Student Loan Voluntary Direct Debit Amend?

MoneyBob

I set up a voluntary monthly direct debit to student loans of £150 (an amount I chose) a month about a year ago because I could afford it and don't like having debt. I do not however earn enough to _have_ to pay it back _at all_.

I've now got a mortgage and I want to reduce the repayment amount to assist with my cashflow.

I logged in to the student loans website and clicked 'amend' next to my direct debit.

It wouldn't let me reduce the amount below £150. It said £150 was the minimum amount. But I chose that amount!

So I thought I'd cancel the direct debit. No way to do so on their site.

So I cancelled it from my bank account end, but they (Natwest) warned me that the recipient may re-establish it.

Is that correct? Can Student Loan Company re-establish a direct debit I've cancelled at my own bank?

This is all very boring!:mad:

JKSandy

Yes they can as you havent amended your agreement with them.

Can you not just call them and say your circumstances have changed?

Gaz83

Have you tried speaking to someone at the SLC about it?

Gaz83

JKSandy wrote: »

Yes they can as you havent amended your agreement with them.

Are you 100% sure about that?

MoneyBob

Thanks for the replies.

I manually set up a direct debit off my own back when I didn't have to. I didn't have to phone anyone to do so. I did it all on their website by simply logging in.

I'll call them tomorrow.

But I do think that surely they should allow me to either cancel it or amend it to any amount I wish, without having to phone them up.

JKSandy

Reading between the lines Gaz83 is correct. They can't set up a new DD without your authorisation.

I would still keep an eye out on your online banking though.