Manitoba Student loans 95-99

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I have only now heard, through someone who related the idea to me with no understanding and such, that there is some potential that I no longer owe on my student loans.  I find this hard to believe.. but after reading posts on here just now am thinking there may be a half truth in this perhaps.

Here is my situation....

I went to school from Sept 1995 until May 1999 using student loans (Canada/Manitoba through RBC).  I had the 6 month grace period with no payments, then way accepted for all the extra amount of time due to low wages (I forget how long that was, maybe 2 years or so?)  My loan was a bit until 20K.  Once I ran out of grace time and payments are due... I think my mother may have made some payments on my behalf (my memory is foggy as to whether she just wanted to or actually did).  I personally have never made a payment and have always told them I was in no position to do so due to low wages.  I used to receive letters.

In 2004 I moved overseas and was good and passed on my new address to them.  I would receive a yearly sort of update on the status of my loan.. like the interest and new balanced owed, but not the threatening sort of pay up letters.  At some point in 2004 - 2005 I contacted them via email (to which they do not discuss particular cases but only general stuff).  They gave me a number to call but the number was just not dialable from overseas despite them saying it was... afterwhile they said yes they couldn't offer me further grace periods and such due to me no longer living in Canada.

So, for that reason, when I moved again in 2006 I saw no reason to update my address with them as there was nothing they could do for me nor was I in a position to pay anything back.

From 2006 until the present time I have lived in a very expensive city (London, England) and thus living expenses still keep me from being able to repay....

Then today I get a phonecall from my mother who dreams of us moving back (no idea if we will ever do that or not...)... she says it sounds like after 7 years with no contact they write it off... but had no details other than that.

So... here I am pondering what is this shread of something she thinks she heard, what might be true and how can I find out what this means to me!  (And no, I am not in a position to nor am I willing to pay someone to tell me the answers to my questions).

Its been a long time since I've been in Canada, nearly 7 years now and I have no idea about anything related to any changes in law/banks/students loans or anything really.    So... I am left wondering... if ever I considered moving back to Canada, would this student loan still be hanging over me (in which case if I was considering coming back it would likely make me feel I couldn't come back as that would make things impossible for us).

So.... where should I start finding out where I stand?  I don't want to make the mistake of making contact and restarting the clock, so to speak (though there is no way I could make any repayment promises anyway).