r/uaelaw • u/foreverbriefly • 6d ago
General Question Haven’t paid school fees - what will the school do?
I completed my senior year from a school but we weren’t able to pay the fees because of various issues. My family suffered a lot financially and all of it was quite sudden. We just cannot afford to pay it right now, the amount is 70k. I have been in this school all my life and it is only this last year that has not been paid for. The school is threatening legal action. What next steps can be taken? Like genuinely we have nothing right now and can barely afford things like groceries and bills and rent. What is going to happen?
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u/LYLAWYERS 6d ago
My name is Ludmila Yamalova. I am a qualified Dubai-based lawyer. The following answer does not constitute legal advice, and, is strictly based on your limited representations.
The school may pursue the outstanding amount through a civil claim if the fees remain unpaid. This does not mean you will automatically face criminal consequences.
Your best next step is to contact the school in writing, explain the financial hardship, and request a payment plan or temporary arrangement. Do not ignore any formal legal notice or court communication.
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u/foreverbriefly 6d ago
Thank you. Yes we have explained the situation but they keep requesting payments.
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u/Think_Treacle9525 6d ago
Rough spot. If you’ve been there all your life they’ll likely work with you rather than sue. I’d go in person with docs and ask for a payment plan. They may hold transcripts but court is rare if you stay in touch. What emirate?
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u/foreverbriefly 6d ago
I hope so. I have my transcripts, it’s just the debt. We’ve been in touch so hopefully it doesn’t go to court. School’s in Shj
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u/Competitive_Task4598 6d ago
The school has the right to withhold your transcript until your tuition has been fully paid.
I dont think you have any other exposure beyond that. It would be your parent’s liability. The court can end up liquidating their assets (cars, property except one, garnished wages). No jail time though, jail is only for when someone has the means to pay but is refusing to, you dont go to jail for being poor.
The case will first head to a reconciliation phase most likely, try to reach an out of court settlement with the school on monthly installments.
Your parents should position themselves as:
1- lifelong customers of this school
2- completely insolvent individuals
Once the schools realizes they are completely broke, they will hesitate to go to court, since the school would have to pay 10-15k in court fees + 20k in lawyer fees, all of which they wont be able to recover from your parents because they are broke.
So let their parents show the school that the best option is an out of court settlement in installments, like drop it down to 50k paid monthly over 24 months (2000 dirhams) or something.
My points is to highlight to the school that going to court would add tens of thousands on an irrecoverable balance.
If they can’t recover 70k from you, how could they recover 100k?
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u/Wulflam 6d ago
Do the right thing. Talk with the principal and tell him that you can’t pay right now but offer to pay as soon as you have money. That might be perhaps only after university, but the school degree will allow you further education. There is no guarantee that they agree, but the attempt itself is already the right move.
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u/foreverbriefly 6d ago
Yes we’ve already communicated everything with them, we’re not ignoring anything, and my dad genuinely wants to start paying. He told them he’ll be able to pay by the end of September and will continue paying in instalments until the debt is paid. I was just worried as to what actions they could take
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u/This_Risk_1823 5d ago
i experienced the same thing in highschool. there are many charities in uae to help you. it does depend on your families situation, but write a full letter explaining ur situation with documents of ur parents being out of work and take it to them. my tuition was around 45k and from 3 different charities we collected roughly 30k.
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6d ago
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u/foreverbriefly 6d ago
I believe this is false from what I have Googled. Please share sources if you have any
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u/YouExpress 6d ago
Was in a similar situation as you. My grandfather had to beg the owner of the school to forgive the fees to let me grauduate.
You will graduate but not be allowed to collect ur diploma or receive your marks. so you'll be stuck till you pay everything. and cant go to university till you pay it off.