SanDiegogirl

..... and your point is?

fatbrit

Your Victorian attitude.

Surely you could have worked that out from the Dickensian print?

Pom_Chch

What should happen is you leave a UK bank account open with money in and send them direct debits each month based on how much you earn in the USA. If they do catch up with you (which they will) they are fully within their rights to bill you for the full amount that you owe made payable in one lump sum.

I would contact them soon and let them know you are working abroad. When you leave the UK you are supposed to fill out a form downloadable from the website:

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/repaying-...-move-overseas

This is what I've been sorting out for my move to NZ. One of the many things on the to-do list!

Jerseygirl

I agree.

Pom_Chch

Very much agree with this. They pester you no end when you don't keep up your end of the bargain (updating details and not paying when you're supposed to be). I left the country for one year to travel and they demanded that I send off bank statements to prove I wasn't earning and that I had enough money to support myself for a year of travel. Nosey bar-stewards. If I didn't promptly respond they would fine me blah blah blah pounds.

Sally Redux

Why is it Victorian? She has not indicated that she cannot afford to pay.

SanDiegogirl

What's Victorian about paying your debts?

Loan/insurance/credit companies take into account, that some debts will not be repaid - guess what, they just load the premiums for those people to take out the loans/insurance etc.

So OTHER people end up paying for bad debtors.

MY attitude is Victorian? - I think yours is immoral ........

SEL_boy

If you ever plan on going back to live in the UK, I would get the wheels in motion to start paying back the loan. If you move back they will catch up with you eventually, and it will only be a bigger pain in the neck, and more expensive.

You could live like Ronnie Biggs, as Fatbrit seems to be suggesting you do, but I wouldn't...

fatbrit

It was the concept of honor that I found odd.

fatbrit

I'm not in the mood for DM rants today.

I paid nothing my first degree. Bet you didn't, either.

SanDiegogirl

Don't have a degree (gasp/shock horror), but have had plenty of other debts/expenses which have been responsible for.

I'm not in the mood for a rant either - so lets agree to disagree

lansbury

Was getting a bit worried there but the thread finally developed into the should people pay their debts or not debate before the popcorn got cold.

Speedwell

Exactly why I stayed out this round.

fatbrit

DM readers are always with us.

vikingsail

I come from this at a different angle. I suggest to you that the reason the Student Loan Company is not following up on you is because they know completely that both time and the law is on their side. After all, to put it simply, you no doubt signed in triplicate when agreeing to the loans and within the paperwork was your agreement to pay the money back. Mentally wriggling, writhing, contemplating scenario's where they might lose or forget your details to avoid payment is pointless and merely a temporary measure and all the while they will be adding % interest on to your loan.

IF your never going back to the UK (and who can say that definitively) then it may be OK. Although give some thought to the fact that as technology, governments and globalization increases all kinds of intangible borders are being broken down. So as you sit happily in your USA home, perhaps in 30 years time, may come a telephone call or a letter requesting repayment of your now exorbitant debt which has had fees, interest etc added on?

If it were me. And btw it was once 20 years ago (I ended up paying but at least now I can return to the UK without looking over my shoulder re a debt) I would just begin to make those payments you can afford. I don't think I would be in a hurry to voluntarily provide them with any identifying information e.g. whereabouts, addresses, payment details etc and that will require some thought on your part.

Regardless of however much pontificating they may do regarding requiring details from you to allow you to repay (can you not see what they are really doing here? = Hoping you will go away giving them the opportunity/excuse to tack on more fees % etc over time). If you make repayments/ genuinely attempt to make payments keep a record. They are going to look pretty stupid to any court even on Mars trying to argue that the reason they would not accept your payment was because... I'm sure you get the picture.

Accept you made a deal with the devil. Get the devil off your back on your terms and make the repayments suit you.