Son not paying back Student Loan

[TooFar123]

My son left university 10 years ago and moved abroad almost immediately which had always been his plan. He rarely returns here and since graduating has not worked in the UK or for a UK employer so there is no opportunity for SLC to take the repayments from his pay.

He should have been updating SLC on his employment status and making repayments based on his earnings but has recently let slip that he has been ignoring communication and hasn't paid back a penny.
He seems pretty relaxed and seems to think that moving abroad gets him out of paying and no one is going to come after him but googling has taken me down a rabbit hole. Does anyone have personal experience of this and can advise how long it would be before they start taking legal action and what kind of consequences are coming his way?

It's only ever collected through PAYE, self assessment, or voluntary contributions. The Student Loans Company will not pursue anyone for non-payment unless it's because of evasion or fraud.

While he is overseas it is unlikely it will be enforced, as soon as he returns to the uk he will be contacted. Interest will still be applied to the loan so he may end up paying back more overall.

Depends where he is, they have different repayment levels in different countries, he may not have met the threshold

He’ll get caught if he ever comes back to the U.K. to work.

My son is in Australia and I am aware that the student loans company sends him letters , I believe he does not reply and has not paid back any money, it stresses me no end however when I mention it he cuts me off,

My brother moves abroad 15 years ago. He tried to pay off the loan but at that time they only gave you the amount once a year, you’d get it in June/July but it was from April so already out of date and hard to figure out what you owe. They made it so hard he didn’t bother arguing anymore. He’s now on 6 figures in another country but unlikely to return to the uk due to immigration rules preventing his wife from joining him. While abroad they can’t enforce it. He really did try to pay them. I had a similar challenge the year mine got paid off with multiple calls and challenges navigating paying the last bit and ending the salary deductions.

I live overseas and pay mine. If I ignored them they would start taking the maximum out of my bank account. However I gave them the details in the first place.

It's shitty behaviour not to pay it back and if he ever moves back it'll come back to bite. I used to think I would never move back but did spent 6 years in the UK.

I am also glad I pay it because the interest just keeps piling up otherwise.

I am not sure of his exact earning but I know he is comfortable and earning considerably more than minimum wage in the country where he lives so assume he is above the repayment threshold and should be repaying.

He is in an EU country, not sure if that makes a difference. But the consensus on here seems to be that there won't be many consequences for him although I do wish that he would be more responsible and do the right thing at least it seems that I don't have to worry about him getting in legal trouble