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This sets out the procedure to be followed in relation to managing residential student debt.  The University’s policy is to minimise all levels of debts while ensuring students are given appropriate support to pay fees owed in a timely fashion.  The procedure relates to all hall fees and additional residential charges payable to the University. The Halls of Residence Credit Control Process and Procedure has been developed to enable the University to run an efficient and effective method of debt management.  

In applying the procedure, the University will always, seek to be sympathetic and understanding of a student’s financial circumstances. In order for the University to apply the procedure sympathetically, students must communicate promptly with the University if they are experiencing financial difficulties. Students having trouble paying their accommodation fees and charges should seek help at the earliest opportunity by contacting:

• Halls Office - 01248 382667 halls@bangor.ac.uk
• Finance Office - 01248 382055 feepayment@bangor.ac.uk

  Additional advice and assistance are also available from:

• The Money Support Unit, Student Services - 01248 383566 moneysupport@bangor.ac.uk
• The Students Union - 01248 388000 undeb@bangorstudents.com

The University provides a range of accommodation for its students.  Prior to moving into accommodation, all students are required to agree and sign the terms of a residence agreement.  The agreement clearly outlines payment terms for accommodation.  Students may pay for their hall fees in advance in full, or by selecting one of the available payment plans by recurring card instalments.  Students receiving a monthly bursary are eligible to pay by a monthly manual payment plan; this can be done by visiting the Halls Office.

The fees for University Halls’ of Residences are set by the Senior Management Team and approved at the Accommodation Planning Group and the University Executive each spring, for the following academic session.  Students living in *Bangor halls of residence receive Campus Life and gym membership included in the price of their halls.

There are two options for paying hall fees:

1. Payment in advance for the whole year.
2. Payment plan will take payment by recurring debit/credit card.

1. PAYMENT IN ADVANCE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR

• This can be done by either Debit/Credit Card or Bank Transfer:

Account Name: ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ

Bank Name: Santander UK Plc Task Group

Account sort code: 09-02-22

Account number: 10364019

UWB IBAN NO: GB46ABBY09022210364019

UWB SWIFT NO: ABBYGB2L  

Please quote your full name and student number when making the transfer, please also email remittance@bangor.ac.uk (to advise the transfer amount, date, and student number).

2. PAYMENT BY RECURRING DEBIT/CREDIT CARD.

• To set up your payment plan you must complete the instruction via the online registration process. You will be informed when the online registration is open. The payment plans available are:
  • Undergraduate students get the option to pay in 3 termly instalments that coincide with their student loan payments.
  • 7 monthly payments for undergraduates where payment is made on the last day of each month from October - April.
  • 12 monthly payments for postgraduates where payment is made on the 1st of every month from October - September.
  • 11 monthly payments for nursing and midwifery students where payment is made on the 1st of every month from October - August.
• No other variations of payment can be given so students should choose the payment plan that best matches their intended dates of payment. If you accept one of those payment plans, you must pay the rent in accordance with the terms of the relevant payment plan.
• A notification email will be sent to the nominated email address 7 days before the expected payment date. Payments will be taken directly from the nominated card.
• The student must inform the Finance Office immediately if the card details have changed.
• The student must ensure that sufficient funds are available on the card on the due date; payment will be collected just after midnight on this date.

Exchange students who are here for semester 1 only will be able to pay over 3 instalments in October, November & December.

Exchange students who are here for semester 2 only will be able to pay over 4 instalments in February, March, April & May.

We operate on the standard principle of payment received is applied to the oldest debt first. Students who encounter financial difficulties should contact the Halls Office or the University Finance Office as soon as they become aware that there is likely to be a problem. Making early contact could save the University having to issue a reminder. The longer the payment is delayed the larger the debt will become, so it is important that students do not ignore their payment obligations. If any student falls into arrears with any hall fees, the University will take from step 3 [of TIMELINES AND PROTOCOLS - NO PLAN IN PLACE] onwards to recover the debt.

1. Email sent within 1 week of a student moving into Halls reminding them to make arrangements for paying their Hall Fees within 2 weeks.  

2. Failure to resolve their Hall Fees will result in an email being sent requesting that they attend a meeting within 7 days to discuss further.

a. Any decision other than setting up an agreeable payment plan will be confirmed in an email.

3. Failure to attend the meeting or adhere to any agreement will result in an email and hand delivered letter sent inviting the student for interview.

The same process will apply in January for late arrivals or those students experiencing continued financial difficulties.  

Students are invited for an interview at the Halls Office with Finance & Money Support at a specific time and date. The invitation is issued by hand delivered letter under their room door; a copy is also sent via email.  

Should the student fail to attend the interview, they will be sent an email requesting payment by the following day. If the student fails to get in touch or make payment after this time, Halls Sanctions will be implemented.

• Temporary suspension of Wi-Fi.
• Marked as a debtor on their Halls’ account so that subsequent applications for Halls cannot be made.
• Temporary suspension of their gym membership.  

After 14 days of the above sanctions with no subsequent engagement, the student will be asked to attend a Welfare Support Meeting with the Residential Support Manager or their nominee. If, during the meeting, it is identified that additional support is required, the student will receive a follow-up email outlining the necessary actions, with a deadline of 7 days to complete them.

Failure to attend the Welfare Support Meeting, to make an adequate payment or payment plan, or to complete the agreed action will result in a final outcome email confirming that a Notice of Possession will be served. This allows the student 14 days to find alternative accommodation and pay the balance in full up until the date of departure. Should the student pay the balance in full (based on the original occupation contract date of departure) at this stage, the occupation contract would be reinstated.

However, should the student fail to vacate the premises on or before the given date of departure the University may, in addition or as an alternative to taking court action to recover the debt, apply to the court for a possession order. The student will be liable to pay the University’s proper and reasonable costs (including but not limited to legal costs, court fees, expenses and VAT and the costs of management time) associated with such proceedings. Where the University successfully takes court action to recover the debt, the judgment will  be entered on the county court records. Credit reference agencies search these records, and any student whose name appears on the register of county court judgments may find it difficult to rent accommodation elsewhere, or get a credit card, store card or mobile phone contract or, in years to come, a mortgage.  

Students already on a manual payment plan will remain on them until the plan ends.

The timings are as follows:

• email reminder sent in advance of payment
• if payment is not made in full and on time they will be given 5 working days to resolve
• after 5 working days the student will be called to a Hall Fees Debt Meeting