Can the Student Loans Company do this?

[EagleVisionSquirrelWork]

I had a letter this morning from SLC saying I was overpaid by nearly £4K in 2011. They say they wrote to me about it in 2012, which is sort of true. In 2012 they wrote and said I'd been overpaid by more (about £8 or 9K, I think). I queried it and they said they lacked some documentation I should have sent. I'd sent it already but I re-sent it all and (iirc) they then revised down the amount they said I owed. I again queried it and after a few letters exchanged I never heard from them again.

Now they are saying I have to pay it at once, debt collectors, 'persistent refusal to pay' etc etc. I haven't got that kind of money spare and I really don't think I owe it, but it was a long time ago and I'm not sure I have all the paperwork (letters, bank statements etc) I would need to prove it. It's certainly not to hand as I have a lot of stuff in storage atm.

I literally have not heard from them in all this time. There's no likelihood of correspondence gone astray as I haven't moved house for donkeys' years. Can they do this? Is it reasonable to write to me in 2020 and say they (think they) overpaid me in 2011 and I have to pay it back? Even the Revenue don't expect you to keep records this long!

Any advice would be gratefully received.

I think you need advice. Normally debts are not recoverable after 6 years but no doubt student loans will be diffferent

OK, that's interesting... Student loans would be different, I'm sure, but an alleged overpayment...maybe not. I'd be happy to pay it if I thought I owed it, I should add. I just don't feel it's reasonable to suddenly be asking after all this time.

Who could best advise? I mean, do I need a solicitor? Student loans seem such a specialist area. You'd think all the rules would be codified somewhere but getting accurate info about the small print is weirdly difficult, as far as I can find.

Hi - I was overpaid by 1.2k and I rang up explaining I'm struggling with money atm and set up a payment plan of £5 a month - with yours it would probably be around £20 a month. Try ringing them up and arrange something like that. They defiantly can do it, it's in the contract unfortunately that if they overpay you it seems to be our fault hope you get it sorted

My son had to leave his course following an accident and was overpaid as a result He too is paying £5 a month back so it is worth asking!

If you are overpaid it is your fault. You should know how much you should get paid and report it if overpaid.

Another who was overpaid and agreed £10 a month.

Student loans are not like other forms of debt. I wouldn't be surprised if you had to pay even though it's been more than 6 years.

OK, thanks everyone. The thing is, I'm pretty sure I haven't been overpaid. Last time they said I had been and I queried it, they asked for more paperwork, which I gave them. They then massively reduced the amount they said I'd been overpaid by, and when I queried it again they never wrote back. And that, as I say, was 8 years ago! It doesn't seem plausible that they would wait that long to claw back money if I really do owe it. I just don't know how to challenge them as it's been so long and I don't know where all the correspondence is. It seems so unreasonable that they can just write out of the blue years after anyone normal would have any memory of the details.

Well, I will write back again and try to get some more info. I wonder if there's a review or appeal process, or an ombudsman I can take it up with.

It sucks how many of us have been presented with a big bill unexpectedly. It would be better if they'd just get it right the first time!

Thank you all for taking the time to answer.