University accidentally deposited travel bursary into bank account twice and now want half back

sa14997

As a student who frequently travels to placement the University gives us a travel bursary (nowhere near enough to cover the total costs) each year. Each year this has usually increased as well. We have today received an email saying that they have accidentally deposited the £200 bursary twice (£400) and require us to return £200 of this. I was completely unaware of this mistake and so have since spent a good chunk of this money. As a student whose student loan is not enough to cover my rent I am unsure how I will pay this back and if I am legally obliged to? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

bradders1983

sa14997 said:

As a student who frequently travels to placement the University gives us a travel bursary (nowhere near enough to cover the total costs) each year. Each year this has usually increased as well. We have today received an email saying that they have accidentally deposited the £200 bursary twice (£400) and require us to return £200 of this. I was completely unaware of this mistake and so have since spent a good chunk of this money. As a student whose student loan is not enough to cover my rent I am unsure how I will pay this back and if I am legally obliged to? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

In a word: yes.

You didn't realise you had an extra £200 just sat in there?  I suspect the University will deal with this in one of two ways, either they simply wont pay it you next year and can easily prove they paid it to you already, or they will take you to court to recover it. And I suspect you may be in breach of one of the University codes of conduct by not paying it back, you may wish to check this.

k12479

Your university will have a policy laying it out, like this (random) example where it would come under "Overpayment of a bursary/stipend"
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fees/tuitionfees/201920/what-happens-if-i-dont-pay.aspx

warby68

If your budget is so tight then surely an extra £200 was noticeable, as were 2 payments when there should only have been 1?
You do have to reimburse - an error doesn't make you entitled to the money but it may make them consider a payment plan or not paying you next year/term which would give you longer to save it back up, especially if you approach the issue politely and mention hardship.

IanManc

It isn't your money and you are legally obliged to pay it back.

The university could eventually take you to court, but the usual method employed by universities is that they won't award a degree to you while you owe a debt to the university. This method ensures that final term hall of residence bills, etc are paid, but it would also work in your case.

xylophone

Each year this has usually increased as well. 

 Was it one payment of £400 or two payments of £200 each?

If one of  £400, I suppose you would be in a position to say that you assumed the grant had increased, had spent a large part of it  and ask to pay back the £200 by instalments over the year.

If two of £200 in respect of the same bursary, I should think you would be expected to have queried the matter and they might take a robust view of the circumstances- ie repay the whole sum immediately.

Does your student account offer an interest free overdraft that would cover it?

Or could your parents lend you the money?

Dr_Crypto

When I was at university anyone with outstanding debts (whether library fines, accommodation fees, etc) was banned from graduating until the debt was cleared. 

crumpet_man

Ask for a repayment plan, maybe £4 a week.

whitesmith

Dr_Crypto said:

When I was at university anyone with outstanding debts (whether library fines, accommodation fees, etc) was banned from graduating until the debt was cleared. 

eg Aberdeen University:

If you owe the University money for any reason (fees, library fines for unreturned books, etc.) you will not be permitted to graduate, so please ensure that you have cleared any debts.  Any money you owe will normally be displayed on the Application to Graduate form. 

bradders1983

The OP has not logged back into the forum every since this thread was started, so safe to say with nobody agreeing with her, we aren't going to get any replies.

pearl123

crumpet_man said:

Ask for a repayment plan, maybe £4 a week.

I agree with the above, ask for an affordable repayment plan. And yes you do need to repay it.