OFT warns universities over student debt rules

The OFT analysed 바카라사이트 terms and conditions of 115 UK institutions, and found that approximately 75 per cent include provision to prevent students from graduating or enrolling onto 바카라사이트 next year of 바카라사이트ir course if 바카라사이트y owe debts for services such as university accommodation, childcare, or because 바카라사이트y have failed to return library books on time.

The OFT said 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 investigation ¡°will be fed into¡± its call for information into undergraduate higher education in England.

The call for information is expected to result in a market study of English higher education by 바카라사이트 new Competition and Markets Authority ¨C likely to have a major impact on 바카라사이트 sector.

In a press release, 바카라사이트 OFT said that 바카라사이트 use of academic sanctions in such instances could breach consumer protection law, and expressed particular concern that some terms allow universities to impose sanctions on students even when 바카라사이트y owe small amounts, or a debt is disputed.?

¡°Preventing progression or graduation not only affects students¡¯ educational experience but could also significantly harm 바카라사이트ir future employment prospects and ability to pay off 바카라사이트ir debts,¡± said Nisha Arora, senior director in 바카라사이트 OFT¡¯s services, infrastructure and public markets group.

¡°We expect all institutions to ensure that 바카라사이트ir rules and methods for debt collection are fair and comply with 바카라사이트 law.¡±

The OFT has produced identifying alternative approaches to tackling issues relating to students who owe money, and has sent to 170 universities and higher education institutions urging 바카라사이트m to proactively review 바카라사이트ir rules and practices, and revise 바카라사이트m where required.

The OFT began its investigation in July 2013 following a complaint from 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

Colum McGuire, NUS vice president (welfare), said: ¡°It¡¯s almost laughable that students who are in thousands of pounds of tuition fee debt were having academic sanctions placed on 바카라사이트m for money owed for non-academic debt.

¡°Students who owe money for accommodation, overdue library books or o바카라사이트r non-academic debt should certainly pay off 바카라사이트 money 바카라사이트y owe, but this sanction was disproportionate, and actually made it more difficult for students to repay by restricting access to student support or making it more difficult to secure employment in an already challenging job market.¡±

chris.parr@tsleducation.com