Student Loans

[Lurker]

Are there any other students out there who have not yet had their student loans processed even though they have applied months ago! It is impossible to even contact Student Finance Direct as the phone lines are jammed. Our local Education Committee are tearing their hair out trying to deal with complaints. So much for the Governments brilliant new system this year! Meanwhile, what are students meant to be living on until it is sorted out?

[dysmal]

Typical student winge winge.Your choice to enter further education in this country and you know the rules,so get real.And before AB Ed has a go at me for having a go at you,I'm having a go at all wingers who want want of the state.

[FP]

For your information, I am not a student. My son is!!!! My son works damn hard in the holidays to get by. He has just gone back after working 70hrs per week on night shift for all but two weeks of his holiday. At the end of his course, his knowledge will benefit this country. We need engineers to keep us going. You are your family will benefit. We have never had anything off the state before. Dysmal, I presume that if you were in need you would turn to the state or are you lucky enough to have a rich family to support you and yours. Most students are hard working and are at University because they want to further themselves. They are branded by people such as yourself. Be careful with your answers and don't give any before you know the full facts!

[FP]

Because I was angry and wanted an proper answer to my question and got your rather unthoughtout answer, I forgot to mention that Student Loans have to be PAID BACK in total plus interest. How is that taking anything from the state? By the way, my son is in total agreement with the loan system and believes that you should have to contribute towards your education because of the benefits that are reaped. However, there are plenty of people on the site who will be in receipt of benefits through no fault of their own and who contribute to society in the best way that they can. So please don't post answers that will offend these people. I presume you assumed I was a student because of my user name. No, I am a 50+ mum who adores Radiohead. And I have just changed my user name from FakePlastic to Fakeplastic because I keep typing in wrong. I am the same AB user.

[AB Editor]

dysmal's non-answer would normally have been deleted but I'll leave it as the replies from Fakeplastic deserve to be kept online.

[Moog]

dysmal a student loan is exactly what it says it is.. a loan that has to be paid back. Admittedly they do have a preferential interest rate, but they don't cost the tax payer anything.

[brawburd]

well said FakePlastic.

[Yinzer]

My friend almost had to drop her classes for this semester because of the same exact problem. Fortunately everything came through at the VERY last minute. Sorry to hear about the situation, hope things turn out soon. By the way, have you ever heard of Lake Trout? They sound a bit like radiohead but more electronic. Still just as high-pitched and rock-whiny. No offense there, I love Radiohead and just recently fell into Lake Trout. Cheers!

[tomd]

Yes, I have friends whose loans still haven't come through. In response to dysmal, of course they know the rules, but the Government haven't kept to the dates they intended, so not the fault of the students. Your response sounds like typical anti-student winge winge, based on stereotypes and assumptions. I expect lots of people are finding it very hard to get by at the moment.

[enigma]

Hi FakePlastic. I once worked for the Student Loans company and to be fair to them they do have a REALLY hectic workload and aim to rattle through as much as they possibly can because they appreciate that students desperately need their cash and are often away from home and can't just pop up to their parents' house for a bit of cash to help them get by. The thing is though , the SL company can't be held accountable for applications which go missing in the post - which happens more often than you would think and sometimes students call up furious that their application hasn't been processed when it hasn't even been received by the SL company. The onus is really on the student to follow up checks - not that I am suggesting for a moment that your son hasn't done so. It's just that it would be wise for him to double check that it has been and what stage it is at. They process them in date order , so if it was sent months ago , he should really push them on if it has not been done. Also , if it was received months ago and has not been done , he should demand to speak with a manager if he feels that he is being fobbed off with excuses. It may be delayed because he has not provided enough evidence ie last three months payslips (If applicable), letter from parents to how that he is receiving support and has no earnings etc. They don't just accept that students have no income , they need documented proof so it's worth checking that he has submitted everything required because a lot of the applications which I dealt with which were delayed were due to insufficient evidence. The lines are always very busy but it's just a matter of perseverence i'm afraid. I hope that this helps you and that he gets his cash soon x

[enigma]

By the way , student loans do have to be repaid but only if the student earns more than the deferment threshold level of income which is based on an average of the national wage. Although they can defer payment if not earning enough , the student must defer EVERY year or they will automatically go into repayments and have to go through the whole process of claiming a refund and submitting deferment papers. This is an important point to remember when taking out the loan because a lot of students forget and then call up screaming abuse down the phone when payments are taken from their account. They sign up quite happily at the time for the loan but a lot forget that they have to defer payment or go enter into repayments. Some even disappear halfway round the world without bothering to defer and leave their poor parents tearing their hair out trying to deal with the mess which they have left behind ! Why don't you set up power of attorney over your son's account ? That way if there is ever a problem , you can call up on his behalf. You don't need to involve a solicitor , all you need to do is get your son to draft up a letter stating that he wishes to give you power of attorney over his account and pop your name down on the letter , with his loan account number and address and could save you a lot of headaches if he is not able to call the SL company. They will not be able to discuss his account without this due to the Data Protection Act and you will not be responsible for this debt - he will. You will not only be able to discuss his account , you will be able to request deferment application forms on his behalf and sort out any problems which may arise.

[enigma]

Oh and Dysmal , would you rather have it that only those who can afford an education should be offered one ? I firmly believe that the gift of knowledge is something which should be bestowed upon everyone - not just a choice elite. Furthermore , if you have been lucky enough to get by in life without having to rely on state benefits to subsidise your standard of living then well done you but spare a thought for the members of society who are less fortunate than yourself. That is precisely why we have the welfare state - to act as a safety net for those who need help to provide for their families. I have no objection in paying taxes to help support those who desperately need the cash but I do get annoyed by those who are capable of working but choose not to or work "on the side" - not because they have to feed hungry kids and have debt problems but on the contrary have a lavish lifestyle with benefits and a salary. ALways remember though , you never know what life can deal you and you may well find yourself in a position one day where YOU require financial assistance from the government. Will your pride get in the way when your belly is rumbling with hunger and if you have kids to support , they are crying out for food ? Apologies to you FakePlastic for taking up so much space on your post - just in rant mode tonight. Students get such a raw deal and some people are even ignorant to believe that they are all dope smoking , alcoholics who learn nothing and bleed society dry with a lavish lifestyle. Most students tend to live off pot noodles (Not having mummy dearest there to pander to them !) and stretch out what little money they have to try and fit in a little enjoyment and why not ? Life is for living for goodness sake and you are only young once. That's what memories are made of. I wish your son all the best of luck x

[FP]

Part 1 Thank you Yinzer, Enigma and Tom for your answers today. The Education Authority have confirmed that they received his application in June and he has received a letter from Student Finance Direct saying that his application is being processed. That was in mid July! My husband and I have both received letters confirmation receipt of our financial details. I phoned the education authority last week who confirmed there is a problem which is the fault of Students Finance Direct and the new Government system. They told me that students will all be getting interim loans of at least �1000 and he should have had a letter to this effect. After trying to phone Student Finance Direct for about four days, I eventually got hold of them at 10.45 on Sunday evening. They said they couldn't talk to me about my son's loan but did tell me it was the fault of the Education Authority! So it seems as if everybody is blaming everybody else. The call centre advisor at SLD did offer to phone my son and discuss it with him - but only after 10 mins of me trying to find out if the situation was general. She phoned him straight away and said she would ask the Education Authority to phone him this afternoon (Tuesday) Apparently they haven't done so. I will now phone the Education Authority again tomorrow morning

[FP]

Part 2 My son, fortunately!, is in his final year now and is almost 22. He really hates me getting involved in all this as he likes to deal with his own affairs, but it's not easy to be trying to sort this out on a mobile phone from Uni. Fortunately, he has gone back to University with some money from all the work he has done this summer. He had to use most of it for buying expensive electronic equipment to pursue his studies! No doubt it will all come out OK in the end. Yinzer, I will keep an ear open for Lake Trout! Enigma, thank you for spending so much time and effort in giving such detailed answers. It's very much appreciated. To all three of you, thanks for your support xx

[FP]

Moog, Sorry to miss you out. Thanks for your support. x

[enigma]

You are most welcome Fakeplastic. Fingers crossed he gets some money soon x

[FP]

Latest Update: I phoned the Education Authority first thing this morning. The switchboard informed me that the Student Finance department there are now only taking calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays because they can't cope with the volume and catch up with the backlog at the same time!!!! Customer Services have emailed my complaint to Student Finance but they doubt whether I will get an answer! Next step, local MP! Grrrrr xx

[tramp]

unlucky chum but hang in there. i suggest a diet of bread and water to see u through these testing times. ensure that u send next years loan documents away this year-just to be safe. God bless.

[tramp]

dizmal- u r a prick

[tramp]

stop lying enigma- u dont work 4 da loan company- still going 2 the christmas do? i'll call ya l8r mate-all the best!