Dear Claudienne,

I have a loan with the Students’ Loan Bureau that I have been delinquent with, not because I wanted to but because of circumstances beyond my control.

I have been contacted a few times by collectors who I have asked numerous times for a payment plan. They have refused to give me a payment plan.

I was admitted to hospital on March 4, 2022, and while I was there I received my pay advice. When I read it, I realised that my salary was missing a big chunk of money. Upon further investigation I realised that the Student Loan Bureau had set up a standing order with my payroll department to have the funds sent to them directly.

I contacted them via e-mail and explained to them that I had no issue with making a monthly payment. However, I informed them that I could not afford to pay the $37,000 that they were taking from my pay monthly. By taking that amount it was making me incapable of taking care of my three-year-old.

Their response said that they could not reduce the monthly payments.

Their decision is forcing me to consider quitting my job. I might as well stay home as my net pay cannot cover my overhead expenses that include childcare and travelling expenses to my job. Under this situation I cannot do anything for my child.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

EW

Dear EW,

Tell Claudienne contacted the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) about your concerns.

The column requested the SLB to determine if your repayment plan could be altered so as to reduce your monthly payments.

Tell Claudienne received the following e-mail from the SLB on June 21, 2022.

“Reference is made to the captioned account and e-mail from EW dated May 8, 2022, which was forwarded to the SLB for our comments.

Please be advised that our due diligence checks have revealed the following:

1) EW’s loans with principal totalling $841,000.00 entered repayment in January 2013. As at January 2022, nine years after her loan entered repayment, EW failed to pay even one dollar to her account;

2) The account was sent to a debt collection agency in September 2014, and despite being employed over the years, she has consistently proclaimed that she is unemployed and is unable to get any assistance to repay her student loans;

3) Having discovered and confirmed that EW was in fact engaged by her current employer since May 30, 2014, we sent a mandatory salary deduction order to glean a reasonable sum of $34,000.00 per month from her salary, twice the initial monthly expected installment of $18,400.00;

4) Her loan balance is approximately $2.2 million, and her loan tenure will end in 2023.

Please note that attempts were made, albeit unsuccessfully, to contact EW by phone of affordability, and she has not contacted our offices directly, nor has she come in to meet with us. As you would usually do, we would be grateful if you could encourage her to do so in order for us to assess her circumstances and reach an amicable arrangement which will not only suit her but also ensure that the revolving fund remains viable.

The Students’ Loan Bureau wishes to thank you for your continued partnership with the SLB in ensuring that our customers are assisted. “

Tell Claudienne notes that the SLB spoke to you on Wednesday and that you will be sending them statements to verify your monthly expenses.

We wish you all the best

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 876-936-9436 or cell # 876-484-1349 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.