Uni fees and debt recovery

[uniwoes]

Didn’t really know where to post this, so chose here for traffic.

Long story short, after withdrawing from my course and various misinformed phone calls in relation, it looks like I may be hit for a uni bill of almost £1400, which they want paid by May. Well, I’ve already received it, and technically it’s already overdue, but that’s another story. I’ve been told I can set up a payment plan which would only run until May.

Not way can I afford that. I’m happy to pay it back if I owe it, but I was originally told it could be payable over a suitable period, as long as took, but that obviously I just couldn’t return to uni until it was cleared.

My question is, if I can’t pay it by May, and they refuse to budge on that, if they start proceedings against me, is this something that will go against my credit file?

Thanks.

Is this owed to the university or to student finance?

I’m not sure what you mean Felix?

The invoice is direct from the uni.

I was eligible for funding through SAAS, but hadn’t had my award notice until I was already considering leaving. One advisor in the uni finance team led me to believe I’d now be eligible for the fees, so when I was sent my amended invoice, i called back to set up a payment plan and then I was told I could still email over the SAAS award and that would cover it since I hadn’t withdrawn until after 1st Dec.

Now I’m told they invoiced me directly as I told them to and I was cancelling my SAAS award. Not true, she just hadn’t told me SAAS would still pay.

Well, you can’t pay what you don’t have. Perhaps you could put together a spreadsheet working out your disposable income, then offer to make payments based on that. Make sure to let them know that you intend to pay, but need more time.

Worse case scenario is that they might send it to debt collectors. In which case, you’d need to negotiate a payment plan with them.

if they start proceedings against me, is this something that will go against my credit file?

Yes, if the court grants decree against you

Can't help with your other queries sorry. Don't really understand what happened. Best advice is to be polite and friendly and helpful and keep everyone informed / share info, don't put your head in the sand