Oxford 2014 Freshers Chat Thread

Why can't you?

rejected because of poor credit score- kept overdrawing while at school.

Not sure, you can ask. That said, is it really that much of an extra hassle to get the laptop a couple of weeks into the course as opposed to right at the beginning? The university payments for the Opportunity Bursary are scheduled for 2nd week of term (I think the payments run off the same timeline as staff payroll - in which case it'll all get paid Thursday 30th October)

Usually the first payment of term is late, because you have to be confirmed attending before SF releases the money (and the way this is confirmed is not watertight from my experience )

I'd expect it more around the 15th of October (mine says 10th as well). Although bear in mind that Student Finance and university bursaries/scholarships are paid through different systems.

rejected because of poor credit score- kept overdrawing while at school.

I've got really bad credit because of high credit card debt and managed to get one. I did get rejected from Santander and Co-op first though. Do you not have a youth account with any banks? In the end I just stayed with Lloyds as most banks don't credit check you if you upgrade an existing account

HSBC do

Guys is there an Oxford Finance representative on tsr?

There's plenty of other banks though!

I tried HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, Santander and Co-Op in the end!

please name me as many that are unlikely to reject me because rejection decreases the credit score even more. I will go to them all and if one work then you are my saviour and I will forever be your humble servant during my time at Oxford.

Edit: Just read what I wrote- what a sad and pathetic young man I am

You don't even need to rely on the college to sort this out. The central Oxford finance department regularly lends people money (usually around £500) to tide them over until their SF comes in. All you have to do is sign a small form agreeing to repay it when your SF is paid into your account, and they pidge a cheque.

Sorry but this isn't how it works. Oxford Student Finance would refer a Fresher (or other undergraduate) in need to their college in the first instance. The college would provide credit on battels or make a small advance. They would also help chase up the late payment from Student Loan Company or similar.

Yes, you're right. That is how it's supposed to work. You saying it just reminded me that my college issued the cheque, but when I repaid it I bank transfered it into a main university account, not one belonging to my college.

Looking back at the original emails now Student Financial Support (at Oxford) offered to send me the money from the Access to Learning Fund, but they weren't able to pay it out for a good few weeks - so they contacted my college who issued the cheque and the main university department then sent the money from the ALF to my college (which is why I then owed the money to Student Financial Support and not my college).

I just spoke to the finance department and they said I could either get an advance on my scholarship or a hardship loan - but that it would be done departmentally and I should contact the head of admin at the classics faculty...

Lloyds, Natwest and RBS should be easier to get because they have a tiered overdraft. Instead of the others where you just get £1500 odd straight away!

Or Barclays because their overdraft is as low as £200 and they accepted me for my credit card with bad history

Every single one. REJECTED

Thought this was funny... http://norwich.tab.co.uk/2014/09/17/the-church-of-thomas-rees-meets-on-sundays-and-wednesdays/

(haven't actually watched the video though)

That is the cringiest thing I've seen in my life, and I saw Cameron flirting with Lucinda

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rejected because of poor credit score- kept overdrawing while at school.

It might be difficult to get an overdraft but you should be able to get an account (apologies if you already have an account and just want one with an overdraft, haven't gone back through the thread to check). Try looking at moneysavingexpert.com for 'basic bank accounts' (these don't have overdrafts). They also have advice on how to improve your credit score.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts