Student Loans Company ASTOUNDINGLY INCOMPETENT 22 September 2020 at 2:15PM in Student MoneySaving 14 replies 813 views

[Deleted User]

With due respect @fred246 it is clear that you seem hell bent on simply bashing SLC rather than doing a simple Websearch for the IAG that they have published year on year for the last 15 years, at least. It is entitled 'A guide to How You Are Assessed And Paid'.

While it can admittedly be cumbersome to understand as a whole, it is quite clear what rules and entitlement relate to what 'cohort' of student.

It also explains quite clearly in their letters, guidance and websites that you must ensure that the information you provide matches that held by HMRC as they will verify those details given to those held.

It also explains that if there is a discrepancy or variance between those figures, it will use the official recorded figures held by HMRC.

Understanding that SLC use a system that processes the information YOU provide to them, and assesses that in line with the legislation set by the Gov't, I fail to understand why they are inept...

On a related note, it isn't hard to underatand the basic principles of Data Protection. Yes, you and your partner/spouse (whatever) may have supplied information to support the students application, but that does not give the student a right to access or know details belonging to you (e.g. financial details), similarly your financial details may be linked to another persons via that application but it does not give you a right to access or know anything from that account or application that does not specifically pertain to you.

HOWEVER, you can all simply obtain a copy of your respective files by making a request to SLC , but I would highly recommend that you make your lives a lot easier by remembering to take a photocopy or keep note of the details you use in the application in future.

As for any 'difference' in figures used by SLC thereafter, of course they are absolutely correct in telling you to speak with HMRC. All they can do is relay that the income you've declared and that they (HMRC) has recorded is different. If you want to know more about what HMRC hold on record for you, you would need to speak to HMRC.

I appreciate your perception and opinion of the process of SLC is clearly marred by a bad experience down the line, but please keep the topics here constructive, this thread has raised no specific queries, asked any questions nor has it set out to educate readers in a process, policy or procedure, other than yourself, in anything that be reasonably considered useful.

fred246

Thank you for that useless twaddle SFSLExpert (Disclaimer Not An Expert). I understand the process completely. That is how I knew the Student Loans Company had made a mistake.
The incompetence of the Students Loan Company was well publicised in 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8401730.stm
What is amazing is that they don't seem to have improved at all. All the reviews on Trustpilot are from the last 3 years.
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.slc.co.uk
It is well worth reading them.
Why is it useful for people to know how incompetent they are? It's important that if you have anything to do with the Student Loans Company that you check the figures for yourself. When you input the figures don't expect the Student Loans Company will use them correctly. If you are repaying loans I would check all the payments carefully.
If SFSLExpert has anything to do with the Student Loans Company then they are obviously not displaying the behaviour needed to improve the Company. Blaming 'customers' for their incompetence isn't the way to improve.

[Deleted User]

fred246 said:

Thank you for that useless twaddle SFSLExpert (Disclaimer Not An Expert). I understand the process completely. That is how I knew the Student Loans Company had made a mistake.
The incompetence of the Students Loan Company was well publicised in 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8401730.stm
What is amazing is that they don't seem to have improved at all. All the reviews on Trustpilot are from the last 3 years.
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.slc.co.uk
It is well worth reading them.
Why is it useful for people to know how incompetent they are? It's important that if you have anything to do with the Student Loans Company that you check the figures for yourself. When you input the figures don't expect the Student Loans Company will use them correctly. If you are repaying loans I would check all the payments carefully.
If SFSLExpert has anything to do with the Student Loans Company then they are obviously not displaying the behaviour needed to improve the Company. Blaming 'customers' for their incompetence isn't the way to improve.

Again, with due respect, I have not blamed any of SLCs customers for anything. In fact, I simply provided you with details on the guidance published by the company to help customers, such as yourself, to rest easy in the knowledge that the assessment for their funding is carried out using specific legislation and eligibility criteria.

While I appreciate that TrustPilot serves a purpose in this world, I fail to understand how it finds a place in the review of public and civil services such as those provided by SLC.

What happened in 2009 isn't a secret and is literally a matter of public record. While it was a massively unfortunate issue at the time, it is certainly not something that people now need to be concerned about so it only seems you bring it up as some way of validating what is clearly a very personal opinion based on your own experience.

For the record, I am nothing to do with SLC. It simply appears I understand the nature of business operations more than others...

Thanks for taking the time to share your concerns and opinions though. I'm certain that people who are going through probably the biggest decision in their (often young) lives will appreciate the the unnecessary stress and worry your scaremongering may inadvertently create.

I'm sure you'll respond, but please know that I've provided as balanced a view as I can on this post, and won't be revisiting to read anything further.

fred246

Well you are certainly a very interesting person SFSLEExpert (Disclaimer I am not an expert). 58 posts on Student Loans. Nothing on anything else. Nothing to do with the Student Loans Company.

SFSLExpert said:

With due respect @fred246 it is clear that you seem hell bent on simply bashing SLC rather than doing a simple Websearch for the IAG that they have published year on year for the last 15 years, at least. It is entitled 'A guide to How You Are Assessed And Paid'.

Well it sounds very much as though you are saying it's my fault that SLC are incompetent.

Thanks for taking the time to share your concerns and opinions though. I'm certain that people who are going through probably the biggest decision in their (often young) lives will appreciate the the unnecessary stress and worry your scaremongering may inadvertently create.

I think it's very scary. The more I read about them the more I fear for my children. The Erudio debacle is particularly worrying. I certainly can't find anything that's re-assuring for potential students.
If you read this article
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4924784/Student-loan-company-ranked-worst-place-work.html
There is a comment "team leaders and management who seem to go out of their way to make things hard for customers". I would definitely agree with that.
I think everyone has suffered with incompetence and bad customer service but the Student Loans Company take it to a higher level. A level that you wouldn't believe existed unless you had been through it.
I got it sorted out because of my persistence. Not many people have my persistence so I can only conclude that most people wouldn't get it sorted out.