Paying back fees

Re: Paying back fees

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:00:28 GMT

Thank you all for your replies, I dont mind paying the money back but because I had heard those rumours I just wanted to check. I think for now I will keep my head down and wait at least six months and that way I wont have as much to pay back

Re: Paying back fees

Sal the 1st — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:06:42 GMT

Think the best bet for anybody in this situation is to get yourself down to citizens advice - there are so many pitfalls with this. You can read legislation that will support you and then find another bit which is equally up to date that doesnt. Dont forget if you do have to repay any money this may well affect your tax also( and that of your employer). Have spoke to somebody legal about this before on behalf of a trainee.in the past. There is an argument that it might be possible to use in that training is essential in order for you to carry out the job your employer has taken you on for but this depends on the exact wording of your contract

Re: Paying back fees

Tracy Windler RVN — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:27:27 GMT

Really? As someone who paid all their own fees themselves, I think that is a bit excessive. How many hours do they "pay" you for on your college days? I estimate that with all my fees, enrollment, exam fees etc (I paid everything- not fully funded course,as I was over 25) I paid out about £1400. But to have to pay back the hours wages they paid you on college days??!! - I would clarify how many hours you are being paid for, how many days per year you are at college etc. If my trainee wage was anything to go by, it couldn't be as much as 4K in 2 years!

Re: Paying back fees

Honeybadger — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:42:16 GMT

I have to pay back all my fees if I leave within 2 years of qualifying. Thats not just college/enrolment/exam fees but the wages they paid to me whilst I was at college! It works out to be around £6000! I feel so trapped :(

Re: Paying back fees

ginny — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:56:54 GMT

I had to ring the BVNA helpline a few years ago because a student decided to leave within 6 months of qualifiying. They had signed their contract. I was told that the student had accepted the condition by signing the contract and should pay up.

Have to say I completely agree.

Re: Paying back fees

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:58:20 GMT

But l never sign a contract until l have read it end to end and if need be get legal advice.

Re: Paying back fees

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:57:43 GMT

With work contracts it runs something like this (but need to check on exact overrun times):

If the longest serving member of staff has been at the practice 7 years then you have 8 weeks to sign your contract or notify why you are not prepared to and what you are not happy with the practice has to then sort that, if you do not then it is assumed you have accepted it.

Well that is what l was told ehrn l asked about it. For 7 years make that 1 year or 6 years or whatever the longest person has been there and add about 1 week.

Re: Paying back fees

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:54:52 GMT

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10027905

This a link to a section on the direct gov website all about contracts of employment.

Re: Paying back fees

Sally Seddon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:48:46 GMT

[quote user="Freckle"]

I may be wrong here Sal, but I have a vague memory of someone telling me that if you are given a contract to sign, and don't respond to it within a given amount of time, then it is assumed legally that you agree to it... even if it isn't signed..

Not sure how correct that is - how would they prove they had given you a contract? Also not sure how it would relate to verbal agreements, if a document isn't produced by your employer???

[/quote]

it would be interesting to know where i stand really. well i doubt i will be leaving the group anytime soon so it shouldnt be a problem

Re: Paying back fees

Tracy Windler RVN — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:31:04 GMT

There have been similar threads on here relating to this, and some comments have been made that it is not a legally binding agreement. I had to pay for all my own fees when I started training, as I was over 25 and had no goverment funding. I had to pay my enrolement fees, over £800 in college fees and all my exam fees myself. But that meant I was not tied to the practice in any way

It was a struggle, but I applied to the BVNA for a grant (got around £600) and paid for the rest in installments etc.

I think its only fair that you pay it back to be honest, and if you hate the practice that much, then you will find a way. Unless you find a new practice and see if they will "buy" you out??

Re: Paying back fees

Freckle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:26:26 GMT

Not sure how correct that is - how would they prove they had given you a contract? Also not sure how it would relate to verbal agreements, if a document isn't produced by your employer???

Re: Paying back fees

Sally Seddon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:56:09 GMT

i was asked to sign something like this when my practice agreed to pay for my ana course. they never actually produced a document for me to sign tho

i recently spoke to a vet about this and he said he was pretty sure it was illegal for them to ask me to do such a thing.

i know what ive said isnt of much help

Re: Paying back fees

Steph Worsley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:07:33 GMT

Firstly many practices will put that condition into SVN contracts otherwise they may find themselves losing a lot of money putting people through training for them to leave straight away. I know it was in my contract when i first started 10 yrs ago.

As far as I know you have entered into a legal contract and signed this willingly so both parties have to stand by this. There may be circumstances that may arise which mean you dont have to do this....for example not starting your training for a year or so due to practice problems (eg not a training practice etc) But to be honest these are few and far between.

I would assume that the practice has paid for all your exams and registration and enrollment. If you have recieved government funding I think this is just for the course itself (it all depends on how old you are as well, as government funding was not available for over 25's until recently) no other fees so your practice would probably be asking for payment of enrollment, exams and registration.

Hope this helps

PS if you are a BVNA member then you can ring the BVNA office and ask for the number of the legal department for free legal advice