Student finance

[BarleySugar]

So...after finding son No1 a course, somewhere to live and getting him to the college for his higher education course, he now finds out his application for student finance went to the wrong place. How, when we applied online, using the link they provided?
Anyway, at this late stage; he's already started lectures; he's had to apply again. Not just apply, but prove who he is (the same person who jumped through the same hoops 2 years ago), and with a lapsed passport, that isn't easy. He was told to apply on paper, so he got the form from college, but I have to sign it because I support him and have to fill in all my details. He has to have a form signed by a professional person that has known him for 2 years, so we had to print off the form, get an accountant friend to sign it, and post it to him to sign as well. Once he gets it, he needs to send everything back down here for my signature before sending it all off.
He's petrified the money will be so late he runs out and can't pay the rent, and the college can't help with a hardship loan because until Student Finance pays the fees he isn't fully enrolled, so isn't eligible. Of course once his loan etc comes through, he won't need any help from them anyway.
On their website there's a customer satisfaction survey, but when you click on the link it goes to a blank page.

[Alice]

Just terrible Barley Sugar. Hope you get it all sorted out. I don't know what else I can say.

[binley100]

I have every sympathy with you. I am trying to get my daughters grant sorted with student finance. They sent her an assessment which I can't make head or tail of and forms for a maintenance loan which she doesn't want. Luckily shes staying at home and going to the local uni so there's no accommodation fee to pay but shes definitely entitled to a full grant. They say ring the helpline but you just get a recorded message that says they are busy dealing with callers. Personally I think they've cocked up big time and are scared to answer the phones.

[Two_Sheds]

It's awful isn't it?
Mind you, same thing happened when I did my degree back in 2000: the loans were always late.

[quark1]

I believe there was mention of the fouled procesing of student loans/grants this year on one of the news/breakfast progs.

Its apparently far worse the usual this year and more widespread across the country.

No help to those involved unless parents have a few shillings tucked away - but less do these days.

Hope it all gets sorted soon.

[organic]

Two Sheds
They were always late but this year is very different.

I believe in the past it was all dealt with by education authorities - this time around it's all being run by a single company and they are utterly useless. My younger brother is having a load of trouble with it too, though thankfully he's living with my Sister who's not too far from his college so he's not going to be evicted at any point.

They should have kept it the way it was, or opened it up fully to the free market - this way is just the worst of both worlds. No incentive to perform well coming from a monopoly and no accountability being a private company.

Idiots.


Barley Sugar
I hope you get it all sorted for your son.

Oh - and now's a good time to renew his passport, much later and he'll have to get onto that thoroughly nasty National Identity Register to get one - and then he'll face a fine (about £2000) if he ever moves and doesn't inform them within about a week or two. I missed the boat on renewing before the biometric passports came in, but I'll be renewing soon so I can still travel for a few years if the NIR is set up as it's meant to be.

[danmon_81]

you cant receive your student loans until you've enrolled as a student at your institution....so not sure why student service cant help him out...try again with them, i think there may be some confusion!...this does happen alot...dont worry too much.

what Uni?

[danmon_81]

dont worry too much in many cases the student loans company will get the money too him soon...there are always lots of late applications

[jaykay]

I had to send in my p60 in support of son's application - it's not yet been returned and I'm wondering if I'll ever get to see it again!

[BarleySugar]

The main problem for him is, he thought he'd applied, but because he'd been with the LEA 2 years ago the website sent the application to them, but now as organic says, its now a new central organisation Student Finance England. They did not receive the application, and it's only after a rather surreal phone call from the LEA we've found out. Until there's actually an application received no one will give him anything, and if he applies again online, it will just go back to the wrong place, hence the mucking about with post from one end of the country to another.

What makes it worse, Son No2, who is in his second year and hence still with the LEA, FORGETS to apply until last Saturday, his application is already assessed and awaiting his enrollment to finalise payment. No justice (thank goodness).

[Littlemouse]

I really hope all gets sorted without more needless delay - I am cynical beyond belief about the chaos that passes for centrally organised schemes; ie chaos encompassing every sphere...

It wasn't perfect when local authorities administered the schemes but at least you didn't feel your paper work had spun away into oblivion with 2 million-plus other sets of paperwork! Just your paperwork and that of other 'local' lemmings.

[danmon_81]

centralising it means that the application process 'should' be easier...when you fill out your UCAS form it will populate your finance form, dealing with one set of forms should be easier, plus its all online.

[danmon_81]

rent generally gets payed around loan day for most (3 times a year), next loan payment is January 2010....reckon it'll be sorted by then...dont worry too much its just means freshers week will be have to be a bargain week for your son!

[BarleySugar]

Circumstances are a bit different for him, he isn't in halls, and it's his second 'first' year, after taking a year out to 'evaluate' his career choice (in other words, failed the first time round, and took a year to get himself together). He is renting in the private sector, and pays weekly. His next payday isn't until 15th Oct from his part time job, so we've got a couple of extra weeks to find to fill the gap. Also, the uni won't let him register until the loan to pay the fees is agreed, so he can't access many of the facilities, even though he is allowed to the lectures. Still, he's enjoying the course, and is very positive about it so far.

[SarzWix]

On a much smaller scale BarleyS., I found out today that my course grant won't come through for another few weeks yet, so had to find the money for the books etc. Thankfully, I'm not having to rely on it for living expenses like rent! From what I can gather, a lot of people are suffering with their cock-ups and big delays this year
Really hope your son's stuff is sorted sooner rather than later.