University are chasing me for a registration fee, debt recovery letter received.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Where do I stand on having to pay this?

About 12 months ago work sent me on a short, work related course at the local uni. Fully paid for by work. The course finished last May.

In August I started getting emails saying I needed to register for the new academic year or my email account would be suspended, etc. I ignored the first couple of emails thinking it didn't matter if my email was suspended. As far as I was concerned I was done at uni. The emails kept coming, I tried ringing the phone number on the email two or three times and the phone was never answered.

The emails then kept saying if I didn't pay by x date there would be a late registration fee, etc. I sent an email reply asking if I needed to pay as the course had finished. I never got a reply.

I bumped into my tutor and asked her about it she said she would find out. While I was waiting for a reply from her I got fed up with another email and registered. Which was a pita as I always struggled logging onto the uni system and is why Id dragged my feet over it before. I had to ring their IT dept and get passwords reset, etc. Tutor then rang me back and told me I didn't need to re register, but Id done it by then.

I'm now getting fined £60 for late registration. Ive got through on the phone and they say as far as they're concerned im a student until May 2016 but they're unable to tell me on what course! Ive pointed out im not a student and they say well why did you register? Err, because you sent me a load of snotty emails.

I have the email I sent them last August which they never responded to and I forwarded them that yesterday as evidence i had tried to sort it and pointed out they never answered my email.

Ive had a further email today following putting everything in writing yesterday saying I'm still a student (still don't know on what course), I need to pay this money, they sent me eight emails and they have no record of me responding to the emails.

Ive just emailed them back saying surely my August email which I resent them yesterday is a response? And could they please tell me which course I'm on as I would love to know!!

Please say they haven't got a leg to stand on?

[MollieCoddler]

They don't have a leg to stand on! it sounds like an administrative error.

I would reiterate your email being very clear about the dates of the short work course. and then just leave it.

if the Uni is close by and it is convenient I would also go to HR in person. At my Uni it is often better to do this. There are IT drop ins and HR drop ins. It sounds like either might work for you.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Thanks. I just don't want the debt sold on to a debt collection agency and have people like that hassling me for money, etc.

I sent them an email this afternoon telling them again that im not a student and that they previously did not reply to my email last August which I can prove. Being too lazy to delete emails and having every email ive ever been sent and sent to people has its advantages!

They're too far away to drop into sadly.

[bibliomania]

Have a look on their website for their complaint procedure - it should be readily accessible.

[Cleo22]

May be worth sending a letter stating that you will be charging £20 per email/letter if you have to deal with any further demands. Follow through and send them a bill; it may have more effect.