare.

nuriboy

Hey there.

I'm going through a bit of a crisis right now, and need some advice as to how exactly Im meant to get out of it.

Two years ago I attended the university of the west of England. Unfortunately I was unlucky enough to placed in halls with some pretty horrible people, I ended up going through some serious bullying and homophobic abuse. I wrote a letter to the University explaining that I had to leave, and if it was possible that my contract for the halls be terminated... I didn't hear anything back for four months after leaving.. so stupidly I assumed that it had been.

Then I got a letter last year informing me I had to pay back the sum of money: £1062 for the months I wasnt living there. I was in dismay as I was currently studying elsewhere and coming up with this kind of money as a student was just IMPOSSIBLE. I arranged for them to take a laughable (I know) £6 a month out of my account.

The end of spring 2006 at university I had another major blow. My LEA (local education authority) had discovered they had made an error with my means tested grant... over the course of the 2 years, I was apparently overpaid by £1153... because I couldnt afford to pay them this straight away, they stopped paying my tuition fees and thus I was forced to move out.

Due to problems with my parents dealing with my sexuality, I was forced to move out of their house and now am working full time as a temp.. and pay rent for a room. Recently without warning, the university of the west of england sent me a SOLICITER'S LETTER. And also the LEA are constantly sending me final demand letters. I am forever broke living hand to mouth now, and the debts are really really making me ill. I have no idea how to even begin paying it back. I really need some advice of how to deal with the debtors. And what I should sensibly pay off so I dont starve to death.

I thought about taking a small loan to consolodate everything, but because of account performance my credit rating is dreadful. And yes Im aware my debts are not "MASSIVE" but..in my situation they really feel it. I'm so annoyed as I have friends with huge credit card debts.. yet because of the nature of the debt.. its kind of far less serious.

*end of essay*

Monthly Incomings:

My salary - £836.43

Monthly Outgoings:

rent (bills/councl tx inc) - £325
food - £125
phone - £35
socialising: ....this is my downfall I think... I dont keep track

DEBTS:

Unpaid accomodation fees: now £1,025.23

Overpaid LEA grant: £1,153.44

Student loan: possibly around £8k but dont need to pay until I'm earning enough.

Overdraft: £1100... and always, always far into it.

credit cards: NONE. thankgod.

thanks

lynzpower

hello Im really sorry to hear about your problems.

the first thing I would suggest is that you write to trhe LEA appeal ing the amount. Just tell them you dont have it, and find out how they KNOW they have made an error, make them break it down for you.

nuriboy

Hey thanks, but I already have wrote a letter of appeal. they wouldn't accept it at all. It's simply an error on their behalf that I am forced to pay for.

It used to get me really angry, but now I just accept it.

WelshWoofer

Are there are hardship grants that you apply for? Housing benefits?
Why don't you make an appointment with Citizens Advice to see if you're eligible for anything.

art_student

Hello nuriboy! Sorry to hear about the difficult situation you are in. I hate the way people don't bother responding until they want money off you. If the overpayment was their mistake, you should be able to arrange some payment options with them.
I would suggest keeping a spending diary to find out what you spend the unaccounted money on each month. Then think creatively about your socialising if you think this might be your "downfall". Instead of going out, stay in - have a wine and cheese party, get everyone to bring their favourite wine and cheese, have friends round for dinner - cheaper than eating out, make sure they repay the favour! have a cocktail party, get everyone to bring a different spirit then you supply the mixers, the weather is improving - have a bbq, again, get everyone to bring stuff, have a playstation evening (if you have one) or a DVD night with nibbles!
Hope these ideas help!

art_student

Oh, and check out the Old Style board for ways to save on your food bill!

Bunnyinthelights

Hi Nuriboy,
I am sorry to hear of your problems, have you contacted your local Citizens Advice Bureau?

I would also suggest doing a spend diary so you can pin point exactly how much you are spending on socialising!

Bunny

nuriboy

Will Citizen's advice actually help me at all...

I have a feeling I'll go and leave with "I'm sorry to hear about that but bla bla bla bla"

As I am working full time, am 100% independant and am 20 years old.. I'm kind of doubtful I'll be eligible for anything.

I don't want to be taken to court... _pale_

WelshWoofer

You never know until you try! I'd make an appointment and talk to them - even if its just a little amount they find you can save or claim it all adds up.
Could you get an evening job - maybe some bar work? Use the money you earn from this to help pay debts and live off your day job? If you worked in a bar it could also act as a bit of your social life too? I did this when I was a student (I was at Uni for 7 years so had plenty of practice!) and if you find a bar that you usually socialise in and your friends go to it may just work.

Good luck
R

liz105

I'd say open a new basic bank account so you can keep your wages and your overdraft separate.

You have £351.43 left over after bill food & phone have gone out. I'm confident that you can cut down your food & phone bill/change tariff etc.

If you got a weekend/evening job you could bring home another £200 p/m. That makes £551.43 to service your debts.

Split this 3 ways each month, that makes £183 to each creditor. You can be debt free in 17 months, Sept 2008. I think they would be more than heppy with even £150 or £100 from you per month.

How does this sound to you?

bandraoi

nuriboy wrote: »

Will Citizen's advice actually help me at all...

I have a feeling I'll go and leave with "I'm sorry to hear about that but bla bla bla bla"

As I am working full time, am 100% independant and am 20 years old.. I'm kind of doubtful I'll be eligible for anything.

I don't want to be taken to court... _pale_

The worst they can do is say they can't help you, in which case you're no worse off then you are now.