Jane: A student who didn’t realise quite how much her further education had cost her.

Jane racked up £35,000 of debt simply pursuing her desire for education.

Like any other teenager, going to university was for Jane the most exciting event in her life so far. Since starting her A-Levels at Sixth form she dreamed of going to a new city to study and meet new people. She set her sights on Manchester because she loved the idea of living in a big city and the Medicine course looked really good.

The day she found out that she had a place a Manchester to become a doctor she was thrilled and couldn’t wait to tell her parents. But it wasn’t as simple as that. When she got home her parents where of course very happy for her, but the reality of seeing their daughters acceptance letter really brought home to them reality. The reality that this course was expensive, very expensive. So that day Jane also realised that her parents couldn’t afford to support her for 5 years or medical school, she was going to have to pay for it all herself.
Jane quickly applied for a student loan and was allocated approximately £4,000 a year to pay for tuition and accommodation. So when she graduated she would owe £20,000 to the student loan company alone. That of course didn’t include living expenses, overdrafts or credit cards.

Over the years of her degree, Jane struggled to keep a job and balance her studies. She ended up having to take out more than one student over draft and relying on credit cards at the end of the year.

After the joy of graduating and beginning her placement at a hospital and beginning to earn. Jane’s creditors began to call her about her debts, she owed £35,000. As the calls and letters continued and her parents became more aware of the situation, Jane’s stress levels soared and it began to really affect her work.

She was in an internet café when she stumbled across the Melanie Giles website. She decided to give them a call.

The first chat was a relief. Jane says of the time “Speaking to some one who knew what they were talking about and wasn’t judging me was such a relief. It was the first time in ages that I thought there could possibly be a solution to all my debt”.

After the initial conversation Jane began the process of filling out all her forms, she found she had to be really honest with herself about her debt. Although this was hard it was also very cathartic to admit everything.

Of meeting Melanie Giles Jane has said “she was so understanding, I was terrified about our first meeting but she made me feel very comfortable and realise that because I had a steady job, an IVA would be the best way for me to pay off my debts in the shortest amount of time”.
Jane’s creditors meeting was successful, and the creditors agreed to the proposal in which she would pay £250 a month. The process then began.

Though it was very tough sometimes to make sure she could pay every month, Jane said she always focused on the goal ahead and never felt that she was alone.

“The IVA was hard, dedicating 5 years of life to something is always going to be, but I never felt alone, the support I got from Melanie really kept me going. Now at 32, I can look at the rest of my life and know that I am debt free. I have no shame any more, only optimism for my future as a doctor. No regrets”.

These stories reflect the nature of Melanie Giles’ service: committed, personal help towards your debt free future.

Call Melanie Giles: 02920 277 678 or fill in an IVA Enquiry Form.

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