Student Finance direct - grrrrrr

Oldernotwiser

Smidster wrote: »

No problem at all with them asking for documents, as it shows we are a family a long long way from even the threshold for not getting full allowance, but to do it in such a short space of time at the busiest time of year seems daft to me. In the next week for example, prior to me going back, Dad is only back at home for 1 day and that is when we are doing a meal for some neighbours so when we are going to get round to digging the documents out I don't know.

.

He's retired for Heaven's sake; stop being so feeble!

tootiefrooties

Smidster wrote: »

I am a second year and so applied for all my finance many months ago.

Today, after a term and a payment, I get a letter asking for all sorts of documentary evidence within weeks or future payments will be stopped.

Now if you are going to ask for documentation, like last year, couldn't you do it before term begins instead of 2 days after Xmas.

To be honest I am not sure if my Dad will be able to get the stuff together (as he is retired so doesn't get these documents I don't think)

Needless to say this could be the end of my university life - Not that I would miss it

Hiya

I got this letter too, it came on the 18th dec but was dated the 11th. It said they needed to receive evidence (again!) within 3 weeks of the date on the letter - i.e. two weeks. Because of the xmas post I sent them all the next day by special delivery, which costs a fiver but is worth piece of mind - not only will it get there the next working day, but your documents won't get lost.

They processed it really quickly and reconfirmed my loan just a few days later.

I felt annoyed like you do - I'm a third year and gave all my evidence back in April. I rang them when I got the letter and they said it's just a random sample which they send to some students to make sure it's all as it should be. Don't stress out, just call student finance and say you're worried about the timing because of Xmas postal delays, and they will probably understand because everyone is in the same boat, and like you said - they've already actually seen the evidence. Just get it all together, send it to your LEA by special or recorded, and send a follow up email to make sure they got it OK.

Hopefully in future they will give people more warning, especially when you think it's all done with and nothing to worry about til next year... 2 weeks over xmas to send documents with no warning is not great - plenty of people could be away and come home to find they won't get the Jan loan and can't pay tuition fees!

michbright

I got the same letter through and rang Student Finance in a panic and was told, as the OP was, that it was just a random sample who were being asked to do this and I was just one of the unlucky ones to be asked.

I'll be sending DH's paperwork in this week.

kelloggs36

I got the same letter, even though I sent the evidence back in April!!!

ames100

i got the same letter too and it does stress you out a bit especially when in the letter all they talk about is if we have underpaid you and how they will take the money back.

Just to clarify does this mean that they will still give you your second installment in jan as i desperatly need it for rent! despite the fact the deadline for my evidence is the 29th jan???

Thanks

Taiko

I work for a local authority, and am actually in agreement. The SLC send these letters out to continuing students, usually in November each year. Why they delayed it this year I don't know, but every call I've taken today has been to do with this.

All I can say is get the documents together, preferably by the end of January. If you're unable to, inform your LEA.

The Self-Certified/Single Financial Asssessment checks are done for about 20% of continuers, and entirely at random. Fortunately, I can run a report and see how many more students I'm waiting for replies from, but I'm probably going to start reassessing those who haven't at least contacted in February.

Once again, I agree though. It's a pain in the !!!.

Smidster

We have got the documents we have together and I am going to get it in the post this morning.

I just hope that we have remembered all of the stuff which we have - needless to say the envelope is a touch on the full side.

fedupnow

Oh Hi you.

My daughter had this letter too. It said something about the parents (me/OH) not responding and sendingin the evidence requested when we had had no such letter. Darn annoying right on Christmas. Just throw in a little more stress for the least well off why don't ya?

Anyway, I got in the telephone queue to the local LEA and spoke to a very harrassed and equally irritated lady who had done nothing but take calls exaclty like mine all day. I guess she could have done without the hassle too. All attempts at being supportive and professional went out the window. She told me "These people are a proper pain in the rear doing this at this time of the year. I don't know why they sent them out right on Christmas before they even sent the parent's letter out. They must think we have nothing better to do but answer calls from angy and !!!!ed off parents and students. I'm so tired of them cocking up and us having to sort it out for them." and on and on. I could barely get a word in edgeways. But I'm sure she felt a lot better after her rant and she apologised so profusely and genuinely I just had to laugh. Poor woman.

I have always maintained that one needs a degree just to fill in the darn forms. I'm sure they'll get it sorted.

Also, if you are having trouble with the work at uni, perhaps a talk with your tutor could put your mind at ease. Stressing about it without talking about it is NOT good.

Good luck.

Smidster

What a farce!

After dashing round getting the stuff to them they have now written back saying to fill in some, enclosed, form with a stupid acronym as a name immediately.

Only do they enclose the form - course not. I have googled it and it is yet another myriad of codes and 'ART ID's' which god only knows how we will deal with.

Just hope we get it sorted as if they decide to withdraw funding or whatever I will have to quit as I am already living on the edge as it is!!!

Smidster

hmmm further looking at this forms it appears it is something to do with the widowers allowance we USED to recieve - but no longer get due to my age. Why this should therefore be important now god only knows - how can you penalise someone based on money I don't get!!!
It also goes on about jobcentre plus - an organisation I don't think we have ever had dealings with.