Help With Student Loans - HERE!

NoGoodNamesLeft

flea72 wrote: »

As long as you meet the residency criteria then you will get the tuition fee loan. They need his NI to work out your maintenance loan entitlement

That's very helpful and good to know, thank you.

I have done what research I can and I think I meet the criteria. I have been to university before (over 10 years ago), but did not complete a year. I believe I can still get a loan for three years, but won't be able to retake a year or transfer. Is that correct?

I cannot provide any proof of my own income as I don't have one (been a diploma student for two years, partner's carer previously), but my partner receives lower rate DLA and some income support. Don't know if this will affect the tuition fee loan at all, but it sounds like it won't so I think it may be worth taking the risk and registering.

I am waiting for a call back from an adviser, but the lady I spoke to in the uni's finance department really seemed to be trying to put me off registering. She also said that there is definitely no grace period from starting and they will be chasing me for fees after a few days.

BeardJ

Hi all,

I applied for my student loan in June. On the 15th of August I contacted SFE to get an update on the progress of my application. I was informed that my loan would be delayed because SFE’s computer system had made an error in assessing my application, and that the error would take a maximum of 10 working days to resolve. Since then I have called on repeated occasions and have been told that my application is with the ‘resolve team’ and that the date by which the error will be resolved is not known. Apparently there is some special department that deals with my particular course, and they are really busy at the moment. Today I have been told that my account is unlikely to even be looked at until the 4th of October, over 4 months after I first applied. I don't really think it's fair that my loan has been delayed for this long due to a problem that is not of my making.

I would like to know what I can do to speed the process along. I have tried to speak to a manager, but I keep getting fobbed off and told that they are "in a meeting". I have also requested that a manager calls back, but this never happens. My course has now started and I am really short of money. I am worried that I will soon not be able to make my rent payments.

Many thanks,

J

TurnUpForTheBooks_2

It annoys me somewhat that enquiries like this are not answered faster by experts in these forums. One might hope that the OP has instead received some useful PM contact.

If you've still not had help OP, can you be a little more specific about what you know about your particular course attracting the attention of a special team at SFE? Is it a course that debateably might not actually qualify for SFE support ? Or is the early resolution you hope for something specific to your personal casefile?

I am not any kind of expert on these matters at all, but I have profound sympathy for young people whose financial situation may have been carelessly disregarded by SFE whilst they consider the case file in their own sweet time with barely a thought for you worrying all weekend and maybe hardly a bean left in your pocket.

Can someone/(has someone already?) please help or reassure the OP before the weekend starts?

Lokolo

TurnUpForTheBooks wrote: »

It annoys me somewhat that enquiries like this are not answered faster by experts in these forums.

Are you bloody serious?

The "experts" on this forum that "somewhat annoy you" are people who are going out of their way to be helpful. The regulars in this part of the board aren't paid, they have no obligation to be here. I post answers in as many boards as possible, but I have a job (and am currently at work having a break!) and don't know the answers to everything!

If people want to know the answers to something urgently, then ask the people that are paid to do it!

There is no SFE rep on these boards.

TurnUpForTheBooks_2

Lokolo wrote: »

TurnUpForTheBooks wrote:

It annoys me somewhat that enquiries like this are not answered faster by experts in these forums.

Are you bloody serious?

Yes.

The "experts" on this forum that "somewhat annoy you" are people who are going out of their way to be helpful.

I did not quite say that the "experts" somewhat annoyed me, but the lack of an urgent response for such a cry for help here does. Semantics perhaps, but if the cap fits and all that ... I am not so much interested in whether someone gets paid as whether they do what is expected based on the position they have adopted whether individually or collectively or for that matter whether officially or unofficially.

MSE is seen as a major resource by students needing help and guidance. MSE for better or for worse is propping up an extremely dodgy Tuition Fee/Loan system.

The regulars in this part of the board aren't paid, they have no obligation to be here. I post answers in as many boards as possible, but I have a job (and am currently at work having a break!) and don't know the answers to everything!

I am sure your contributions are much appreciated Lokolo, but I am equally sure you can see that the OP has made a cry for help. The OP has also indicated that approaches for help from SFE have yielded an indifferent response so far, so who exactly gives the urgent answers in this systems to those that need them? You have indicated:

If people want to know the answers to something urgently, then ask the people that are paid to do it!

but it seems the system doesn't perform adequately for the purpose, hence the existence of this thread. You have also chosen to assert:

There is no SFE rep on these boards.

Whilst that may be true in the absolute sense, I am sure however that you will easily agree that there are one or two notable high priests or priestesses here or hereabouts (not you Lokolo) who conduct themselves like their contributions may indeed be gospel. Furthermore they seem to have some interest in protecting the word of said gospel against the words of dissenters. One gets the impression that when they decide help is deserved, help is forthcoming!

Let's hope that's happened via a PM because I guess now at past 5 o'clock on a Friday, most people at SFE have signed off for the weekend and won't exactly be concerned about a student somewhere who has run out of money.

flea72

BeardJ wrote: »

Hi all,

I applied for my student loan in June. On the 15th of August I contacted SFE to get an update on the progress of my application. I was informed that my loan would be delayed because SFE’s computer system had made an error in assessing my application, and that the error would take a maximum of 10 working days to resolve. Since then I have called on repeated occasions and have been told that my application is with the ‘resolve team’ and that the date by which the error will be resolved is not known. Apparently there is some special department that deals with my particular course, and they are really busy at the moment. Today I have been told that my account is unlikely to even be looked at until the 4th of October, over 4 months after I first applied. I don't really think it's fair that my loan has been delayed for this long due to a problem that is not of my making.

I would like to know what I can do to speed the process along. I have tried to speak to a manager, but I keep getting fobbed off and told that they are "in a meeting". I have also requested that a manager calls back, but this never happens. My course has now started and I am really short of money. I am worried that I will soon not be able to make my rent payments.

Many thanks,

J

Speak to the finance officer at your uni, as they have a bit more clout in chasing SFE.

Your uni should also have emergency funds available that you can apply for. It does usually mean you have to jump through alot of hoops, ie 3m bank statements to show where your money has gone, etc. but it tends to come through fairly quickly once applied for. They may also be able to liaise with your accommdation provider (if accredited) otherwise your guarantor will be having to stump up your rent (have you warned them of this?)

Tbh im surprised sfe didnt notify you of your status, you get instant notification when you apply online and written confirmation within 2wks. Are you sure you provided all the info they requested, or are there things in your claim that arent standard. Ie residency, proof of independence?

rolo-polo1965

My daughter is in year 3 of her course. She would like to study a masters next year is there funding available for this this through student finance

Thanks

Dunroamin

rolo-polo1965 wrote: »

My daughter is in year 3 of her course. She would like to study a masters next year is there funding available for this this through student finance

Thanks

Funding for post graduate degrees is completely separate from funding for undergraduate degrees and is highly competitive. What's she hoping to study and what's her likely degree classification?

rolo-polo1965

Dunroamin wrote: »

Funding for post graduate degrees is completely separate from funding for undergraduate degrees and is highly competitive. What's she hoping to study and what's her likely degree classification?

She is doing a degree in "Creative Expressive Therapies" and is hoping for a 2nd class degree, she is hoping to become a drama therapist and work with children with special needs

Savvy_Sue

She needs to speak to the course providers, but I'd be surprised if there's any funding, and what there is will be extremely competitive so a 2nd class degree is unlikely to cut it.

BTW, in about 30 seconds, I've managed to find this page. Has she got the necessary work experience?