I am travelling/working abroad and the SLC is trying to contact me

[omnivore99]

Hi All,

 

The SLC have been sending letters to my parents house.

 

They have stated that they are aware I have no record of income through the tax system (HMRC?)

and that they wish for me to confirm my address with them

and say I may be liable to a charge if I do not reply.

 

I took out a student loan around in 2000 after graduating

I never earned enough to pay back the loan and

I am quite sure the SLC lost track of me after moving addresses several times.

 

I then took out another loan in 2010 after graduating

I was unable to gain employment and a

 

fter sitting around for several months unemployed and getting depressed

I decided to go travelling and I am doing a variety of odd jobs in bars etc to fund my travels as a I go,

 

I am only making ends meet but am certainly happier than being unemployed in the UK.

 

I guess its inevitable that I will return to the UK at some point in the future

but I have no immediate plans to and suspect it could be as long as 5 years if at all.

 

I would therefore like to ask how I should proceed and what my options are.

 

If I simply ignore the letters what could the potential consequences be?

Would they simply note me down as a 'lost contact case'?

 

My main concern is that if I do return to the UK could the SLC affect my credit rating

and ability to get a mortgage through a CCJ?

 

Can they do this if I am not in the country?

 

Would it be a better to be honest just to say I have gone travelling/working holiday and do not plan to return?

 

Thanks for your help

[citizenB]

Responding to S.O.S.

 

I am very sorry, it would appear your thread appears to have been overlooked.

 

I will alert others on the site team to see if they have some suggestions. I am not sure how long you can be pursued for these loans, but as they appear to have been taken out after 1998, I understand there are different rules.

 

Hold tight, I will find someone for you

[WarrenBuffet]

Hi longbow, i got your pm but could not reply as you cant receive pm's yet.

 

Anyways im sure someone like dx will be along to guide you as they did me.

 

My loans were Pre98 the mortgage style loan

while yours are Post98 and i have no experience with these.

 

If SLC do take a CCJ against you?

 

Please be aware that in my case the CCJ has never showed in any credit search ....ever!

 

Statute Barred is 6 yrs without acknowledgement or payment in the old style loans

and SLC have a nasty habit of when it comes close to 6 yrs they then take a CCJ which begins the 6 yr clock again.

The result is that it can be upto 12yrs since you last acknowledged the debt, before it is SB.

 

As far as replying to their threats, its upto you as they cant take any money from you if you have not achieved the income threshhold.

So, continuing to defer may be a good decision?

 

As for charges on your account i beleive that you can appeal these and have them refunded,

but the interest will still continue to be applied.

 

As regards SLC always send deferments or any correspondence with signed for delivery

as they are very good at saying they never received important documents.

Do not trust them in my experience and always cover you butt when dealing with them.

 

Hope i have been of some help and enjoy your travels.

 

PS: If one of the mods could move this thread to "Student Loans/SLC"

it would be addressed better than the current section it is in. ...Please!

[citizenB]

dx100uk has moved the thread to the correct forum and is looking at the thread right now

[dx100uk]

the post 98 style loans can never be SB'd.

 

I would simply send them a letter saying you are out of the country touring

or whatever you want to call it.

 

don't expect to return for a few years.

 

not earning anything other than travelling costs.

 

and will update them in 12mts

 

in the meantime

 

this address XXXX can be used

 

if you are not earning

you are not liable for the loan repayment

 

 

dx

[dx100uk]

dx100uk has moved the thread to the correct forum and is looking at the thread right now

 

is he where...........

[omnivore99]

Thank you everyone for your advice. However, the SLC want evidence of my income such as payslips or contracts which I simply do not have, are they likely to kick up a fuss if I cannot provide this?

 

Thanks

[WarrenBuffet]

Tell them you are travelling on a non-working visa and your national insurance no whicj they have will provide them with all the detail they need to continue your deferment?

 

My advice is if you are below income thresh hold do not ignore.