fighting my LEA and still part of the 'old student grant' system

vladzie

I'm not sure if anyone can really help me, because I'm not sure whether this is more of a legal problem...but here goes:

I’m in a long term fight wiht my LEA in england about getting funding for my post graduate course, which i'm trying to start in scotland.

They have given me the run around for the past two years saying I’m entitled to the old style grant system of funding, (whereby I don’t need to pay it back, because my undergraduate course started prior to 1997). They actually awarded then cancelled my application for the 'new loan' because luckily(if that what you'd call it) i was still part of the old system.
But since then (2005) I've never received a penny and I've had to twice drop out of my course because I'd run out of my own money and made my self ill with stress waiting for them to give me funding.
At my last attempt, my uni made me leave until I could stabilise my funding, and that is the reason my LEA is now refusing to give me this grant.
But I wouldnt be in this mess if they hadn't had cancelled my loan, made me reapply for this grant, then guarantee i'd receive something for two years in row then give me nothing.

I’ve called, written, faxed and emailed them, but every time, there has been no response or they say there is a back log or that there is no one available to talk to, who knows anything about my case (even though I am the only one in the city on this system) or to simply put it in ‘writing’.

I have a draft of this letter which I want to send with all the correspondance i kept flying at them, the letters of award they've given me but refuse o acknowledge..(i'll email to whomever is interested) and which will explain my circumstances a little better.
I am so angry at this point and really need to know if there is any way legally I can make my council give me this funding, or to somehow claim compensation for the two failed attempts because it put me further into debt as I had to live on credit whilst waiting for funding.

I've already taken out so many years out (thats why my undergraduate was before 1997) to work to push back my debt (with which I almost cleared half twice) so that i could have a better go at uni...but my debt rocketed twice again at with those two failed attempts.

I'm now with CCCs and i can finally see my 'own' money for the first time in years, but i dont want to go down that slippery slope again just so that I can go back to uni....

I've just realised i've written an essay.....I'm sorry but anyones advice or help/assistance in anyway would be greatly appreciated

Gingernutmeg

Maybe I've misread your post, but as far as I'm aware you're not entitled to any LEA funding for postgrad courses ... are you trying to get funding to complete your undergrad degree?

Also (and maybe I'm wrong here but I believe this is how it worked at my uni) isn't the maximum time for a part-time undergrad degree seven years? I wonder whether this is something to do with it?

Although ... from what you say you have letters that guarantee you will get some funding. Personally I would put everything in writing, with photocopies of all of your documents, send it recorded or signed for delivery and say that you will give them seven days to get back in touch with you.

Oldernotwiser

This is a really confusing post! With the odd exception, there hasn't been grant funding for post graduate courses for many years. Could you clarify what kind of course you're talking about? Could you let us know what first degree you already have and what post graduate course you're trying to get funding for? Thanks.

vladzie

Hi guys...
thanks for your replies so far...

Ok my career path is architecture which is 7 years in total. I graduated with a B.ARCH in Architecture in 2003 (completing 3 years which then left 4 years) I have since had 1 official year in practice, which they have funded, but still leaves 2 years at uni(post grad) and then another official year in practice afterwards.
When I applied for my grant in 1997 to start this undergraduate course I applied for seven years of funding (which includes two years of practical experience) I was awarded the whole thing. I just needed to refill application forms every year that I went back.

By the time I applied to start my Post grad (2005), the new loan system had been introduced so I initially applied for a student loan, as I thought the old system no longer existed. I was awarded the loan but then about a month later my LEA wrote back cancelling the loan and sent me a new form for the old system style grant saying I was still eligble. They then awarded me this instead.

Then the problems started...they allege they never recieved letters to confrim my course so they wouldn't pay out (I sent it twice). Then I ran out of money and had to take emergency aid from uni (Jan 2006), then I had to leave because the stress of it all made me ill.
My LEA catgorically guaranteed they'd have pay me the following year instead. All they wanted was my bank details. I faxed, emailed, posted and called (they refused to take details over phone) which low and behold they allege they never recieved again.

Then to top it off, after my Uni has told me to leave (because; they hadnt received any fees, I couldnt pay a library fine, which then wouldnt let me register properly on my course (Oct 2006)), apparently my LEA did have my details (they've been the same for over 10 years). They just needed confirming, which they did (and could have done a month earlier) on the phone. In this same phone call they then said I wouldnt get anything the following year because my Uni had made me leave.

Someone please explain this to me. I'm still miffed about it...:mad:

Thanks again for your help.