Help With Student Loans - HERE!

ssmi

That's great thanks - I'd read elsewhere that you just need to be there the day before the course starts but I'd rather make sure we're 100% covered by making sure we're there from September 1st - location wise it doesn't really matter to us either way but we do need the financial support.

Yellow_Bellow

Hi Everyone,

This seems the best place to ask a Student Loan Questions. I took out student loans for the period of August 1999 to May 2001 - I have not yet paid of these loans and therefore, was wondering whether the loans get cleared when I retire. I was a mature student when I tool these out and I am now in my late 40's .

Can anyone help - I do do do soooooo hope they are not going to chase me for payments until I die.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

gidders_2

Hi,

I really hope someone can help because I am desperate at this point.

I am a mature student. I have previously recieved student loans (one consisted of a grant back in 2005 for £2000 (ish) no tuition fee loans were payed, I was basically payed this money in error but student loans never reclaimed it after me chasing it up for months) and I have also received another £2000 (ish) when I attended college last year, but I dropped out due to personal problems in January and student loans payed a full year tuition fee.

Now I am attending university, I have moved 200 miles away from my home and family, signed contracts with the university, halls of residence etc and I actually feel settled and content.

I applied for this years student loans back in April 2011, on 5th May 2011 I received my letters to state that I would be receiving £5743 in loans/grants and that student finance would also be paying £3375 to my university for tuition fees. Brilliant, everything sorted.

Now, a few days ago, I got a letter from Student Finance to say that they have overpayed me and need to reclaim £500. Needless to say I was a bit shocked. Following that, I got a letter stating my situation has been reassessed and they have decided I am not entitled to ANY tuition fee support or maintenance grant this year and they are stopping all payments. Basically because I have claimed 2 years support already, my course is 3 years and I only have an alloted 2 years left to claim.

This basically means that I have to pay tuition fee myself.

From a legal standpoint can they do this? I have signed the declaration with them to state how much they will help me and they will pay tuition fee etc. They have already said they will pay me x.y.z can they suddenly one month in, after I have signed contracts to say I will pay rent etc. go back on their word. Surely the declaration i signed is legally binding?? I'm just in bits at the thought of having to leave uni as there is no way i can afford to pay £3375 in tuition fees. I can just about cope if I loose my maintenance grants, but not tuition fees.

Does anyone have any help, I have yet to speak to student finance as I want to know where I actually do stand on this matter, and I really go to pot over the phone when I get upset.

Taiko

They can legally change their minds, based on the regulations. SFE are correct in their assessment of you. You've no leg to stand on.

gidders_2

But surely they are at fault for having assessed me incorrectly in the first place? And why did it take 5 months for them to pick up the fault? Surely all the information is computerised and in one place, when an application comes through they should automatically see if i'm eligible or not. I mean how incompetent are these people? They are supposed to be a service to help people get an education and better themselves, all they seem to do is cause problems!!

Taiko

They may be at fault, but they're perfectly entitled to correct that fault as and when it comes to light. No system in the world is perfect.

All that was written in the terms and conditions that you signed. You did read them, didn't you?

gidders_2

Ok, thanks for the "help". I'm guessing you work for SF? The attitude alone, you can tell.

Taiko

Nope, don't work for them at all. However, would this be the reply you're after?

Following on from your post, I agree that it is completely
unfair of the SLC to
completely reassess your support. The SLC are certainly not known for their
kindness, as you have experienced first hand.

Only way to get around this issue would be
for you to write in, demanding that, as it's their error, they should compensate you, and should they
fail to do so, you'll have no problems taking it to the press.

JLS1901

Hello all, I'm wondering if anyone could advise me what to do, I started an extended foundation degree in September and applied for all the finance available to me. I sent in all my financial information as I wished to be classed as an independent student as I have supported myself for the last 4 years.

I then received a letter last week stating that the amount I earned in 08/09 was not enough to class me as an independent.

At the time I was an apprentice earning £100 a week, i earned £6200 for the year. I live with my sister and have done since our father passed away in 2007. I rang student finance and explained all this and was told to write an email to appeal which I have done, I am just wondering how long it takes for them to reply?

Thanks Sarah.

Taiko

No set time.

Were your parents divorced? Might be another way around this for you.