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Karwayi
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This has not happened before.... but I have not seen anyone withdrawing that late in the game. If you signed a contract that you will be liable for the fees if you withdraw within 4 weeks and you signed it and then withdraw within that window, then that's your answer - you are on the hook. If you have not signed it, then you are not on the hook. I don't know how they could collect it if you are not in the UK but you probably don't want to be blacklisted in the UK for any reason either.

If you waited so long to withdraw to attend another MBA program, it is a bad thing since you have prevented someone else from attending and fulfilling their dreams. 4 weeks is hardly enough time to get matters in order, quit one's job, get a visa, tickets, rent housing, and get in time for the orientation. Even a person in the UK would have a hard time. However, if it is a legitimate reason, perhaps you can request deferral or leniency and explain your situation.
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London Business School is asking me to pay full programme fees because I have withdrawn my offer within four weeks of the programme starts. However, there has not been any notification from the School before the four weeks' deadline. Only three working days after the deadline, the School phoned (on social media) asking me to confirm my attendance.

On the phone they said if I decline my offer now, they can still give the offer to other applicants. But after I said I will not come, the School is now trying to pursue the full amount of tuition fees from me, and if I do not pay, they will take legal actions

.

I was asked to sign a contract which stated that I will remain liable to the full programme fees if I withdraw within four weeks, when I first received the offer from LBS. I must sign the contract to hold my place at that time.

They allow me to terminate the contract but still asking me to pay the full fees which is 32500 pounds.

Has anyone met similar problems before? Any suggestions are much appreciated.


Something doesn't add up to your story.

If they told you that you can exit the contract without obligation via phone as you stated then why were you subsequently charged? Did you linger on a few days between the offer they made and speaking with that person such that your deadline lapsed?

I don't know why you waited a whole year or thereabouts to decline. Unless something dramatic came up, then I don't know why you decided to pull-out on such short notice, so please tell us more.

Don't sign anything before reading it. You said yourself you were aware of your own obligations if you didn't withdraw. LBS is obviously foregoing some revenue on this, hence why they build in the types of clauses you referenced.
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It could totally be that the OP had something come up and had a legitimate reason to withdraw (eg promotion at work, family health change, marriage proposal or just change of heat about MBA). Lots of things change in a span of a year or half a year. I would not assume they necessarily had a malicious intent. That is why I said “IF”.... not sure it was noticed.

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bb yes. good point.
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It could totally be that the OP had something come up and had a legitimate reason to withdraw (eg promotion at work, family health change, marriage proposal or just change of heat about MBA). Lots of things change in a span of a year or half a year. I would not assume they necessarily had a malicious intent. That is why I said “IF”.... not sure it was noticed.

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Thank you very much for your reply.

In April, I have sent them an email saying that due to some unexpected family financial difficulty, I request to defer my entry to the next year. In June they replied saying that they cannot grant my referral. If I would like to enter next year, I need to reapply.

Therefore I was thinking about reapplication. And no communications have been made from LBS to confirm my attendance or remind me the deadline during this time.

However, three weeks before the programme start, I received the call to confirm my attendance, and they asked me to send an email to admission office because I will not come. I send this email immediately after the call. Two weeks later, I received the email asking me to pay the full programme fees.

Last week I reminded the School that I have told them that I cannot attend this year in April. They believe that my deferral request was not granted so I still hold a place in this year’s entry. But they did not specify this when they replied my request in June.
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This is a 9-month Master in Management programme not an MBA. I have only graduated from my undergraduate uni this year.

I have been in touch with the admissions office to discuss my issue, but they replied saying their senior manager will discuss with me. I was trying to make an appointment with the senior manager, but she only emailed me that I will be passed on to the Accounts team who will send me the invoice for the tuition fees. Then I mentioned that I have financial difficulty due some health problems, they said that I can sign a formal payment plan with the debt recovery agency. This can be such a big liability for me honestly...

I am not in the UK, but I don’t really want to be blacklisted by UK anyway.

I have also found two another applicants in the same situation as I do. One simply withdraw within four weeks. The other told the School on 7/30 but the School said the deadline of informing them is 7/29. The programme starts at 8/27.

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I am not sure. I think the best option is to convince the school to drop the claim in a friendly way, resolving it without collections and other options.

I would consult with an attorney familiar with international payments and collections rap in the U.K. I am not sure if blacklist even exists or if they can identify you. I made the black list up in my mind but it may be a thing....

Sorry, seems like you will have your hands full.

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I am sorry that I cannot lift your mood but I agree with BB.

Unless you get LBS to drop their claims by explaining your story, I think you´ll be on the hook for the full tuition.
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