Student Loans threatening to fine me £200 a month for going on holiday

freelancepuddle

I am going on holiday for exactly 3 months for the summer (not working). Today I've seen they have sent out a threatening letter stating I will be charged £200 a month if I don't send back this form, when I have done so. What can I do here?

[Deleted User]

Call them and let them know?

freelancepuddle

I will do but right now I am incredibly distressed by this. I'm wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. Student finance usually process everything within 2 weeks, and they're still yet to process my assessment form, so now I'm being threatened with a bill of £1800 the week before I fly.

[Deleted User]

That's why you need to contact them.

There's clearly an admin error that you can only sort out by talking to them.

Anyone else's experience is neither here nor there.

freelancepuddle

I'm distraught to say the least. If they don't update my details by June the 4th, the fines will start (£1800 in total) What can I do here?

freelancepuddle

Deleted_User wrote: »

That's why you need to contact them.

There's clearly an admin error that you can only sort out by talking to them.

Anyone else's experience is neither here nor there.

I already have done, and they said they haven't processed it despite apparently receiving the details over 3 weeks ago. If it's not inputted in their system by 4th of June, the fine starts. I will phone them again but I've never been so distressed.

[Deleted User]

Stop being distressed.

If you've returned the form and they've acknowledged it, you'd done your bit.

freelancepuddle

Deleted_User wrote: »

Stop being distressed.

If you've returned the form and they've acknowledged it, you'd done your bit.

They couldn't find it at first, then after two tries the guy came back and said they received it (I imagined opened it?) on May 3rd. But nobody has inputted the details in the system since receiving it, so the system has automatically generated a fine letter. It's been well over 3 weeks since they apparently opened it. I offered to tell them my flight dates over the phone and they said they can't do it, it has to be via post. So I did it on April 20th and now nobody has inputted the details.

The only thing I can think of is that I sent them my flight itinerary with my flight dates. I leave to come back to the UK the evening of the 4th, and arrive back on the 5th (overnight flight). I put the 4th as it said to put the date I return to the UK (not arrive). Now I'm thinking this has caused an error (a £1800 error) somehow. I'm not sure but I can't understand why they won't update my details on their system.

I have the postage receipt to prove it but I cannot stop a direct debit coming out of my account. So Im not sure what to do if they tell me that it's still waiting to be processed. If it goes past June the 4th, I'll be automatically fined.

[Deleted User]

freelancepuddle wrote: »

So Im not sure what to do.

See post #2.

They are behind on their admin. It will resolve itself.

freelancepuddle

Deleted_User wrote: »

See post #2.

They are behind on their admin. It will resolve itself.

I will phone them as soon as they open tomorrow. What is distressing me is that a letter has stated that if the details aren't updated on their system by June the 4th, I'll be automatically fined. So if they don't do it within the next two weeks, I'll start a year long payment of £200 a month which I can't stop (or afford - this would actually make me broke)

Herzlos

Is it a fine or a fixed repayment for the debt?