Daughter is being chased for Uni Tuition fees

GeorgeUK

Rivergate - if your daughter went through matriculation then it could get very complicated. I would look at the CAB site and phone one of the nearer CAB's to see if they have the training that could help you.

Can't think of anything else to suggest other than writing to the head of the university explaining that she didn't attend the course.

Edit: I can't imagine the Uni sold this on to a third party so it might also be worthwhile contacting the student loans company to try to get any of the original correspondence from them. Did they inform the uni that they would not be paying? And at what date - so you can show that your daughter would not have known the outcome but may have been at the college for a short time.

silvercar

tifnstav wrote: »

the OP didn't get any money from the SLC and the uni itself has passed the debt to TNC.

That is the missing piece in the jigsaw, the SLC will always pay the fees.

RiverGate

silvercar wrote: »

There is more to this than in your original post. That's fine if you don't want to post all the details on a public forum, but the student loan company will pay the tuition fees for all [british] students who are enrolled on eligible courses. So once the uni offers you a place, you know that the SLC will pay the fees.

Also, you don't need to start paying back the fees until your income passes a certain level; so I don't understand why a debt company is involved.

You're right there is a bit more to this than I had mentioned in the first post as I didn't think it was important, basically the only reason we can think of that the SLC didn't pay the fees is that she had to drop out of uni previously due to illness however the uni and the SLC on the phone didn't think this was a problem as a letter from her Doctor was included in the SLC application saying he couldn't foresee any future complications. Unfortunitly we never pursued the matter so we don't know exactly why the application was refused. By the way it was my understanding the SLC paid the tuition fees for all British students as well so it is very confusing.

GeorgeUK

They will pay - but only on the condition that she attends the classes.

This seems to be where the problem is. I'd suggest getting in touch with SLC then Uni to try to clear that up. May eventually need another note from the doctor to reconfirm the illness.

Hopefully just a case of misplaced paperwork. SLC may have a copy or note of the case.

RiverGate

Hi, I'd like to clear some things up as I don't think I explained things too well.

• Daughter left uni due to illness.
• She applied through clearing for the same course a couple of years latter, I forget why but it was what the uni told her to do.
• Once accepted she sent away the SLC form with doctors note as told to by uni and the SLC.
• She attended freshers week and registered for the course but couldn't get a student ID until SLC paid.
• A couple of weeks into the course the SLC sent a letter out saying they weren't paying with no reason given.
• As she couldn't gain access to the uni without the student ID she felt too much coursework had been missed and informed her personnal tutor of this.
• She doesn't remember signing anything saying she was leaving but did inform them.
• Out of the blue a year latter TNC sent out a letter saying they are collecting the debt of £3000+ and if she doesn't get in contact, on a date before the letter arrived (postal strike I guess) they would pursue court action.

Is it still worth contacting the uni or does she have to deal with TNC now?

GeorgeUK

Talk to the University - looks like the proper procudures weren't carried out on leaving. Was it just the tutor that was informed, then she never showed up for classes again? Or did she notify someone?

If you talk to the University, they may be a bit more accommodating than the Debt Collection Agency. Worth giving the CAB a call too - just incase they can offer any advice. Nothing to lose by trying.

If you end up that you need to deal with TNC, send the letter requesting a copy of the CCA - they need to prove a debt is owed before they can collect it. You do not need to prove that you do not owe anything - it is up to them to prove it. But if they do provide a copy with her signature, come back and ask on the board. Certain things must be included for a CCA to be enforcable, but not sure about educational products as opposed to physical goods.