Do you auto get full uni grant if currently receive £30 EMA

rev_henry

percymoneysaver wrote: »

I'm hoping that smily face you've used means that you're joking about that, because otherwise that's possibly the most selfish thing I've heard for a long time.

No I am seriously considering considering it when I get to that stage in my life. Yes its selfish, but to tell you the truth I don't care, that's what this government gets for pursuing ridiculous policies. In 10 years time, if I do it, I shall be driving a huge Holden V8, paying very little for tax and fuel. Hell, I don't even have to pay to insure it if I don't want to. Property is reasonably priced, with nice big gardens, the climate is good, and the government has some of the most sensible policies I've ever heard.

Now someone'll come along who's actually been there and tell me its not like that at all. :P

percymoneysaver

rev_henry wrote: »

No I am seriously considering considering it when I get to that stage in my life. Yes its selfish, but to tell you the truth I don't care, that's what this government gets for pursuing ridiculous policies. In 10 years time, if I do it, I shall be driving a huge Holden V8, paying very little for tax and fuel. Hell, I don't even have to pay to insure it if I don't want to. Property is reasonably priced, with nice big gardens, the climate is good, and the government has some of the most sensible policies I've ever heard.

Now someone'll come along who's actually been there and tell me its not like that at all. :P

I assume you are currently a sixth form student on EMA? So you are currently accepting money from taxpayers, and will continue to do so when you go to uni. Then, because the government at the moment is not going to guarantee your free funding throughout your university career, regardless of your circumstances, you are planning on defaulting on the money you owe the taxpayers for your student loan.

That seems thoroughly reasonable. I'm sure the Australians would be happy to have you if they knew your attitude to tax paying and insuring your car.

rev_henry

percymoneysaver wrote: »

I assume you are currently a sixth form student on EMA? So you are currently accepting money from taxpayers, and will continue to do so when you go to uni. Then, because the government at the moment is not going to guarantee your free funding throughout your university career, regardless of your circumstances, you are planning on defaulting on the money you owe the taxpayers for your student loan.

That seems thoroughly reasonable. I'm sure the Australians would be happy to have you if they knew your attitude to tax paying and insuring your car.

Yes I am a 6th form student. No its not solely because of that, not really much to do with that. I'm just fed up of this country in general. I've said it before and I'll say it again. EMA is a ridiculous policy and just gives those from a low income family 'pocket money'. I don't really need it, I tend to spend mine on my car and other things I'm sure its not intended for. But as long as this delusional government thinks its a good idea I'll gladly cash in.

In many parts of Australia insurance is provided by the government as part of the service provided by the equivalent of road tax; I'm not suggesting breaking the law in any way, its just Australia has a sensible attitude to car insurance. And I intend to lead a fulfilling career paying tax as I do so, not avoiding tax.

percymoneysaver

rev_henry wrote: »

Yes I am a 6th form student. No its not solely because of that, not really much to do with that. I'm just fed up of this country in general. I've said it before and I'll say it again. EMA is a ridiculous policy and just gives those from a low income family 'pocket money'. I don't really need it, I tend to spend mine on my car and other things I'm sure its not intended for. But as long as this delusional government thinks its a good idea I'll gladly cash in.

In many parts of Australia insurance is provided by the government as part of the service provided by the equivalent of road tax; I'm not suggesting breaking the law in any way, its just Australia has a sensible attitude to car insurance. And I intend to lead a fulfilling career paying tax as I do so, not avoiding tax.

Well, I didn't know that about Australian car tax, so I apologise for assuming you were planning on breaking the law. But I agree with you on one thing - I think the government's EMA policy (as it works at the moment) is a farce and not helping those it should, and am just hopeful the above posters are right in thinking they've abandoned the 3 year free uni guarantee if it will stop people like you sponging of the rest of us for another few years.

Just out of curiosity though, if you are from a low income family that EMA is intended to help (ie not a single parent with a non-resident well-off parent, or self-employed parents who don't declare all their income), how are you affording the car insurance in this country? Because my family has 2 incomes (that total not far above the EMA threshold), and we couldn't afford to insure my child as anything other than a named driver on my car, and even that was barely affordable. To insure an inexperienced student on their own car was at least 2k for the year - not easily affordable to low - or medium - income families. Or did I miss a money-saving tip on how to insure 17 year olds cheaply?

Oldernotwiser

percymoneysaver wrote: »

I'm hoping that smily face you've used means that you're joking about that, because otherwise that's possibly the most selfish thing I've heard for a long time.

Not only selfish but inaccurate; you still have to repay your student loan even if living abroad.

rev_henry

percymoneysaver wrote: »

Well, I didn't know that about Australian car tax, so I apologise for assuming you were planning on breaking the law. But I agree with you on one thing - I think the government's EMA policy (as it works at the moment) is a farce and not helping those it should, and am just hopeful the above posters are right in thinking they've abandoned the 3 year free uni guarantee if it will stop people like you sponging of the rest of us for another few years.

Just out of curiosity though, if you are from a low income family that EMA is intended to help (ie not a single parent with a non-resident well-off parent, or self-employed parents who don't declare all their income), how are you affording the car insurance in this country? Because my family has 2 incomes (that total not far above the EMA threshold), and we couldn't afford to insure my child as anything other than a named driver on my car, and even that was barely affordable. To insure an inexperienced student on their own car was at least 2k for the year - not easily affordable to low - or medium - income families. Or did I miss a money-saving tip on how to insure 17 year olds cheaply?

No I didn't think you were about car tax. I despise uninsured drivers as much as anyone. I guess you're right about the 3 year guarantee thing.
Ah I'm afraid I'd probably fall into the single parent category, although I have to say my dad (who I don't live with) isn't really particularly well off and doesn't give me ridiculous amounts of pocket money or anything like that.
Although having said that I did get a pretty good deal on car insurance. I was a name driver on my mum's insurance last year (which I saved for and paid myself, an extra £500), then this year I got a really good deal with admiral - £750. They do a multicar discount and gave me a years no claims for being a named driver before. You have to ring up and ask about those last two things though, after you've got your 'basic' quote online. Hope that helps. Also note it does drop dramatically once said young person is 18 and has a years driving experience. If you live in London or Manchester though I've heard its horrendous. Quotes for me at uni next year have been through the roof.

Oldernotwiser, is the SLC really going to send spies to Australia to make sure I keep up with paying it?

Oldernotwiser

rev_henry wrote: »

Oldernotwiser, is the SLC really going to send spies to Australia to make sure I keep up with paying it?

No, they'll put your loan into the hands of debt collectors who will add extortionate charges to your loan and these charges (and arrears) will have to be paid like a normal commercial debt rather than the "soft" approach that applies when your account is in order.

Many debt collection agencies are international or have links with similar companies abroad. You're showing your ignorance and naivety by assuming that moving abroad gets you out of paying your student loan!

Edit; You can see the relevant information in this link.

http://www.slc.co.uk/thresholds/index.html

You might care to note that you'll be expected to pay £196 per month if you don't notify the SLC of your actual income whilst you're living in Australia.

rev_henry

I'm not quite serious about this whole not paying the loan back thing. But how can a debt be enforceable from abroad?

Indie_Kid

Would you mind if someone took £10s of thousands from you and never paid it back? Don't think so somehow.

GlasweJen

rev_henry wrote: »

I'm not quite serious about this whole not paying the loan back thing. But how can a debt be enforceable from abroad?

Seriously are you clever enough to go to uni?

Debts can be enforced abroad because lots of companies these days are international so the English office gets onto the Australian office who send it out to the regional office you stay nearest and before you know it you're being hounded for student loan plus fees for not paying plus fees for making them track you abroad.

And then when it all goes tits up and you need to come back to the UK you'll return to CCJs that were put through while you were out of the country so you'll have 0 credit score and wont be able to get a credit card or a mortgage so what will you live off of when you fail the habitual residence test and can't claim benefits?