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Student MoneySaving
Archives for January 2021
Discussion List
Reclaim student fees
Good evening, Is there a template letter with the purpose of trying to reclaim a partial refund of tuition fees, due to recent events?
24 year old son not paying uni rent and I'm the guarantor
My son is 24 and in his last year at uni. Our relationship is not great ( long story) and he has not been communicating well with me, or any other family, for months. He will occasionally texts if he needs something urgent but that is all. This morning I have had an email from his uni accommadation. It was addressed to him…
Deductions from salary ongoing despite student loan being included in a protected trust deed
Hello, long story short, in 2006 I got over my head in debt and entered into a protected trust deed. As required it was posted in a local news paper on the 17th of February 2007 and became protected 5 weeks later. Since then SLC have been making deductions from my salary, I by chance found myself in employment where my…
Buying a house as a student
If we have a good deposit already, would it be more economical to buy a house for our son at university and rent out a couple of rooms. Or are there too many costs involved.
Best time of month to pay back loan in full?
I've (rather unexpectedly) got to the point of having less than 2 years left on my student loan (plan 1). I'm expecting an offer of switching to direct debit soon, but the amount left is small enough I can pay it back in full. What's the best way of going about this to ensure I don't overpay? I'm guessing if I pay the full…
Honour Student Loans - '...cancelled and no further payments are due.'
I've recently received a letter from Honour Student Loans (HSL) telling me that under section 8 of my loan agreement my loan has now been cancelled and no further payments are due. It's a mortgage style loan from University studies 92-96. There were four loans in total and the letter references them as 'Pack Numbers' under…
Student loan received - but nothing to spend it on
Never thought we'd be in this position, but both daughters (1st year and 3rd year) are by necessity studying from home (our home), and so have little to spend their student loans on. The 3rd year has some rent to pay but the 1st year will thankfully be refunded for the time she's not there. Both get the full loan so both…
Student maintenance loan and universal credit?
I currently receive universal credit due to being on a low income. I'm looking at being a part-time student with the Open University while I work part time as it looks like the government have made provisions for maintenance loans to be available in this case. I'm wondering if I will still be eligible for universal credit…
Possibility of getting a refund on a practical college course
I enrolled on a hairdressing college course Sept 19-June 2020 (Level 2 VRQ). The first Covid19 lockdown meant that we had to learn from home, and support was useless. We left this course feeling like we had learned barely anything . The lecturer passed us (no idea how) which enabled us to enrol on the (level 3 course VRQ)…
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MSE News
Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.
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