ERUDIO student loans help

anna2007

GinOClock wrote: »

There has been a freedom of information request released by the Department of Education after a copy of all correspondence between Erudio and the DfE regarding the new DAF was requested:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/erudio_student_loans_daf?nocache=incoming-1008638#incoming-1008638

If you trawl through some of the emails between the Erudio and the DfE, it would appear to read that Erudio has formally abandoned plans to routinely report loans to CRAs or perform credit checks when carrying out deferment applications.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/408110/response/1008825/attach/4/MacDonald%2020170028341%20Annex%20A%20ErudioDfEemail%20FOI%20July17%20FINAL.pdf

This is good news. Maybe one of the mods in the forum could get Erudio to confirm this formally/officially, together with an explanation? They seem to have kept this rather quiet.

That's a great FOI result and only proves how weak the Government is in its response. The fact they redacted the bits about CRA searches and reporting, when everyone including the media already knows that information, only highlights how desperate they are to continue dressing up the truth. The requester should dispute that, on the grounds that the info is already in the public domain.

The response relies heavily on s.43, (commercial interests) to withhold information when the recent tribunal decision found Erudio has no commercial interests, the exemption isn't engaged. Erudio has already been found to be a non-entity, it doesn't matter, no-one cares, it has no commercial interests. It's Arrow Global doing the damage, it's Arrow Global that has a reputation to uphold, it's Arrow Global we should be angry at. It's Arrow Global that's failing its customers, but we're all still blaming "Erudio"? It's about time Arrow Global started to feel the heat, they are the ones treating borrowers like !!!!!!, but who insist they insist on treating customers fairly.

I don't know much about copyright law, but sanctioning re-use of the disclosed information seems off to me... are they saying the draft DAF is a unique work of art? Is the collection of emails a fable, a parody, a tragedy, a comedy or some other combination/work of fiction? Are they suggesting there was an element of skill or intellect in designing the DAF that warrants copyright protection? I really don't know how it works, but seems very dubious,

https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1150/intellectual_property_rights_and_disclosures_under_the_foia.pdf

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/foi-copyright-and-copying-of-records.pdf

GinOClock

The FOI request, in which it was requested that the Department of Education publish all correspondence relating to the approval of the new DAF and Erudio's decision to formally abandon attempts to report our loans to credit reference agencies, has been appealed and sent for internal review.

Thanks to new our own anna2007, we know that the First Tier Tribunal has ruled that Erudio, as a shell company with no employees, has no commercial interests that should be considered in terms of FOI legislation. :D:D

On that basis, the Department of Education has no basis to redact any information on commercially sensitive grounds.

fermi

GinOClock wrote: »

The FOI request, in which it was requested that the Department of Education publish all correspondence relating to the approval of the new DAF and Erudio's decision to formally abandon attempts to report our loans to credit reference agencies, has been appealed and sent for internal review.

Thanks to new our own anna2007, we know that the First Tier Tribunal has ruled that Erudio, as a shell company with no employees, has no commercial interests that should be considered in terms of FOI legislation. :D:D

On that basis, the Department of Education has no basis to redact any information on commercially sensitive grounds.

I would be surprised if that result stands up given that there is undoubtedly a commercial interest to protect at some or another part of the debt buyers chain of 'companies', but fingers crossed.

Lungboy

My FOS complaint has been set up now, so they must have agreed that they can adjudicate against Erudio again. Bit of a shambles from the FOS really, I worry that some people might not argue their case if they try to complain but are told the FOS can't do anything.

JeLaw

Meant to check in here a few months back but forgot my password. Can't always visit because of time, up and down health issues, etc - but wanted to again say thanks to those of you keeping up the fight.

Every time I check this thread out it's after months away from here - so my heart sinks each time I see confirmation that the whole crappy situation continues. It's nice to pretend we weren't mis-sold our loans but sadly reality bites every so often.

I've only flicked through a few posts due but noted some others had the same thing as me....Erudio trying to contact them to "encourage" you to apply to defer online. No way will I be doing that!

JeLaw

Jonmenzies wrote: »

Thanks for reply. I am 43 now and have left my job (the Government) and HATE them. I want to go and get some skills as they have de-skilled me - working in Social Security. I intend on getting every penny off them and not paying it back.

You must be mad...especially if you're posting in this thread, which presumably means you're read through the nightmare situation we're in.

What's the point of getting retrained and/or gaining new skills if you want to intentionally earn a very low income? Will you turn down your dream job because it pays over the repayment threshold? And btw it isn't government money paying for loans - it is ours, the public. All of us pay tax (whether employed via income tax, etc or simply through living and paying VAT on goods, etc). You're not taking money from any MP's personal bank account.

I empathise with having had a horrible boss and job. I was in the same boat years ago. Private company not the government, but I hated my boss - and leaving that job was a huge relief. But it's not worth making yourself ill over it, letting yourself get eaten up with hate, and sabotaging your present and future.

I'd suggest retraining if you want to - but doing it for yourself, for a career that you want to do, that will pay enough for you to live (low incomes often leave you existing rather than living). I'd also suggest trying to avoid getting a student loan if at all possible. You don't want to end up in our position, I promise you. Consider going part-time and working part/full-time to fund yourself, or try online study for free (you will have to pay a fee for a certificate/exam if you want to but there are plenty of free online courses out there).

anna2007

fermi wrote: »

I would be surprised if that result stands up given that there is undoubtedly a commercial interest to protect at some or another part of the debt buyers chain of 'companies', but fingers crossed.

The chain of companies had ample opportunity to voice concerns about their commercial interests in this case, but chose not to. Any association with the sale of our loans is toxic, so they all hide behind 'Erudio'. Dfe tried to argue the other companies' commercial interests were relevant, only if the tribunal found Erudio had no commercial interests, which quite rightly wasn't accepted by the Tribunal. The other consortium members are free to shout about their commercial interests relating to any future FOI request, but how likely are they to do that?

As far as I know, an FTT decision may be referred to in other cases, but can't set legal precedent, only the next stage of Upper Tribunal does that - so the FTT decision can only 'stand up' if it's tested at UT?

anna2007

Lungboy wrote: »

My FOS complaint has been set up now, so they must have agreed that they can adjudicate against Erudio again. Bit of a shambles from the FOS really, I worry that some people might not argue their case if they try to complain but are told the FOS can't do anything.

Looks like FOS is in terminal decline, no surprise that PwC are involved::

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-4425464/Staff-meltdown-Financial-Ombudsman.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/07/04/10-worst-companies-work-uk-according-employees

The Glassdoor reviews are pretty shocking, it's no wonder we're getting conflicting advice from FOS on whether they can even look at Erudio complaints:

https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Reviews/Financial-Ombudsman-Service-Reviews-E477438.htm

Anyone confident their complaint will be properly looked at? Nope, me neither, so much for the U.K's 'robust, regulatory framework'.

Lungboy

anna2007 wrote: »

Looks like FOS is in terminal decline, no surprise that PwC are involved::

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-4425464/Staff-meltdown-Financial-Ombudsman.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/07/04/10-worst-companies-work-uk-according-employees

The Glassdoor reviews are pretty shocking, it's no wonder we're getting conflicting advice from FOS on whether they can even look at Erudio complaints:

https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Reviews/Financial-Ombudsman-Service-Reviews-E477438.htm

Anyone confident their complaint will be properly looked at? Nope, me neither, so much for the U.K's 'robust, regulatory framework'.

Wow, that's terrible. I had no idea. I have to make another complaint to Erudio about one aspect of my FOS complaint as I didn't raise it with them originally, so their final answer doesn't cover it. Fun times

GinOClock

Lungboy wrote: »

The FOS are back to saying they can't deal with Erudio. I've requested they look into it as they should be able to.

That's two people on this board that this has happened to now. So it obviously not a one-off event. While it's true that FOS reversed those decisions, I agree with Lungboy and think the average layperson might not know they can appeal on the grounds Erudio is covered by Arrow Global's FCA authorisation.

There is now a FOI request to FOS to see how many other borrowers have incorrectly had FOS refuse to investigate their complaint due to the FCA authorisation arrangement with Arrow.

Depending on the response to the FOI, FOS CEO Caroline Wayman may be contacted and asked to see that those cases are reopened and affected borrowers contacted (and possibly compensated by FOS themselves).

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/erudio_student_loans_limited_2