Student burden lifted - UTech pays excess money owed to SLB
Published:Friday | March 30, 2018 | 12:00 AMNadine Wilson-Harris
Two weeks ago, Trevell Duncan was frustrated, but today, the dental hygienist is all smiles because the University of Technology (UTech) has finally returned the over $200,000 they were overpaid on her behalf in 2015 by the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB).
Duncan's story was highlighted in The Sunday Gleaner on March 18, following several attempts to get the university to return the excess funds. She has since been informed by the SLB that the university has transferred the money and she no longer has any outstanding payment.
"I am done with SLB. Thank God," she beamed.
Duncan had borrowed a little over $560,000 from the SLB to complete her studies for the 2015-2016 academic year. However, she received word that the National Commercial Bank, which had given her a partial scholarship before, was extending its financial contribution to her for the year.
The university graduate made at least four trips to the finance department at UTech to formally request that the excess money be sent back to the SLB, but this was not done until The Sunday Gleaner contacted the university's spokesperson, Hector Wheeler, to inform him of her plight.
APOLOGY
Wheeler apologised and assured that he would investigate the issue.
Although Duncan had managed to pay back more than $399,000 to SLB after securing employment, she was unable to celebrate because she was still paying interest on the portion of money owed by UTech. With UTech making the payment, she was informed by the SLB that she will be getting back a portion of the money she had paid out of pocket.
"I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I can't stop smiling. Trust me, it is a wonderful feeling," she said.