University debt solicitor letter?

[QQUD]

I left university due to mental health issues about 1.5 years ago and didn't notify anybody at the time because I wasn't well enough to face it. I just stopped going.

I have now now received a letter from a solicitor saying that I need to pay them nearly £1000 in full within 7 days of legal proceedings may be issued against me.

I don't know what this debt is actually for, and now I don't know how to deal with this letter. Please advise?

[paulajayne]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

Pay THEM? Who is THEM? and what do the say it is for?

[QQUD]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

Thank you for your reply.

It says to pay online, by phone or by cheque to the solicitor. It says 'All correspondence and payments in relation to this debt must be addressed directly to ourselves [the solicitor] and not to our client'.

It it doesn't say what the debt it for; only that it is an outstanding balance related to the university.

[Kati]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

I left university due to mental health issues about 1.5 years ago and didn't notify anybody at the time because I wasn't well enough to face it. I just stopped going.

I have now now received a letter from a solicitor saying that I need to pay them nearly £1000 in full within 7 days of legal proceedings may be issued against me.

I don't know what this debt is actually for, and now I don't know how to deal with this letter. Please advise?

Could you upload a copy of the letter (with your personal details blanked out)?? Don't worry ... there are people here who can help :tinysmile_grin_t:

[QQUD]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

I think I've attached it? I'm on my phone so it is difficult to know.

It it does say the name of the university above where it says outstanding balance.

To be honest, I'm not sure what previous correspondence they mean - but my dog is prone to chewing and hiding post if I'm not in when it arrives so it is POSSIBLE that there has been another letter before this. I also don't answer phonecalls I don't recognise / that are withheld and I have had a few of those recently but I'm not sure if it is related.

[Kati]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

I think I've attached it? I'm on my phone so it is difficult to know.

Yep :tinysmile_grin_t: it's there.

It it does say the name of the university above where it says outstanding balance.

So it looks like the uni are the clients then - did you owe any fees etc... when you left??

To be honest, I'm not sure what previous correspondence they mean - but my dog is prone to chewing and hiding post if I'm not in when it arrives so it is POSSIBLE that there has been another letter before this.

I wouldn't worry about that, can't be helped (my cat attacks the postie if he can)

I also don't answer phonecalls I don't recognise / that are withheld and I have had a few of those recently but I'm not sure if it is related.

I don't answer any number on my mobile that I don't have in my contacts list either :tinysmile_grin_t:

HL Solicitors are a 'leading firm of debt recovery solicitors' - http://www.hllc.co.uk/ - so it probably means the uni has passed the debt onto them. Have you moved house since leaving university?? Could they have sent leters to a different address??

[QQUD]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

I have moved house, yes, but I have been here for about a year now.

Thank you for your time on this and for being nice!

I'm not not sure what the debt is for. Perhaps tuition fees, but I did have student finance set up although I am not yet earning enough to be repaying that loan yet. I can't think what else it would be. As I say, I just stopped going so loose ends weren't tied up at the time.

What do you think I should do now? My (mentally unwell!) instinct is to ignore it, but I'm guessing that that isn't the best way forward!

[Kati]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

I have moved house, yes, but I have been here for about a year now.

Thank you for your time on this and for being nice!

I'm not not sure what the debt is for. Perhaps tuition fees, but I did have student finance set up although I am not yet earning enough to be repaying that loan yet. I can't think what else it would be. As I say, I just stopped going so loose ends weren't tied up at the time.

What do you think I should do now? My (mentally unwell!) instinct is to ignore it, but I'm guessing that that isn't the best way forward!

We're all nice here

Could you contact the uni and ask what the debt is?? Maybe they sent letters to your old address (after you left) and you didn't receive them?? Or contact HL Solicitors (in writing - recorded/signed for - approx £2) asking for clarification on what the supposed debt is?? Personally, I would not admit to any debt at all until they can prove that you actually owe it!!

Don't worry too much for now - there are lots of people on here who will gladly help :tinysmile_grin_t:

[biondani]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

Nice to see they proof read letters as well. An interesting payee name for the cheque and reference for the back.

[paulajayne]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

Guys/gals
Not sure on the rules, but, student loan and course not completed, can this loan be called in?

[QQUD]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

Thank you for the advice. I will try and find out what they think I owe them for then.

What do you mean by called in?

(and the proof reading shocked me too! I was almost tempted to send a cheque payable to those details and play dumb )

[wales01man]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

If this was a student loan you can find out the Balance online their is a Student loans website or was this another type of loan?

[Kati]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

It it does say the name of the university above where it says outstanding balance.

I would say [MENTION=30456]wales01man[/MENTION] that the university is the one who has sent the debt to the solicitors firm (maybe course fees??) but I believe the OP is going to question what the debt is actually for and then get back to us!

I will try and find out what they think I owe them for then.

[des8]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

Guys/gals
Not sure on the rules, but, student loan and course not completed, can this loan be called in?

For loans taken out in ENGLAND from student loan co. before 2012 I believe repayments, even if you do not complete course, are through the tax system, so you should not be having letters from DCAs
However , don't take that as gospel as the rules keep changing depending where you are in UK and I haven't had to keep up with them.

[wales01man]

Re: University debt solicitor letter?

So they are not advised to check the balance if there is one on a student loan online?

If the University has sent it to a Solicitor it may not be a Student loan?