Debt collectors traced my address, if i don&#x27;t pay, do i go prison?

Original post by Quiet Benin

I'm training to be a teacher but i'm set to be told i fail in two weeks. I was getting student finance but i have used it up now.

I think i will go on universal credit and then use that universal credit to pay the debt. I can't work anymore due to mental health. I'm unemployable

If you are expecting to drop out of teacher training you could start applying for Teaching Assistant roles to start in January. They are often recruiting for TAs in secondary schools and you obviously have some classroom experience so would be a good applicant. Teaching's not for everyone but the TA role is less stressful.

Reply 44

Original post by Quiet Benin

I'm training to be a teacher but i'm set to be told i fail in two weeks. I was getting student finance but i have used it up now.

I think i will go on universal credit and then use that universal credit to pay the debt. I can't work anymore due to mental health. I'm unemployable

Just bear in mind Universal Credit is not much to live off. It may take time for your first payment to come through, assuming your claim proceeds in a straightforward way. That will delay making payments to this company. It is probably good to take action and get advice right away rather than waiting for your first Universal Credit payment.
After debt advice, even if you can only offer to pay a small amount, it is something. The key thing is to get some advice to help you and make an offer you can afford to keep paying and act now.

I know you didn't ask for advice on the next bit but if you can't cope with a job due to mental health issues then you may have little choice but to claim Universal Credit. However, it is not an easy benefit to be on and it can be hard to retain entitlement in the longer term due to the health assessments and the limited capability for work criteria. If you can possibly cope with work, even part-time, and avoid Universal Credit then, in my opinion, that would be better.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 45

ellenyoung123

1

You need proper legal advice from a solicitors office.

Reply 46

black tea

19

Original post by Quiet Benin

I'm training to be a teacher but i'm set to be told i fail in two weeks. I was getting student finance but i have used it up now.

I think i will go on universal credit and then use that universal credit to pay the debt. I can't work anymore due to mental health. I'm unemployable

Who has decided you are unemployable?

Are you the guy who previously posted about quitting teacher training because you don't know your subject well enough?

Reply 47

Rarest

Original post by Quiet Benin

I am african. African parents are not chilled. I would have to explain i used paypal credit to use as spending money when i was in uni. It would confirm their years of suspicion that im BAD at handling money.

Well, they are not wrong.

Reply 48

Joinedup

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Rarest

Well, they are not wrong.

Wow, that's not very helpful.

Op will almost certainly feel better for contacting the debt collection company and coming to an arrangement to pay it back in installments rather than trying to hide from them and hope they'll forget about it.
Having debt thats out of control can make you feel hopelessly trapped under a monster with no way forward, if you start to deal with it by sustainable installments you'll be able to think about the future with some hope.

Reply 49

ElderlyMedic

11

You do not get a criminal record for debt unless you own money to the government, nor you go to prison. How much do you need to pay? You can often negotiate with them, cut it in half etc. If it is a small sum, usually nothing happens apart of your credit score getting ruined.

Reply 50

Admit-One

Original post by ElderlyMedic

You do not get a criminal record for debt unless you own money to the government, nor you go to prison. How much do you need to pay? You can often negotiate with them, cut it in half etc. If it is a small sum, usually nothing happens apart of your credit score getting ruined.

It was £400, or at least that was the figure before the collection agency got involved.

Reply 51

As said a few times on here OP, get advice (I would suggest from the number I put on here) and hopefully you can start dealing with it. Don't just ignore it.
However, ignore judgemental comments on the thread which are not overly helpful, in my opinion. Hopefully they won't put other people off asking for advice when they have problems. It would certainly put me off.
I have been in debt as a student years ago due to various factors and we all make mistakes in life. I paid it off.
It is up to you but hopefully you can learn from it.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 52

StriderHort

Original post by Joinedup

Wow, that's not very helpful.

It's right though... OP isn't taking the situation seriously and trying to lead a double life with their parents, so the situation certainly has the potential to get worse through dishonestly. If not this debt then the next one...

Personally I'd rather my parents found out such a thing if and when I told them, not when two guys in cheap suits appear outside the house and start taking photos of cars in the driveway...

Reply 53

Original post by Joinedup

Wow, that's not very helpful.

Op will almost certainly feel better for contacting the debt collection company and coming to an arrangement to pay it back in installments rather than trying to hide from them and hope they'll forget about it.
Having debt thats out of control can make you feel hopelessly trapped under a monster with no way forward, if you start to deal with it by sustainable installments you'll be able to think about the future with some hope.

Agreed.

Reply 54

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by ellenyoung123

You need proper legal advice from a solicitors office.

I would just say that unfortunately the cost of this may be likely to put the OP even further in debt :smile:

I posted a link for specialist advice which is free so hopefully OP can get advice there.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 55

ReadingMum

19

You need to tell your parents. They need to be prepared if someone turns up at the door seeking goods to the value of your debt. They may well be angry but they may also be able to help you pay the debt so that this is not hanging over you. Getting a CCJ will seriously impact your financial life for the next 6 years

Reply 56

ElderlyMedic

11

Original post by Admit-One

It was £400, or at least that was the figure before the collection agency got involved.

Never let them in your place. You don't have to, they might lie to you to get in. Only bailiff with a court order can do actual stuff. They might try to send you fake Court orders and stuff but with sum so small they might just give up and and sell the debt to another agency.
Try to call them and tell them then you might be willing to pay £150 then agree to £200. Never give them your bank details.
Also, ask for proof of debt, not something they have in their excel spreadsheet the actual paperwork from Paypal. Sometimes, if it already went trough multiple collectors they wont have it.

Reply 57

Admit-One

Original post by ElderlyMedic

Never let them in your place. You don't have to, they might lie to you to get in. Only bailiff with a court order can do actual stuff. They might try to send you fake Court orders and stuff but with sum so small they might just give up and and sell the debt to another agency.
Try to call them and tell them then you might be willing to pay £150 then agree to £200. Never give them your bank details.
Also, ask for proof of debt, not something they have in their excel spreadsheet the actual paperwork from Paypal. Sometimes, if it already went trough multiple collectors they wont have it.

I think this is advice for @Quiet Benin, not me. I was just repeating their figure from above.

Reply 58

Original post by Admit-One

I think this is advice for @Quiet Benin, not me. I was just repeating their figure from above.

😂😂😂😂

Reply 59

StriderHort