What is the best approach to dealing with student loan arrears?

Questioner

From 01 Jan 2003 - 1 Jan 2018 the repayment period of my student debt ran (15 years). From 2003 to 2005 I was not able to pay anything back, because I was on benefits due to recession and I received a kind of deferment from IBG every year. From 2005 I moved abroad to look for work there. I neatly passed on the address of my parents abroad to IBG. Starting a new life, many job changes finally after 5 years a little more stability in my life and finances. I know that I could have contacted them again myself, but I waited for their approach, since they always did that, after that I didn't think about it anymore. In the meantime I didn't hear anything from IBG, until today when I entered the Netherlands for a holiday and my passport was taken away because I have a high student debt. I had to contact DUO and was told that they never received a change of address from me. They also contacted me at my current address and through an employer, but I have not received anything from them. They now sent after telephone contact proof of letters dated 2018 that they say they sent to me. The first is dated February 2018. They ask me to send proof of how I notified them of my change of address 16 years ago. My question is: is this debt expired? And what is the best way to respond to this. In their email they write that after I come up with an arrangement, they will give me a temporary passport. On their website it says that they can take away your passport. How can I prove that I did inform them about my address abroad. In conversation with an employee, he could name all my addresses. So I don't understand anything. I would like to receive advice on this. Thank you in advance.

Lawyer

Each instalment that was due from the repayment expires after 5 years unless there is an interruption by letter. It is therefore conceivable that this applies to some instalments after 2006. DUO must prove that an interruption letter was sent to your last known address. That is sufficient.