Unable to pay course fees for a distance learning course

moomin82

Hi all,
I need some advice please. I enrolled on an Exercise to Music Course costing £515.00 a few months ago. I paid an £100 deposit and agreed to terms that I would pay the remaining balance within 2 weeks of the start of my training days. These are scheduled for 3 weeks time.

I have had a change in my circumstances in that I am going to lose my temp job in a matter of weeks. I still do not have an end date but I am expecting it to be terminated in either October or November.

I emailed the training company to tell them I am in financial difficulty and they replied to say that I am liable to pay 90% of the course fees if I cancel at this stage.

When I signed up I was already £10K in debt but I still had available credit on one of my credit cards. I was desperate for an option to learn something I enjoy as I was not having much luck with finding a permanent job.

This week I discovered that one of my credit card accounts was actually closed last year and I have no available credit left with them. I was being pursued by the debt management team however I have been making regular payments, and when I log in online it still says my account is active and that I had £4000 available credit. When I phoned for a replacement card a few days ago, they told me I actually can't have one because the account has been closed.

I have another credit card which I recently maxed out to pay emergency dental fees of nearly £600. Now I have nothing left, I am in my overdraft and what I will be earning every week needs to go on my living costs.

Please can you advise what I should do?

http://www.hfe.co.uk/info/booking-terms-and-conditions/
The terms and conditions of my course provider are here. I can't sleep because I am thinking they are going to chase and chase me for money I don't have. I wish I didn't sign up for the course now but at the time I thought I could stick it on the credit card.

Sazzie23

Hi Moonin

Looking at your signature, you've fallen off the MSE wagon a bit a maybe? You know how it works ... if you weren't aware your CC account was cancelled I think maybe you haven't been opening your mail?

I'm no expert on what to do in this situation but think your other creditors will be coming after you anyway, and this company won't have any more rights to your money.

If you can afford to pay your other bills, maybe it would be worth asking family to sub you the money to pay the course, but only if you are going to finish it, and then only if its likely to lead to some form of income to repay with. There are some loans you can get for studying but suspect this course won't be one of them...but its worth finding out.

I hope you work it out, - maybe your efforts need to be on finding a new job with more hours/better pay and sorting out your finances again? Harsh words, and not meant to hurt. Sorry

happy_bunny_2

It's like any other debt. You offer to pay what you can and they accept it, or sell the account, or get a CCJ for the debt.

In any case you can't be made to pay what you don't have.

Do everything in writing, not on phone. That way you have evidence of what was said etc. if they ignore your letters it won't look good on them.

They may send you threatograms, but just post back here for advice.

Remember, priority debts such as rent, utilities, council tax and food come before this.

Good luck

HB

Sazzie23

Excellent Advice HappyBunny