ERUDIO student loans help

ymeu

Kicking off my 2015 deferment journey ...

My deferment letter from last year said I would receive the deferment application pack for 2015 approx 8 weeks before my deferment expired.

That 8 week period began about three weeks ago and as yet have had nothing from Erudio.

Went on their website and got the email address to request a pack.

Emailed them my name, address and loan account number.

Received an email back a few days later with the form as an electronic attachment and the following instructions:

If you want the form sent to you by post, please reply with your date of birth for DPA (Data Protection Act) purposes!!!

No skin off my nose and I've done it BUT it really doesn't bode well that Erudio, who I supplied with my name, address, loan account number and email address replied to me by the same email saying they couldn't send me a deferment pack without my date of birth because of the Data Protection Act.

I hope to God it's not all downhill from here because that level of understanding and application of legislation and that level of basic request processing is really, really staggering.

And that's just requesting the form.... hold on to your hats... 2015 looks like being as chaotic as 2014.

Jonez

...No skin off my nose and I've done it BUT it really doesn't bode well that Erudio, who I supplied with my name, address, loan account number and email address replied to me by the same email saying they couldn't send me a deferment pack without my date of birth because of the Data Protection Act......


That's almost certainly bo**ocks. They just make stuff up as they go along

anna2007

ymeu wrote: »

That 8 week period began about three weeks ago and as yet have had nothing from Erudio.

It's obvious that Erudio are deliberately stalling with deferment packs. People need to chase Erudio 8 weeks before deferment end, or earlier, to make sure their applications are made in good time. For those that are applying with the DAF, there's a blank form here, and no reason why this can't be used and sent with the usual evidence of income (remember to put your Erudio reference number in the box at the top right of each page):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a375v9uoleagf02/Erudio%20New%20DAF.pdf?dl=0

ymeu wrote: »

Received an email back a few days later with the form as an electronic attachment and the following instructions:

If you want the form sent to you by post, please reply with your date of birth for DPA (Data Protection Act) purposes!!!

They did the same last year, but took weeks to reply asking for further info to verify identity... so either another stalling tactic, or a shambolic setup, or a bit of both.

At least they only took a few days to reply, but it's best to put this info at the end of every email sent to Erudio, so they've no excuse not to deal with the enquiry. Getting a read receipt is a good idea too, if your email account has the facility.

ymeu

Thanks guys - I agree, I think the DPA reference is entirely misleading and faux legalistic - if Erudio are going to invite people to email them requesting deferment packs (and let's be blunt, you would only do this because Erudio have been late sending the pack) then why not ask for dates of birth in the instructions on their website?
No, say Erudio, let's just generate twice as much email traffic as we need, or can cope with, by only telling people what we want AFTER they've emailed us....

QUOTE (from Erudio FAQs):
In order to defer your repayments you need to complete and return the Deferment Application Form (DAF) to Erudio Student Loans and provide proof of your income or means of financial support. You can request a DAF and a copy of the How to Guide by emailing xxxxxxxx (no links allowed as I am a Newbie)[EMAIL="deferment@erudiostudentloans.co.uk"][/EMAIL] or by calling 0333 003 7188.


But they don't mention date of birth.

They don't mention your account number either or that they will email you a form to print off which, with the guide, must be about 30 pages...

And how come if they don't need your date of birth to email you a form to print off, they need your date of birth to post you a form...Huh!!!

How does that work?

erudioed

How many people have actually got the new deferment packs?

BaffledByErudio

ericctheking wrote: »

That is fraud, trying to obtain money by deception.
Report them to the police.

You know what? Looking at that, it technically IS!

All along, while we've argued we only have to prove our salary isn't above the threshold. Erudio has kept banging on that it won't process a deferment without a DAF (i.e. 'SATISFYING' them in their assessment of our accounts and whether worthy of deferral).

So going by the 97 regs, they could really argue that merely proving income doesn't 'satisfy' their standards for the process they deem fit to come to a decision on deferment.

Yet, if following the 98 regs (if it really is the case these apply for all loans whether pre- or pos-98) it should merely be a case of 'SHOWING' that we don't earn a figure above the threshold.

Am I correct in thinking this? Because it's certainly the way I see it and think it blows Erudio's stubborn argument about use of a DAF right out of the water.

Does it have any impact on the clause they were using to report deferred loans to CRA's?

BaffledByErudio

erudioed wrote: »

How many people have actually got the new deferment packs?

I'm in a similar boat to you date-wise, Erudioed. In fact I think you were the first person I spoke to when I arrived, baffled, at this forum a year ago.

I too am yet to receive my deferment pack.

fermi

BaffledByErudio wrote: »

You know what? Looking at that, it technically IS!

All along, while we've argued we only have to prove our salary isn't above the threshold. Erudio has kept banging on that it won't process a deferment without a DAF (i.e. 'SATISFYING' them in their assessment of our accounts and whether worthy of deferral).

So going by the 97 regs, they could really argue that merely proving income doesn't 'satisfy' their standards for the process they deem fit to come to a decision on deferment.

Yet, if following the 98 regs (if it really is the case these apply for all loans whether pre- or pos-98) it should merely be a case of 'SHOWING' that we don't earn a figure above the threshold.

Seems that way.

All we have to do is 'show' Erudio we are below the threshold.

There certainly seems no legal requirement that we 'show' this via their DAF or that they have any right to insist we do.

The deliberate misquoting of the revoked 1997 regulations seems to be a deliberate and cynical attempt by Erudio to mislead ex students in to thinking that we are only entitled to deferment if Erudio are 'satisfied'.

ericctheking

Erudio don't have any right to "grant" deferment.
The regulations clearly state "show" the lender you are under the threshold (even though no-one borrowed money from Erudio in the first places so how can they be the lender!)
I think if it comes to court Erudio are on a loser so just showing income and refusing to give them money will work yet they will try with their CRA threats to mess peoples' credit ratings to obtain money. This is the one thing that any dodgy company seems to play on to obtain money they aren't entitled to (if it comes to court) because people are worried about getting a mortgage, even mobile phone contracts and you could say opening bank accounts are affected by credit ratings.
It all goes to show how student loans are dangerous if they can be sold on and current and prospective students need to be warned about this.
I urge everyone to warn about the dangers of student loans (on students forums etc) which can be sold to DCAs. Martin's advice about not thinking of a student loan as a loan is looking increasingly more and more dangerous as the plan is to sell off the entire loan book and future loans too!

BaffledByErudio

Just a quick one -

Erudio are now dispatching letters to amend the letters some of us received earlier in the year, dated '144th November'.
They acknowledge the stray numbers etc that were plonked in people's names and addresses and apologise.
Nice for them to be saying sorry for something, but sheesh!, all this admin must be costing them a fortune!