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outstanding debt - help

flicker79
Posts: 5 Forumite
Hi I'm looking for some advice.
A few years ago my employer sponsored me to to do at university a course as part of my job. For one aspect I was told that in order to pass one of the modules I would have to resubmit one piece of coursework. I did this and I passed and graduated. About 6 months after this I was told I had an outstanding debt with the university for unpaid resubmission fees. This was the first I'd heard of any cost relating to resubmitting a piece of work. I rang them and they told me that I had to pay it. I then told them to contact my employer (who I no longer work for) as they paid for the course. About 6 months after this I was told they do no pay resub fee's. My response was that at no point was I made aware of any fee or did I agree to pay one so how can they possibly charge me? On their website it even states that no student is able to graduate with outstanding debts. I asked them to send me documents showing that I signed an agreement which they failed to do. They then referred me to a 'solicitors' (HL) without warning. I asked the solicitors to ask for the evidence off the university. They have now just got back to me saying that even if the university cannot provide evidence of an agreement, I am still liable to pay as I should have asked if there was a fee. This sounds really wrong to me. Why should I ask a question I didn't know needed asking and how can I be liable for a debt they didn't make me aware of? I am just interested to know what my rights are?
Sorry for the long email. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
A few years ago my employer sponsored me to to do at university a course as part of my job. For one aspect I was told that in order to pass one of the modules I would have to resubmit one piece of coursework. I did this and I passed and graduated. About 6 months after this I was told I had an outstanding debt with the university for unpaid resubmission fees. This was the first I'd heard of any cost relating to resubmitting a piece of work. I rang them and they told me that I had to pay it. I then told them to contact my employer (who I no longer work for) as they paid for the course. About 6 months after this I was told they do no pay resub fee's. My response was that at no point was I made aware of any fee or did I agree to pay one so how can they possibly charge me? On their website it even states that no student is able to graduate with outstanding debts. I asked them to send me documents showing that I signed an agreement which they failed to do. They then referred me to a 'solicitors' (HL) without warning. I asked the solicitors to ask for the evidence off the university. They have now just got back to me saying that even if the university cannot provide evidence of an agreement, I am still liable to pay as I should have asked if there was a fee. This sounds really wrong to me. Why should I ask a question I didn't know needed asking and how can I be liable for a debt they didn't make me aware of? I am just interested to know what my rights are?
Sorry for the long email. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
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Comments
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Well I wonder how much it is and is it worth making a fuss about, you do not want solicitors fees as well.
Personally can see how your old boss not liable, he paid for all the rest did he not and it was your efforts that made you need to resubmit work.
Resist always incur a fee I would think and someone of graduate level should have known this.Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. -- Sally Koch0 -
Thanks for the really constructive reply. It actually had nothing to do with my efforts that I had to resubmit my work but that point is irrelevant to my overall question.
You also did not answer my question so I will await more helpful replies.0 -
I think you should pay it and save the hassle; it's a bit cheeky asking your previous employer to pay resubmission fees when you mo longer work for them. I'm not surprised they refuse to pay it.0
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Thanks
I didn't want my former employer to pay as much as the university contact them regarding the finance side of things. I had never received correspondence from the university, it was always sent direct to my work so I was hoping they would be in a better position to address this. I tried getting the information myself but they didn't forward it. Also, the course was a compulsory part of the job I was in at the time, not optional.0 -
You can argue it in court, but if you lose, you will need to pay the amount plus court fees within a month otherwise you will get. CCJ.:beer:0
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How much is it?
and are you able to maybe discuss this with the student union? They may be able to offer free advice. I wouldn't bother going to a solicitor because of the costs.
It may be an annoyance, but I have always been told that resists will cost me money. Free first time, not the times after (even if it was part of your job, you cannot keep expecting your employer to keep paying!)...which seems fair. It may be annoying, but probably best just to pay up to get it off your back. They are unlikely trying to scam you.
Keep us informed0
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