Repay Uni fees

mellwinkle88

Hello really hope some one can help with this
My daughter applied and got a student grant for her uni course but withdrew in Dec 12 and has now received a letter from the university asking her to repay £4,500 tuition fees for year 12/13!! She has already contacted the student loan company and they said she should only be liable for £1,500 which they have already paid. Along with the letter was a copy of a learning agreement she signed and they have highlighted the following text "All fees and outstanding payments are due with this learning agreement, These are non refundable, even if I do not commence my studies or withdraw at a later date." Does this mean she has to pay it? Is this legally binding? She has no means to do so and is very worried as am I as to how we would be able to do this. Help ! Where do we go from here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated,:(

eklynne

She should be exempt from all fees if she did what is called a 'false start' but there is a strict cut off period for that. Find out from the uni if she withdrew officially before this specified date. I fear that if she didn't officially withdraw in writing, ie just stopped going and was still on the register for modules, she may well be liable to repay some cash, however the 4,500 seems slightly steep. try and get an appointment with the Uni finance team, don't leave it as the cut off date for false start might not be up yet, depends on the uni, for example, my uni is the 28th of January, but we have 3 trimesters, instead of 2 so it is slightly later. Good luck!

mellwinkle88

Many thanks for that, will contact them again although they were not helpfull last time I called, all they kept saying was it was college policy, She only attended for 11 weeks and did officially withdraw filling out all the relevant paperwork so I hope we will be able to use the false start, many thanks again, Mel

dizzyrascal

Hello, I work at a University and the rules for our students' are:
Leave during the first 5 weeks = 0% payback (This is the false-start bit but you must not start the sixth week)
Weeks 6 - 12 = payback 25% of the fees (That is up to the middle of Jan)
If you then leave after the middle of Jan it becomes 50% and then 100% from April 8th.
Each university can make up their own rules and of course this ONLY applies to fees, not any accommodation costs

mellwinkle88

Hi, thanks, that was my understanding but the lady in finance section just kept saying it was the uni policy to request we pay the remaining year fees. Have asked to meet with them to discuss this so will see what happens. If you work at a Uni can you tell me if the learning agreement she signed to say she is committed to paying the fees is standards on all uni learning agreements and is it legally binding? thanks, Mel

dizzyrascal

Although they will be similar, most universities will set their own financial policy so you will need to read through the small print. But it is pretty standard to only pay for what you have actually had although, obviously, staff budgets and costs will still be the same for the university so it may be their policy to claim for all the fees, regardless.
On the other point, yes her contract with the university will be legally binding

agrinnall

mellwinkle88 wrote: »

Hi, thanks, that was my understanding but the lady in finance section just kept saying it was the uni policy to request we pay the remaining year fees. Have asked to meet with them to discuss this so will see what happens. If you work at a Uni can you tell me if the learning agreement she signed to say she is committed to paying the fees is standards on all uni learning agreements and is it legally binding? thanks, Mel

If the policy really is "to request" then write back saying you have considered their request and decline to pay the full amount, offering what you think would be a reasonable amount.

mellwinkle88

Hi, have to go to Uni next week to discuss paying back £4,500 I have taken legal advice and my daughter entered a legally binding contract so all potential students beware, if you do withdraw you are required to pay the remainder academic year fees yourself, don't think this is made very clear when learning agreements are signed, definately should be given more publicity in all the uni blurb given when attracting students to study with them. Will also be looking a whether we can put in a complaint as dont think they upheld their commitment of delivering and I quote "High quality, stimulating lectures and practicals," seeing as she was nodding off in class watching powerpoint presentations because they were so boring! Will see how it goes but it is not looking good Thanks for all the feedback posts,

Dunroamin

mellwinkle88 wrote: »

Hi, have to go to Uni next week to discuss paying back £4,500 I have taken legal advice and my daughter entered a legally binding contract so all potential students beware, if you do withdraw you are required to pay the remainder academic year fees yourself, don't think this is made very clear when learning agreements are signed, definately should be given more publicity in all the uni blurb given when attracting students to study with them. Will also be looking a whether we can put in a complaint as dont think they upheld their commitment of delivering and I quote "High quality, stimulating lectures and practicals," seeing as she was nodding off in class watching powerpoint presentations because they were so boring! Will see how it goes but it is not looking good Thanks for all the feedback posts,

I'm afraid I think that if university level students can't read and understand anything they sign, they shouldn't be going to university in the first place!