Being taken to court by student loans - very worried! Advice needed please!

[MoneyTooTight]

Hoping for some advice please - I appreciate I may not have acted in the best way, but now I'm in a mess so any help would be greatly appreciated!!

I took out student loans in the 90s student loans Scotland - under the old system where the payback threshold was quite high

I was constantly in a period of deferment until the loan was sold to Erudio. I had a whole carry on with them about 4 years ago when I moved house they said they didn't receive my deferment forms I had sent them, asked the to resend, I didn't receive them (possibly due to house move although they claimed to have sent them to new address) while this was being sorted out they passed me over to a debt company and the refused to deal with me.

Though the debt company I raised a dispute as I should have been allowed to defer they were looking into it and then I never heard back. To be fair I never chased this up or done anything about it.

3 weeks ago I had a phone call at work from a debt collecting agency but I didn't call back. A week later they tried again and I ignored it again. Not ideal I appreciate.

Today 2 sheriff officers appeared at my door with a court citation.

So I have phoned the debt company and there is no way to stop this unless paying full amount (just under £8k) which I don't have. So they told me to get a solicitor and to fill out form 03 and return to the court with the highest amount I can pay.

So I am in a panic, I am a single parent and I am trying to support my dc through uni. I don't have a lot of disposable income, but I could pay something back every month but I don't know how much they would expect.

I have been saving for years to pay for my dc through uni and I have £4K in an account for this, could they take this from me? I know the debt is mine and I would be willing to pay it off but this is money I have put aside for the kids and the next few years would be really tough without that.

Any advice much appreciated, I'm in a bit of a panic.

Sorry for the length of post.

I'm in a very similar situation to u. You're being too polite about tbis. Fact is u sent the forms.. they talking out their backside. In my case I sent back the forms which they did get but they rejected my deferment claiming I didnt provide enough evidence of my income. I told them to get stuffed as there's nothing more I can provide. That was 2014. I got a citation today also for sheriff court and I'm fighting it all the way. To be honest the forms and envelope look fake and the claim has holes in it. I have a strong letter written. Fact is I have never earned over the threshold and they still wouldn't defer me and since the first deferment they kept me in arrears and wouldnt allow me to defer again. As nuts as it sounds I'm enjoying the prospect of going to court and showing them up for the con artists they are. Principles are principles u sent the forms u weren't earning enough so no way u should pay a penny even if u feel guilty or want to. Don't worry and fight it all the way don't back down. The minute u pay anything is the minute u lose and they win and that's what they want they are bullies but for heaven's sake don't hand them the money on a golden platter let them fight for it and then get laughed out of court. So far I'm 5 years with Studio and paid 0. Im showing the hilarious citation to my solicitor tomorrow to see what to do next.

Don't pay a thing. Godammit are u crazy stop paying them and fight it. Youve admitted guilt paying them. If Ur earning over the threshold then pay it until then pay nothing don't even contact them.