Old student debt DUO: advice and information

Questioner

I have a question about an old student debt at DUO. I hope you have some time for it (it's a bit of a long story but I couldn't shorten it...). I have been living abroad since 2001 (West Africa) and have received 3 years of student finance (as a loan). At the time, I deregistered from the municipality of Utrecht and the mail from (then still IBG) went to my parents' address (I had given it). A financial capacity form was delivered and completed 2 or 3 times (but since I was working abroad as a volunteer, I did not have to pay anything back yet). After this I have not received any mail, email or phone call. About 15 years ago now. I have been living abroad all this time. Got married here. Have 2 children. DUO apparently googled me and contacted me by email the day before yesterday (they did not email me at my personal address but that of the travel agency I run here). In the email, DUO keeps a low profile and asks for my address so that I can send 'important information about my position'... But by googling I see that the relevant DUO service tracks down former students with outstanding loans. I was quite shocked because I assumed that it would have been waived/expired (since it had been quiet for 15 years). To be honest, I hadn't thought about it at all. Before I respond to the email from DUO and provide my address if requested, I would like to ask the following: I read in one of your comments below (from 2014) that a student debt with DUO expires after twenty years. Since this period will expire in a year in my case (I studied until July 2000), I could conclude that this is a last-minute attempt to reclaim the loan. If the term is indeed 20 years, I fear that if I respond now, I run the risk that they will claim that they reminded me of the debt within 20 years (and that the debt is therefore still outstanding). What is your advice regarding the above? Do not respond and wait for the limitation period to expire or do respond and file an objection for the 15 year radio silence? Thank you in advance! PS. I always pay off my debts properly by the way : )

Lawyer

Each term expires with a hard term of 20 years. (even after interruption) This is time-barred.

Questioner

Thank you very much for the effort you put into this. It's been 19 years since I stopped studying. So then the birthday wouldn't start until next year / or not... If they now send me a registered reminder, the term will be extended by 5 years. Or am I seeing this wrong.

Lawyer

Yes, it cannot be interrupted for more than 20 years, for each term that comes up. If you had to pay back at once, then that claim is time-barred after 20 years.

Questioner

thank you very much!