Korean Job Discussion Forums

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

I've basically had my head in the sand for the last 3 years and haven't paid a penny of my student loan. It's time I started to deal with it, but I'm a bit hesitant to call them because of the last 3 years of non-payment.
Does anyone have recent experience of dealing with this?

Beeyee · Joined: 29 May 2007

I'm hiding from them too. I have absolutely no intention of paying it back.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

That's probably not a realistic option in the long run. I think some sort of token gesture might be enough to keep them happy, but I'm not sure what they'll say.
According to their website, if we earn more than 9,000 GBP per annum, we have to pay 147 quid a month. This seems really high considering the cost of living here. I want to offer around 50 per month.

kenbear · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Location: SK

before i came to Korea they called me, i told them the situation and the lovely woamn said no worries call us when you are back. I've heard friends go on about the interest but it's not enough to get me to start payin them back, which i have no intention of doing for a long long time.

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

GB · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

I have paid some back...only due to the fact whenever I have returned to the UK from Korea, I have worked and therefore had to pay it back (straight out of paycheque).

I did hear that if you are abroad for a certain length of time...it gets scrubbed...not sure about that one, maybe just rumour.

Same goes for tax...I believe we have to pay tax if we are not out of the UK for a full tax year! Nice...but I haven't mentioned anything to Mr tax man in regards to me working abroad.

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

They are really starting to bully people into paying. After only 3 months of finishing uni I had letters telling me I had to pay or face fines. Basically we need to be paying 9% of everything we earn over 9,000pounds. So for a rough salary here of about 14,000 we need to pay around 500. Not a huge amount, but the way they are going about it is pretty lame. Especially because many people understand the figure as 15,000. I was never once told that it's different in different places. Anyhow SK does not feel 40% cheaper than the UK. Less taxes maybe, but not 40% on most things in life. Cheaper booze and cigarettes are the only things I really notice, although they were the things in the UK I spent most of my money on Very Happy

Being out of the country means it's hard to sort it all out and expensive to send money home each month. I've told them I am travelling around on savings but they want to see bank statements, well I've only used my bank account in the UK to pay for things online so it won't look legit to say I've been living on that for a year. If I say I'm working they will want bank statements or pay checks which all show I'm earning over 9,000. If I wasn't planning on going back to Uni and use this money to support myself without getting into debt I wouldn't mind paying it back. Yet it seems counter-productive to hound me for 500quid when next year or the year after I'll be back in education.

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Head in the sand here.

Haven't paid a penny in 10 years and am hoping it stays that way.

bundangbabo · Joined: 01 Jun 2008

They can sod off! Laughing

I aint paying it - it doesn't affect your credit rating back home so why bother?

It is a lifetime debt anyway and as soon as you are daft enough to settle back in Ingerlund - they'll take it out of your paypacket anyway! Think I am going to bust my balls paying interest on a student loan? They can sod off - margaritas all round while the sun is still shining!

Michael_75 · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

bundangbabo · Joined: 01 Jun 2008

Marlboro · Joined: 31 Jul 2006

I contacted them after my first year in Korea,and filled in a direct debit form,after declaring my salary.

anyway, since i sent the paper off in 2007,they have not taken out any money,or contacted me, so im not sure what i should do? ive tried contacting them since,but as soon as someone answered i cut them off Very Happy

any advice?
sorry for hijacking your thread OP Embarassed

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

No worries about hijacking, it's useful to hear any information on this subject.
I don't any hassle over the loan, so I'm a bit concerned about incurring any fines. To be quite honest, I don't think about it all that much and I'd happily avoid paying if I knew I could get away with it. However, it will surely catch up with me eventually, so I'd like to try and placate the SLC a little.