College ripped me off?

TheRealDave

Myself and a couple of colleagues doing my degree course took out our student loans for the full amount of money for our degree as it was displayed on the colleges website with the price clearly displayed. This was June/July time when the student loan forms had to be in.

Now since then, the college has said the price on the website had not been updated and our student loans have not covered the full amount. They have sent us a bill for £70 saying it must be paid by the 12th Feb.

Should I complain as they falsely advertised the price and i knowingly signed up for the first amount, not the second only to find they're hitting me with this!

DCFC79

I take it you dont have any proof of the price you saw

Lokolo

I doubt it. When filling in the forms you can either set an amount or say "Full Amount Available". You should have taken the common sense route and ticket the "Full Amount Available" box.

However you can most probably fill in a change in circumstances form and get the £70 in loan (you sure its £70 not £75?), however this won't come anytime soon anyway so best dig deep into those pockets eh

Just to point out, the website most probably stated the year on the same page as the amount. So would have said something alike "Finance in the year 07/08 .... £3070"

TheRealDave

It says nothing like that. The website is here:

http://www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/common/adult/coursefinder/Pages/FDPublicServices.aspx

As you can see, it was modified after I had taken the loan out. The !!!!!!s. Still, why should I have to fork out money for their mistakes?

Lokolo

It does say under course info and costs:
Course Costs

£2,835 - 2008/09

I imagine it said similar to last year, and without proof on your behalf, I don't believe you, and neither will anyone else. So its fork out the £70 or get kicked out. Your choice.

As I said, you might be able to get the extra £70 out of student finance because you didn't realise (didn't do enough research... I ask my college information desk just to make sure!!!) but it won't come straight away. Ring student finance within this week because next week is going to be hell busy.

TheRealDave

Hmm.. I'll see what the college has to say. Whys student finance going to be busy next week?

Lokolo

Next years applications open on 9th Feb (so from a week yday).

Good luck speaking to college.

Taiko

Stop giving the game away Lokolo! Just drop your LEA an email telling them what the correct fees are and it will be updated.

It's a common situation, where people apply early and the universities either haven't updated the fees or the student has seen "Fees are x amount" but not noticed it applies to the previous academic year. I've cleared about 90 Change of Circs for these today. Now my boss is angry because I stuck more things for them to approve on her desk.

Lokolo

Taiko wrote: »

Stop giving the game away Lokolo! Just drop your LEA an email telling them what the correct fees are and it will be updated.

It's a common situation, where people apply early and the universities either haven't updated the fees or the student has seen "Fees are x amount" but not noticed it applies to the previous academic year. I've cleared about 90 Change of Circs for these today. Now my boss is angry because I stuck more things for them to approve on her desk.

Buy her a drink on Friday

Taiko

As it's her last day, I may do so. At the chinese all you can eat buffet we're doing in the afternoon, seeing as LEA system is going down.

Lokolo

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showpost.php?p=16887535&postcount=214



Chinese all you can eat though, YUM