[never forever]

Here is the situation:

I applied for student loan last year 11/12 and was given a full support. However I had to take a Year out in 11/12. I asked my university administrator whether education fees will be higher (£9000) for me when I'm back in year 12/13. She contacted SFE and CONFIRMED that it will stay the same £3,375 - I will be entitled as the returning student so I will not be affected by the higher fees.


and guess what. I contact SFE and confirm that I am returning to my studies, ask them if they could "unfreeze" my application. And SFE just tells me to fill THE NEW FORM with the higher fees (£9000). They just said that SFE is sorry for incorrect information I received last year....

I do not care if they are damn sorry - it's me who will have to pay £27 000 instead of £11 000 !!!!

they say they can't help me but I don't want to give up - I was misinformed and robbed.

anyone has the idea to whom should I complain in this situation?

[catestevenson]

Student finance don't decide your tuition fees, that's decided by your university.

[never forever]

How comes?
why should I fill the new form then with higher fees then?

[never forever]

How comes?
why should I fill the new form then with higher fees?

[catestevenson]

Because it's your university that takes the money. It's the same reason tuition fees vary depending on which university you're going to.

You don't really have a choice. The repayments are smaller anyway because it's only what you earn over £21k (rather than £16k) so in a practical sense it's easier. Universities have also had to bring in more bursary and financial aid packages so it's not all a bad thing. In terms of maintenance loan/grant/bursary I'm better off having deferred than had I started last year.

[canŵio]

why did you have to take a year out?

i think they're allowed to ask you to pay the higher fees because you're now in this year's group. talk to your uni and ask them, because sf sometimes make mistakes.

otherwise you're just going to have to join the rest of us paying £9,000 a year...

[catestevenson]

(Original post by canŵio)
why did you have to take a year out?

i think they're allowed to ask you to pay the higher fees because you're now in this year's group. talk to your uni and ask them, because sf sometimes make mistakes.

otherwise you're just going to have to join the rest of us paying £9,000 a year...

It's the uni that sets the fees though, student finance only pay them on your behalf.

[mja]

(Original post by never forever)
Here is the situation:

I applied for student loan last year 11/12 and was given a full support. However I had to take a Year out in 11/12. I asked my university administrator whether education fees will be higher (£9000) for me when I'm back in year 12/13. She contacted SFE and CONFIRMED that it will stay the same £3,375 - I will be entitled as the returning student so I will not be affected by the higher fees.

If you have written confirmation from your institution that your fees for this year will be at the old, lower rate then write to the institution explaining that, as previously agreed with them, you will be paying the lower rate. Enclose the written confirmation of that agreement, and ask them to inform SFE accordingly.