Student Loan Repayment

BenjaminClarke

Hoping somebody can advise on this. I went to University for a year when I was 18 years old (biggest mistake of my life). I received a student loan for this year, which I have been repaying ever since. The last year has been tough for me, I was made redundant and have since struggled to find permanent work. My last temporary position ended in November and I have not found anything since. I received a letter from the Student Finance Company demanding that I update them on my current situation, it was literally a demand, along with a threat that they will begin to charge me £150.00 a month if I don't respond. I phoned them and asked them what I needed to do. They told me that I needed to get their form signed by the benefits office, I told them I wasn't on benefits, so then they asked me how I was supporting myself, to which I told them my partner was currently supporting me. I was then told that I would need to get my partner to sign a declaration and that we had to send in copies of our last three months bank statements!! I refused, mainly because it would cost me in the region of £10 to do this, money that I do not currently have. I told them it wouldn't be an issue if they reimbursed me, but they said that isn't up to them.

My question is this: is it a legal requirement to send in bank statements? Is it against data protection rules for me to send in a bank statement that is a shared account with personal information on it that isn't related to student finance? I have read the terms and conditions of the student loan and it says that I have to keep them updated with my current situation and provide any evidence. What if I didn't have a bank account though? Surely there must be another way that isn't going to leave me out of pocket? I honestly think I'd rather take the £150.00 a month charge, I only have £10.00 to last me until next Monday. If I blew it on parking, photocopying, postage and packaging sending the statements then I'd have nothing. Am I being unreasonable? I'll probably have a job again by the end of the month!

[Deleted User]

BenjaminClarke wrote: »

Is it against data protection rules for me to send in a bank statement that is a shared account with personal information on it that isn't related to student finance?

No. You're not bound by the DPA.

BenjaminClarke

Thanks for your reply. So it doesn't matter that my bank statement has my father's details on it? Am I allowed to black his details out?

BenjaminClarke

Sorry, let me be a little clearer here.

They have asked me to prove my income. They say, "The statement must show your name and the funds you're living from."

So I think they want my partners bank statements, is that correct? My bank statement has no funds going in or out of it at the present time. Then again my name won't be on my partners bank statements...

silvercar

I have read the terms and conditions of the student loan and it says that I have to keep them updated with my current situation and provide any evidence.

This ^^^^ You have agreed to provide any evidence.

I only have £10.00 to last me until next Monday. If I blew it on parking, photocopying, postage and packaging sending the statements then I'd have nothing.

Most bank statements can be downloaded online. They could also be sent online as attachments to an email.

Am I being unreasonable?

You aren't being practical. If you only have £10 to last you til Monday, why would you prefer to take the £150 charge?

BenjaminClarke

They are asking for my partner's bank statements, not mine (I just phoned them again to confirm this). She is the one refusing to send them in. Sorry if I have not been clear enough.

I would prefer to take the £150.00 charge because I won't see that in the short term. I really need all the money I have right now in order to get by until I find a new job. Understand?

BenjaminClarke

Silvercar, I understand that I signed the terms and conditions and I am willing to provide any evidence. The evidence that they want isn't mine, I do not control it.

They told me that I need to send the evidence with the declaration, that is their policy.

Anything else you wish to add?

BenjaminClarke

Just for everyone's benefit let me break it down:

1. Student Finance have asked me to provide a declaration to say that I am currently not working. The declaration needs to be signed by both myself and the person supporting me financially, which is my partner.
2. I have a bank account that is shared with my father, no money is currently going in or out of that account and hasn't been since November 2016. Student Finance said they do not need this bank statement.
3. Student Finance want my partner to provide her bank statement, showing her income and any money that she has sent or given to me.

They will only accept photocopies as the evidence has to be sent in with the declaration. This is an unnecessary expense for someone who is currently unemployed. I have now spoken to my partner and she is refusing to send in her bank statements as there are private transactions on there that she doesn't wish to disclose to Student Finance, why should she have to? She didn't sign the original terms and conditions.

Please, has anybody got anything useful to say? Otherwise I am going to be charged £150.00 a month.

Bogalot

BenjaminClarke wrote: »

Just for everyone's benefit let me break it down:

1. Student Finance have asked me to provide a declaration to say that I am currently not working. The declaration needs to be signed by both myself and the person supporting me financially, which is my partner.
2. I have a bank account that is shared with my father, no money is currently going in or out of that account and hasn't been since November 2016. Student Finance said they do not need this bank statement.
3. Student Finance want my partner to provide her bank statement, showing her income and any money that she has sent or given to me.

They will only accept photocopies as the evidence has to be sent in with the declaration. This is an unnecessary expense for someone who is currently unemployed. I have now spoken to my partner and she is refusing to send in her bank statements as there are private transactions on there that she doesn't wish to disclose to Student Finance, why should she have to? She didn't sign the original terms and conditions.

Please, has anybody got anything useful to say? Otherwise I am going to be charged £150.00 a month.

You've been given useful advice, provide the evidence they're asking for. It's going to be far cheaper (and less hassle) than the alternative.

Or are you just looking for someone to agree with you?

BenjaminClarke

Bogalot, I do not have control over the evidence. Can you not read properly? My partner is refusing to provide me with HER bank statements. Shall I force her? Shall I do it behind her back?

I'm not looking for someone to agree with me, I am looking for someone who knows what they are talking about to advise me. If there is anybody on here that knows.

I thought this website was to give people advise... all I see people doing is judging others. But by all means point out the useful advise that I have been given.

Pixie5740

Then you're in a Catch-22 situation. If you cannot prove that your partner is supporting you then you will need to accept the fees.