University Tuition Fees - Dca Advice

[kate999]

Could anyone please give me advice on this issue - I am completely stuck and need some guidance - thank you in advance!

 

After completing my 1st year of university I was advised by the Finance department that I needed to pay for my tuition fees - £1075.00

I thought that I had these funded for me by the government - but as I was repeating the 1st year I had to pay this. I did not realise this and finished the 1st year - I was only notified that I owed the Fees in the Summer before I was due to start the 2nd year. As a result I I was not allowed to start the 2nd year till they were paid. I had to drop out.

 

Eventually the outstanding fees were sent to a DCA - Optima Legal - I made an arrangement to pay a min payment of £5 per month. After a couple of years I received a letter advising me I owed over £1500. I couldn't understand how I owed them more than I started with.

 

I rang and they sent me a statement of my payments - and a separate letter saying they charge 4% interest - x amount of fees - xx amount of charges etc and interest to date.

 

I was never ever advised of there interest/charges/fees etc - I don't know where I stand -

Do I have to pay all the charges/interest etc?

Checking my credit report nothing has shown up from them at all as it was my student fees?

 

Can anyone give me any advice? Where do I stand legally?

[cerberusalert]

Do I have to pay all the charges/interest etc?

Not unless they were expressly stated in any agreement you signed. A debt collector cannot add their charges or interest onto a debt.

 

Make them prove a debt exists and they have the right to collect, send them this; http://www.consumerforums.com/resources/templates-library/86-debt-collectors/573-general-debt-letter-if-you-know-nothing-of-the-debt Do not sign the request.