help! debt and debt agency

mrsmnic

Hi all

In brief, In 2004 - 2006 I had received some students loans approximately 10,000. I received a letter in 2006 requesting repayments, however as I was in receipt of benefits, the student loans company didn't take any monies. I am currently disabled and in receipt of ESA. I have heard nothing about payments or the debt until last week. However it was debt agency requesting the full amount. I don't understand how this ended up in a debt agency when they haven't contacted me since 2006! And I am on a low income. I have no idea what I am suppose to do or where to start?
Thanks for any help

Tixy

What debt collection agency has written to you?

And what does the letter say? Is it a form they have sent you, or just a letter regarding repayment?

Have you tried logging in to the student loan repayment site to see what it shows regarding your account?

spacey2012

A SAR request and see what they have and what type of loan agreement it was.
If it is a standard agreement it is statute barred after 6 years.
If it is a seal agreement it is statute barred after 12 years.

They may have the paper work required to enforce.

mrsmnic

Hi thank you guys,
I've looked at the letter, it is from Smith Lawson & Company recovery services, there is no address, just email and phone no. At the bottom of the letter in small print, it states that Smith Lawson is a trading name for the student loans company? The letter is requesting I call to sort out the amount and is it threatening legal action and or, enforcement, should I not respond?

mrsmnic

They appear to be registered at Bristol, if this helps. I cannot login to my student account, I have no login details. I do not recall any sealed agreement. Although it was back in 2004, at that time I was a single mum and was a student on benefits, if this makes any difference.

Tixy

This was a 'normal' student loan provided by Student Finance England? and you completed the course?

Have you moved addresses since they last wrote to you? Usually in the first instance if they could not find a record of you making payments or being on benefits then they would send out a 'confirmation of customer' form first before taking further action or threatening legal action.

Are you "permanently unfit for work" and also are receiving ESA then you may be able to get the student loan cancelled (with a letter from a doctor).

I probably wouldn't call the number on the letter. But I would either look online on the student loan repayment website (they can resend you your log in details/password etc) or call the student loan company yourself to see if they can help resolve the issue.

ch3101

mrsmnic wrote: »

They appear to be registered at Bristol, if this helps. I cannot login to my student account, I have no login details. I do not recall any sealed agreement. Although it was back in 2004, at that time I was a single mum and was a student on benefits, if this makes any difference.

It doesn't make a difference what your circumstances were or are now - you owe them the £10000.

My suggestion is to call them and talk it over, see what they suggest you pay. Even if you have to come to some arrangement to even pay £1 a month.

Obviously I'm not too clued up on student loans, someone else should be able to help more.

But I'd say you should call the ASAP

Clive_Woody

Taken from the student loan website

Arrears enquiries

If you are behind with your loan repayments:

Tel: 0845 073 8895 (open Mon-Thurs from 8.00am to 8.30pm, Fri 8.00am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm)
Minicom: 0845 073 8907 (You must have access to a Minicom device in order to use this service).
Mortgage style loans (before 1998) and grant overpayments:

Use these emails if you have a mortgage style loan or an End of Course/After Course Grant Overpayment

administered by SLC - collections@slc.co.uk
administered by Smith Lawson - smith_lawson@slc.co.uk

http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=93,3867513&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

I would try calling the student loan folk on the number above and explain your circumstances and check what address they have for you on file.

Best to deal with this than ignore it.

RA77IEL

I believe the STUDENT LOANS COMPANY LIMITED have realised that a proportion of their loans will never be repaid under the agreed terms and so now employ underhand tactics to recover their losses Refusing deferments for petulant reasons and demanding outstanding debts be collected.Sending back dated deadline letters and masquerading as a recovery company "Smith Lawson & Co" (ludicrously still using an SLC email address and telephone number) threatening demands for the full debt amount.

Clive_Woody

RA77IEL wrote: »

I believe the STUDENT LOANS COMPANY LIMITED have realised that a proportion of their loans will never be repaid under the agreed terms and so now employ underhand tactics to recover their losses Refusing deferments for petulant reasons and demanding outstanding debts be collected.Sending back dated deadline letters and masquerading as a recovery company "Smith Lawson & Co" (ludicrously still using an SLC email address and telephone number) threatening demands for the full debt amount.

Would it be fair to assume that they have come after you for an outstanding debt?

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Would it be fair to assume that they have come after you for an outstanding debt?

I think RA77IEL has a fixation about the Student Loan Company. Just joined the forum and three (so far) posts on the subject. Some might consider it Spam.