Paying my student fees - but i've no money!

bettingmark

Im a 21 year old uni student who has got himself in a big hole, and at the moment, i really dont know how im going to get out of it, so any advice on here will be most welcome!

Firstly, I have £1,175 to pay the university for fees - the invoice arrived today. However, I currently have £0 money.

This is because of self-incurred gambling debts - online poker and bets etc. I have to date not taken a student loan, and i want to continue in this vain, however if i do take one, i want to do it confidentially if possible, and without my parents knowing.

I also have a Halifax student account, with a licensed overdraft of £1000 fully used up

I work part time for a a promotions and merchandising company - some weeks I can earn over a £100 from them, others it could be nothing or £30! not much of an income.

I am expecting a payment of around £600 in may (maybe earlier) from another job, which i've already done the work for, so will be a nice bonus when it comes through.

I have three cheques at the moment that I have to lodge - one at £140, and two at £50. Not sure what to do with these...

Basically, I know I sound naive here, but I need to make the money to pay off these fees - its not something I want to share with my parents because it will bring light to the fact I had a gambling problem - something they (and my gf of 4 years) know absolutely nothing about.

Whats the best thing I can do. Should I set up a new student account at another bank (is this possible?!) and lodge the cheques I have in there? Or, is it possible to open up another student account and get a licensed overdraft like I have in my halifax account!?

I really dont know what to do from here... Im going to speak to my financial advisor in my student's union regarding fees - see if i can defer them for a while but at the end of the day - dont want to let my uni prospects go to waste either! AAAH - gambling - how foolish was I - its the reinforcing nature of winning - it had too strong a hold on me!

Thanks in advance to those who can give advice to a very foolish student! (please note i dont even drink! i won't have any expenditure in that sense - although a gf is expensive!) If you need any more details about my spendings/income etc im happy to tell all.

Many thanks.

Willsnarf1983

just pmed u bud

Will

bettingmark

Cheers mate, as much feedback and advice as possible is greatly appriciated guys!

Willsnarf1983

pmed u again bud

Will

jesster_2

Talk to the university welfare office. Although it's uncomfortable as you have to explain your spending to them, each university has a Hardship Fund to make grants to people in finanical trouble. You'll have to explain to them where your money's gone, so be ready to explain that you're sorting that problem out.

I got £1500 when I first applied... and then because so few people use the funds they got to the end of the finanical year and found they had money left, so they sent me another £700.

Good luck.

Crispy_Ambulance

go and see your students' union advice centre - the advisers there will have seen these situations before and will be able to help. However, you will not be able to apply for any other funding until you have taken out your student loan. You have to apply for all funding available to you before you can get anything else.

davek1

Mate

My advice to you is as a parent. First things first sit down with your parents ( and your GF if you want) and tell them if you don't do this you are on your own and it will weigh heavy on you. it isn't going to be easy and yes they are going to be angry, hurt and annoyed BUT they are your mum and dad and would be more hurt if you didn't come to them for help and support. In the end it will come out anyway it always does. Once you have had a cuddle from your mum and dad i'm sure together they will help you sort it.

Also and please don't think i'm patronising you here you have to deal with the gambling issues. you are half way there but if you don't stop now the problem will get worse. Don't just speak to the Uni welfare about your debts be honest how you got into the situation in the first place and seek their help. In a years time you will look back on this and realise it was all for the best.

My daughter is at Uni and has used the welfare fund int he past and they couldn't be nicer and more helpul in their approach.


Please do talk to your parents though and don't do this alone. You have nothing to be ashamed off gambling is like any other addiction and it isn't your fault. temptation was put in your way and once you tried it you were hooked.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. Once again apologies if this comes across as patronising in any way it wasn't meant to

dave

jesster_2

Crispy_Ambulance wrote:

you will not be able to apply for any other funding until you have taken out your student loan. You have to apply for all funding available to you before you can get anything else.

you will definitely have to have taken out your student loans before they give you any hardship money. But they are much cheaper than other loans and non-student overdrafts... and you also can't get out of repaying them, unlike overdrafts.

jitsuguy

Hi bettingmark,

Unfortunately you probably won't be able to get the Hardship Fund without having first got a Student Loan!

Which year are you in? If you are in your first year it might be worth taking out the student loan, unfortunately you would have to talk to your parents about this as they would have to fill in parts of the form.

If you are in your last year you might be able to get a Credit Card at 0% for purchases, but when this runs out you will need to transfer it to another with 0% balance transfers - lots of useful info about that on this site. Another option if you are in your last year would be to open a student account with Smile.co.uk and pay in at least £300 as this will then automatically give you the £2000 overdraft available at 0% interest.

Hope this helps - good luck.

gilly41

Hi
I have two kids - both away at Uni. Firstly, and I dont want to pry, are you sure you have to pay the fees? Why I ask is that my daughter gets her fees paid- this is because it went on my income(as I am divorced from her dad and it goes on the parent with cares income)-as I was, and still am earning below the threshold(not sure how much it is per year but it is in the student booklet).
When my son went to Uni two years later they had reviewed things and they took my husbands wage in to account(his stepdad). This means we have to pay a small contribution towards my sons fees- I think this year it is £177 for the year!!! It goes again on your parents income!
Please do look in to this as it does go on your parents income.(I am assuming you still live at home- if not sorry then i am maybe wrong).
I would also suggest having a chat with your parents and GF- I would want my kids to share with me and I am sure your parents will be sad to think you are not sharing your worries with them.
Also I just wanted to add that both my kids have taken out the Student loans- I know not ideal but when they get a good degree and great jobs(fingers crossed) they will pay them off- and hopefully it will have been worth it!!!
Sorry I cant be of any more help.
Take care
xxx

joe13

gilly41 wrote:

Hi
I have two kids - both away at Uni. Firstly, and I dont want to pry, are you sure you have to pay the fees? Why I ask is that my daughter gets her fees paid- this is because it went on my income(as I am divorced from her dad and it goes on the parent with cares income)-as I was, and still am earning below the threshold(not sure how much it is per year but it is in the student booklet).
When my son went to Uni two years later they had reviewed things and they took my husbands wage in to account(his stepdad). This means we have to pay a small contribution towards my sons fees- I think this year it is £177 for the year!!! It goes again on your parents income!
Please do look in to this as it does go on your parents income.(I am assuming you still live at home- if not sorry then i am maybe wrong).
I would also suggest having a chat with your parents and GF- I would want my kids to share with me and I am sure your parents will be sad to think you are not sharing your worries with them.
Also I just wanted to add that both my kids have taken out the Student loans- I know not ideal but when they get a good degree and great jobs(fingers crossed) they will pay them off- and hopefully it will have been worth it!!!
Sorry I cant be of any more help.
Take care
xxx[

Hi Gilly 41 - You were very lucky if you managed to only pay £177 for your son. My DH was made redundant last year and DD's fees were based on only my part-time income. She did get a reduction but we still had to pay £700. Your family income has to be below about £15,000 to get it free and it is on a sliding scale above that.

Bettingmark why do you not want to take out a student loan?