College debt and credit rating

Elvisia

Please move this if it's on the wrong board - I am a mature student at university and I received a full scholarship for my course. I have just gone into my second year of university and I have received a letter to say I owe £5000 for my fees (the amount for one year of tuition) and the debt will be passed onto a debt collection agency in seven days.

When I enrolled the admin assistant spent some time making sure the payment for my scholarship had gone in. At the beginning of term the university sent me an automated letter to day I owed £5000, I emailed the Finance Admin Officer who sent me an email confirming my file was up-to-date and no money was owed. Today I received another automated letter saying I will be suspended from the university in 7 days and my debt passed onto a debt collection agency as I had not contacted the university to discuss the letter (which I had and I have the email proof that everything was fine).

I spoke to the Head Administrator today who said their finance system is very flakey and he'd have a chat with someone. I've emailed the Student Finance Dept and the Finance Admin Officer but I am panicking in case the debt is passed onto a debt agency - will this affect my credit rating even though I owe no money?

If anyone has any advice on what else I can do to rectify the situation, I am wondering whether to send a letter registered post to outline the fact there is no money pending? There is no name on the letters they have sent me, they are just signed "Student Admin Officer" and having spoken to the university they say this role doesn't actually exist (!!!)

supersaver1000

Contact your course tutor.

Elvisia

I have considered that but she is utterly chaotic, in fact the Admin dept said they've never worked with someone so disorganised. The most she'd do is eventually send an email to the person I am already talking to. I've already been through the painful process before of trying to get her to sort out an admin problem.

Gilbo_Baggins

What university are you studying at?

Income Manager, Credit Control Manager or Sales Ledger Manager are the types of people you could raise it with in the first instance. If your university is like the one I work for you should be able to browse the directory for the job title.

If all else fails the person to complain to would be the financial director or secretary to the university.