Student Loan withdrawn

Quorden

Hi,

Wonder if anyone can give me some advice. My daughter, who has lived in Guernsey with her mother since 2008, completed her 'A' levels last year, was accepted into Uni, applied for and was given a student loan for fee's and maintenance from Studentfinance England. The Guernsey aid would only amounted to £3k so hence the application to Student finance England.
There was no misleading info on the application, very clear that she was educated in Guernsey but was returning to England for University and living with me. She received the confirmation that she would be entitled to the loan back in September and has been attending Uni since.
Now we've got a letter saying that following an audit as she was resident in channel islands she is not eligible and the funding has been withdrawn.
Aside from the question about the fee's that she has already incurred, does anyone know exactly what the situation is as I am at a loss as to what to do or say and she's meant to be starting back next week and I simply don't have that sort of money.

longtermplanner

I don't know. I suggest she needs to talk to her uni urgently to see if they have any advice.

I am guessing, but perhaps the uni would agree to defer her course, so she could work for a year (or two? you need to find out how long she would have to work in the England to qualify) living with you and then resume the course? Obviously not ideal, but this may be the best option.

Quorden

Sadly I think the defer option is going to be the case..and a two year period before she starts..I could quite happily strangle studentfinance for getting her hopes up then destroying them.

longtermplanner

I agree - poor girl!

Fingers crossed that she may be able to get some work in an area where it will be good for her CV in the long-term.

CLAPTON

The situation about the channel islands is generally well known: I'm a bit surprised that the school or other parents/friends didn't discuss this.

Quorden

Granted it's well known if you're a resident, however daughter never had resident status, plus I did speak to the student finance people who originally said it was possible to get a loan which is why we applied.

Quorden

On a slightly different note any legal people out there as after speaking to the loan people last night they said they intend to recharge the fee's already paid for tuition and maintenance.
It does seem a little unfair that after awarding a loan based on all the correct information they can come back four months later, retrospectively withdraw the offer and leave us hanging with the debt.
Had we been informed in Sept that she wouldn't get a loan she wouldn't have attended in the first place and incurred this and all the other costs.
I'm beginning to think 2014 isn't shaping up too well..

CLAPTON

-talk to uni about funding
-make formal complaint to SLC
-contact MP