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Student grant overpayment - not my fault, please help
Hi, looking for advice please.
In 2009 I was made redundant, I decided to retrain and so applied for a course. At the time my partner was on maternity leave And we had a mortgage and a newborn baby. My tutor advised me to apply for a Student loan so I did. I applied for £5000 as a loan. They wrote to me substituting part of the loan for a grant.
As the year went on they reassessed my circumstances and paid me a total of £7056 in grants, And £4999 as a loan. After I had finished my course I received a letter from them advising me I was ineligible for funding as they had reassessed my circumstances, they had entered my course details onto their system incorrectly and therefore awarded me the grants in error.
I complained immediately, we exchanged several letters - all of theirs apologising for their error- and then they wrote to me advising they were seeking advice and would get back to me - this was Feb 11. In May 11 I moved house, I wrote to them advising and also chasing a response but still no reply. The next I heard was April 2016 - a letter from a debt collection agency. I wrote to SLC advising that I had made a complaint in 2011 and received no response.
I made an official complaint and not being satisfied with their requests to repay £7056 I have been to the highest level of their complaints process. The independent assessor has decided that although SLC are at fault and that their customer service has been disgraceful, I should still repay £7056.
I would appreciate any advice.
Thank you
In 2009 I was made redundant, I decided to retrain and so applied for a course. At the time my partner was on maternity leave And we had a mortgage and a newborn baby. My tutor advised me to apply for a Student loan so I did. I applied for £5000 as a loan. They wrote to me substituting part of the loan for a grant.
As the year went on they reassessed my circumstances and paid me a total of £7056 in grants, And £4999 as a loan. After I had finished my course I received a letter from them advising me I was ineligible for funding as they had reassessed my circumstances, they had entered my course details onto their system incorrectly and therefore awarded me the grants in error.
I complained immediately, we exchanged several letters - all of theirs apologising for their error- and then they wrote to me advising they were seeking advice and would get back to me - this was Feb 11. In May 11 I moved house, I wrote to them advising and also chasing a response but still no reply. The next I heard was April 2016 - a letter from a debt collection agency. I wrote to SLC advising that I had made a complaint in 2011 and received no response.
I made an official complaint and not being satisfied with their requests to repay £7056 I have been to the highest level of their complaints process. The independent assessor has decided that although SLC are at fault and that their customer service has been disgraceful, I should still repay £7056.
I would appreciate any advice.
Thank you
0
Comments
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As that is public funds I see no other way round this but you have to come to an arrangement to repay.
It won't be statute barred at 6 years like other loans - up to you do you want a CCJ (does it bother you?)or will you want any new credit,mobile phone contract etc etc for next 6 years?0 -
Thank you for your advice.
I had hoped they would settle for 50/500 -
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