Smith & Lawson/ SLC - Grant Repayment

Mr_Mash

Hey all,

Whilst studying at Uni several years ago, I was told by the Student Loans Company that due to my mother marrying in 2008 I would have to have my grants reassessed. Due to this, I then owed them £2,200.

After graduating I was sent letters by the SLC requesting repayment of the overpaid grant, to which I sent up a Standing Order with them for £20 a month which is all I could afford being a graduate with a small job in a petrol station.

Several times I have been sent letter by the SLC masquerading as Smith and Lawson, informing me I had broken the terms of my agreement (despite me having the money in the account and not adjusting the standing order). Each time I rang them and explained, and they were fine with me to carry on repaying at that amount stating they were 'unsure why it was not taken out'. The last time I rang them, I increased it to £50 but was told I would have to fill out an income and expenditure form to confirm I could only afford that amount or they would ask for the full amount and that there was no agreement on my account. This surprised me as several of the letters previously from SLC stated that I had broken the arrangement (despite my monthly regular payments), so what happened to it?

My fiance who I live with, has also had these letters as she left University before the term finished and is paying it off with a Standing Order too. However she has ignored the letters and nothing has come of it.

Now I have received a letter from Smith and Lawson with a final demand and am not sure what to do, it is terrifying to have a Final Demand letter and threats of court action/ bailiffs. I am paying back the money with what I can afford, so why are they sending these letters if I am paying?

Thank you for your time.

soontobemrsg

I too am repaying a grant overpayment and my understanding is they review your payments every so often (mine is six monthly at the moment) It is my responsibility to contact them every 6 months to set up a new agreement. I have only ever had a letter from them if I forget to do this at which point I just phone them and set it back up. My next review is January 2014 and I will be offering the same payment as I have always made to them and will have to call them again in whatever time-scale they accept that offer for.

May be worth just giving them a ring and confirming that you have agreed to pay £x a month and check how long this arrangement will last.

Mr_Mash

I haven't been told anything of the sort like that. Strange.

Have you ever been asked to fill in an income and expenditure form? Every time Ive rang them I seem to run into this brick wall where they want alot more than I can afford and tell me that to prove it I have to fill in the form...

soontobemrsg

Mr_Mash wrote: »

I haven't been told anything of the sort like that. Strange.

Have you ever been asked to fill in an income and expenditure form? Every time Ive rang them I seem to run into this brick wall where they want alot more than I can afford and tell me that to prove it I have to fill in the form...

Never had to fill in a form for them as they are aware of my earnings from my deduction for the loan element.

If you're not having any luck on the phone write to them with your suggestion and advise them when you would look at reviewing it.