The Student Room Group

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Reply 1
It's worth checking out! :eek:
Reply 2
I read about this but then on the back of the declaration form you need to sign it says you need to still pay it back?
Reply 3
What happens if I never repay or move abroad?


If you never repay due to consistently earning less than the payments threshold, once you reach 65 (for loans taken before September 2006) or 25 years from the first April of graduation (for loans after September 2006) your debts are wiped clean.

If at anytime you move abroad, you're expected to inform the student loans company so you can make repayments directly to them (usually by direct debit). Your repayments will be deducted in pounds sterling and you'd be responsible for any costs involved in converting the currency.

There are severe penalties if you don't tell the Student Loans Company, or chose not to repay by not providing them with information they request to be able to deduct repayments from your UK salary. These include tripling the normal rate of interest on your account, deducting repayments based on an income equal to twice the UK average earnings, and even demanding that you repay the total loan in one go…so beware!
Reply 4
You could disappear out of the country, but they could easilly seek an extradition and you would be seriously screwed if the country did not renew the visa for you.

Also, there is nothing like being a fugative.
Reply 5
My cousin moved to Barcelona and doesn't pay.. HOWEVER, I don't think she earns above the income threshold anyway (but still has a comfy life in Barcelona).
Reply 6
erk

If you never repay due to consistently earning less than the payments threshold, once you reach 65 (for loans taken before September 2006) or 25 years from the first April of graduation (for loans after September 2006) your debts are wiped clean.


That is such a deception (by the government, I mean). Virtually everyone who works full-time will eventually have to pay their loan back, inflation will mean that almost everyone will earn over the £15,000 threshold they set, eventually.
Reply 7
Agamemnon
inflation will mean that almost everyone will earn over the £15,000 threshold they set, eventually.


Oh, now I assumed that the threshold would increase with inflation. I'm going to have to have a look into that.
You can avoid paying uni fees by leaving the country if you don't get caught. Just depends how much of a gambler you are, I guess :p: One of my mum's friends still hasn't started paying back her loan and I think she's been earning above the income threshold (in England) for a few years now, so I don't know how she's managed that.
There is actually an extremely easy way of avoiding paying uni fees..
















.. don't go to uni!!

Simple.
Reply 10
Mr Ben
Oh, now I assumed that the threshold would increase with inflation. I'm going to have to have a look into that.


I highly doubt it, although I suppose it's possible that they will increase the threshold.
Reply 11
devils_nose
There is actually an extremely easy way of avoiding paying uni fees..


You could become a teacher for a few years, I think for some positions they will wipe off your student debt - although it may only apply to subjects where there is a real shortage of teachers.
I've been told you have to be living away from the UK for 5 years to be exempt from paying back the loan.
Reply 13
Well, if you leave the UK, there's no way they can get their money back in any way. This however assume you'll remain off the radar permanently. My friend, who moved to the United States (his family moved back there in his 2nd year) just told them to go **** themselves.

Noxid
You could disappear out of the country, but they could easilly seek an extradition and you would be seriously screwed if the country did not renew the visa for you.

Also, there is nothing like being a fugative.


Being in debt does not make you a criminal or a fugitive. If the SLC took an action in court against you, they'd only have access to any assets you held in the UK and can obviously only deduct from your income through HM's Revenue and Customs in Britain.

They cannot extradite you, arrest you or anything like that. You're only really in danger of having any money taken from you if you come back and work in the UK again.
Reply 14
Libertin du Nord
My friend, who moved to the United States (his family moved back there in his 2nd year) just told them to go **** themselves.


Do you think it's right that he did that? I mean after recieving years of subsidised education not even paying for part of it through paying back the student loan?
Awesome, I'm leaving the country at the end of my degree anyway - dual nationality, huzzah!

Nah, I'd pay it back anyway, especially as I'm planning to earn above the minimum required income.
Reply 16
Agamemnon
You could become a teacher for a few years, I think for some positions they will wipe off your student debt - although it may only apply to subjects where there is a real shortage of teachers.


They've stopped doing that now - you still get golden hellos, but no clearing of your student debt unfortunately!
Reply 17
ollie123
I stand corrected but i've been informed that we can avoid paying uni fees if we leave the country? Is this true or a load of bull ******?


If you don't tell them where you are moving to, then you won't pay it back. Its best to change your name before you go. They'll simply never find you.
Reply 18
Agamemnon
Do you think it's right that he did that? I mean after recieving years of subsidised education not even paying for part of it through paying back the student loan?


No, to be fair it's not right. Bloody funny, though.
Libertin du Nord
Well, if you leave the UK, there's no way they can get their money back in any way. This however assume you'll remain off the radar permanently. My friend, who moved to the United States (his family moved back there in his 2nd year) just told them to go **** themselves.



Being in debt does not make you a criminal or a fugitive. If the SLC took an action in court against you, they'd only have access to any assets you held in the UK and can obviously only deduct from your income through HM's Revenue and Customs in Britain.

They cannot extradite you, arrest you or anything like that. You're only really in danger of having any money taken from you if you come back and work in the UK again.

Whoever it was who gave me the neg rep, at least sign it :rolleyes:

Whilst criminal and fugitive is probably harsh in the current climate it is a loophole that I expect to see closed. With companies being national (with many having offices in Britain), and the ability to "mark" your card so to speak, dont expect the situation to remain so easy. The best advice is to have a go at paying it. Remember that we are part of the EU and several trading agreements could easilly be set up to allow the SLC to take your assets abroad through the governments that let you stay. I believe we can take money for speeding tickets from foreigners

It can also bite you if you come back to the UK. It will look great when they are off loading flights and several brits are being marched off to the cells (now sir can you confirm your name and whether you attended university so n so and graduated with degree yada). :biggrin:

And I am sure it will look really professional when you have to say that you cannot attend that UK business trip as you owe the government thousands. Yeah the loophole is there, but think a little bit about the ramifications.

And dont tell me it wont happen. How much have they spent on that useless police investigation into cash for honours.