Final Demand Notice from my Uni!

[ymwoods]

Well firstly, its my own fault...but...

I have recieved a final demand from my Uni for the sum of £248.79 and told that if I do not pay within 7 days then they will pass it on to court proceedings with me paying any extra costs associated with this. At the moment (and Until the 12th of April when my next Student Loan payment comes in) things are so tight that at the most I could probably manage £20-£30 until the 12th of April. I have heard from somewhere that if you atleast make some sort of payment then they will find it hard to issue any kind of proceedings. Is this true or have I heard very wrongly?

As I said, I know its my own fault...should have acted quicker rather than pushing it under the carpet and ignoring the last 2 letters. Have had a busy...and expensive few months with the car blowing its Cylinder Head and having to move house again...and thats before we go into the business! I just thought that...being my Uni, they would be slower to pull the 7 days and your out card and I could push it until April. It's backfired.

I have written asking for an extension until the 12th April (won't get a response until Monday I expect) but is there anything that can be done to stall something like this in the mean time until I can pay?

Thanks for any advice, I know its only a small amount of money to some of you, but when you have not got it then its a different story.

[mcflurry]

Call them first thing on Monday, apologise for ignoring the letters and plead your case.

Good luck

[ninja-lewis]

Have you sought help from the Student Union? They usually have advisors to help with this sort of situation. You may even be eligible for help from a Hardship Fund at the Univeristy.

[The Ben]

I had that for books I had borrowed, had a letters that I ignored ignored them all and then got a letter like yours, but I too was broke and was bookles(I couldnt find them, think friend had pinched them) so went to see them, grovelled and appologised and they said pay it when my loan came in!

[hooperpride]

I has this but they decided to ask for all my fees at once, I'd changed courses and never got round to updating them on what happened so they expected me to pay in full. I just went into the finance office and explained the situation to them and they allowed me to go onto monthly payments. They were really good about it and basically said hundreds of students end up owing them money at some point and as long as they get it eventually and are informed of the situation they would make allowances.

You might have shot yourself in the foot a bit not going to tell them straight away but to them a few hundred pounds isn't going to make a difference in the short term.