First it giveth then it taketh away
Ah, the Student Loans Company. The lovely people who provide you with income whilst you try and deal with the trials, tribulations, workload and cheap beer of college bars in Oxford. And then send you statements with frighteningly large statements with too many numbers and demand repayment.

Having finished said degree and before moving out to this fair city, I decided to be a conscientious Picotee and ring them up to inform of this so they wouldn't think I was doing some sort of "leave the country to escape loan repayments" type scam. So rang up, explained that I was leaving, and no, I wasn't entirely certain what my monthly income would be, but would forward on details ASAP. Which I did, and confirmed with a phonecall. All is well, repayments are organised etc etc.

Fast forward to October. Letter arrives demanding repayment otherwise fine for delayed payment. Letter is dated a week before I received it and payment had to have been received on same day as letter sent. Phonecall #1. Explaining muppetry of expecting a letter to make it across Europe at the speed of light and also that payment has been arranged. All appears well.

Fast forward to December. Another letter, again dated a week earlier. Phonecall #2. Slightly amused phonecall explaining the geography of Europe and how a first class letter from Glasgow will not make it to Berlin in one day. And that a direct debit has been set up. Yes, explains the friendly person at the other end of line, it has.

January. Another letter. Phonecall #3. Slightly less cordial, explaining I have set up a direct debit, check records, etc etc. "Ah yes," replies SLC adviser. "The last person forgot to press the final button on the screen. We'll do that now."

Phonecall #4 was considerably more irritated when I received another letter, this time charging me £25 per letter sent out. Yes, person on other end of phone still hadn't pressed confirm.

Phonecall #5 involved my getting home from work to a letter threatening bailiffs if payment still wasn't received (again dated a week previously). I didn't even get the front door closed or my coat and shoes off before ringing Glasgow, explaing situation in great detail the situation, the costs of many phonecalls from Germany to SLC and how I would be asking for a rebate on this (funny how they grasped the geography of Europe and the concept of international correspondence when it might cost them. Yes, apparently someone had forgotten the confirm button AGAIN.

Long and short of it, I didn't get money, but I did get a letter of apology. So I guess it's a moral victory rather than a financial one.
(Picotee, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 6:34, 2 replies)

Ugh, this is not encouraging
Seeing as I'll probably be moving abroad after my Masters.
( Pretender, Sun 5 Sep 2010, 12:05, closed)

I never told them...
I'll pay it one day...
( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Sun 5 Sep 2010, 13:08, closed)