Student Finance direct - grrrrrr

kelloggs36

They have written to my DD telling her that she owes them £680! Oh, and she is no longer entitled to a grant. I have no idea why as there is no explanation. I sent my hubby's payslip off and they sent it back asking for my P60. I rang them and told them that I don't have one as I didn't have a job last year and that because of that I was not in a position to send one! She told me to send a letter to that effect and I argued that I clearly stated that information on the form that I completed back in April, so why would I need to state again what I DIDN'T earn!! She said that I didn't have to and hung up. Today my DD gets the letter saying her grant has been withdrawn. Clearly she is devestated as she is already struggling and now won't be able to survive (she lost her job just before Christmas and hasn't got another yet). She is to ring them tomorrow and ask what they are playing at!

Smidster

Jesus Christ these people are incompetent

The people at the DWP in Newcastle (Who used to deal with the widowers allowance) sent the stuff to Cheshire which revealed a discrepancy.

The problem....DWP had sent the information relating not to the period 08-09 but to a period 2 years ago when we were getting this allowance. Thus the eagle eyed people at Cheshire, and credit to the guy for spotting it at least he is doing his job, spotted this.

Problem of course being that as this was 2 years ago we are no longer getting this money and so it utterly irrelevant.

Really does drive you round the bend

Mike1989

Well they are in some cases incompetent. But when I was taking my ID I took my photo driving license, it has my photo on it up to date, my date of birth, my address etc. But no, they wouldn't accept it, yet I can go into any bank and get a loan with that ID. They wanted my birth certificate and someone signing a piece of correspondence to say that I am who I say. That is what the guy told me and I asked him why my driving license did not verify who i am, he said we don't accept it, and I left it there deciding against arguing. Got the thing signed, sent it in and sorted it out.

I still don't understand why they didn't allow my driving license as ID. Still think it was a mistake he made but they are incompetent staff at the best of times. You ask them a question regarding what does an ISA class as and they are bloody clueless!

Taiko

They didn't accept your driving license as the Student Support Regulations, which are law, say that only a passport or birth certificate is acceptable. Driving license does not confirm the information that is needed. It tells you this in the application form too.