Students are being pursued for as little as Pounds 45 in unpaid fees, about the amount it costs universities to chase the debt. Universities are calling on the Department for Education and Employment to alter the contribution bands so that if students are required to pay towards tuition fees, it is a non-trivial amount. About 6,000 students each year are billed for less than Pounds 100. The DFEE said it has no plans to introduce further banding at present.