Student Loans Company - Can you make an annual payment rather than monthly?

[SLCquestion]

Just hoping to avoid phoning the SLC which is not an enjoyable experience, so wondering if someone here knew the answer.

I live abroad and will be on quite low monthly repayments for the next repayment period. I don't want the hassle of sorting out a payment every month and incurring the transfer fees so frequently, so can I just pay the whole lot in one go and then wait for the next period?

I've never earned over the threshold before so this is the first time I have to deal with this. I understand if you live in the UK it's all automatic but obviously not for people who live abroad.

There is quite a lot of info on the website. You are able to make sungle payments and set up direct debits too.If you aren't getting pay slips in the UK then how can they take it out automatically? I'm not really sure sorry. It might be worth making the phone call.

That's right, they can't take it automatically because I'm not earning in the UK (and tbh I'm quite pleased about it because I've heard lots of stories of them continuing to take money that's not owed).

I know I can make single voluntary payments or set up automatic payments. I'm not setting up automatic payments because I don't trust the SLC. I've heard too many horror stories and my own experience with them has been pretty shit so far.

I'm just wondering how they check and if I make a big payment in the first month will that count as an overpayment and then they'll reckon I still owe them for the other months?

Sigh, I might have to phone them, yes. I wish they'd get a fucking email address.