Student finance grant overpayment HELP.

I'm no expert but...

You would not be allowed to claim benefits over the summer after leaving the course as the social security would say that you had your grant and were still a student - correct?

On that basis, then how can Student Finance claim that you weren't a student during that period? A Government organisation says that you were!

I would say it is quite a murky area and you might need to talk to someone from the Student Union to see if they have any experience in this area as you can't be the first student to be in this situation.

Reply 2

hypocriticaljap

montyr

Hi there,

I left my course at the end of last year and changed to another university and course for september. Now in february several months into my new course I have received a letter stating that I owe £630 for an overpaid grant because I left my course early.

Firstly I was confused as I left the course at the end not midway through, however they explained that it is because the grant is also to cover over the summer and I techniucally wasn't a student at this point. Is this true?

Secondly, having spent 2 hours going backwards and forwards between Student Finance and the Student loans company grant repayment department I got told several conflicting things. In the end I have now been told that the repayment is on hold while they investigate whether or not I am still studying as apparently they don't take the money if you are still in receipt of financial support, although having been told about 5 conflicting things I'm not sure I trust this...

Could anyone clarify what the situation is as I got no consistent response from either student finance or the SLC. I don't want to get my future grants blocked, which is what happens if nothing is done about the situation.

All advice much appreciated.

Had they told me about this over the summer before uni started then I would have planned for this amount of money to be paid back, but right now is not a good time financially as I need to pay a deposit on a flat for next year etc.

Thanks, Ryan.

Firstly I was confused as I left the course at the end not midway through, however they explained that it is because the grant is also to cover over the summer and I techniucally wasn't a student at this point. Is this true?
Yes it is. and it wasn't up to them to tell you it was for you to find out what the implications of your actions would be.

Reply 3

montyr

OP

18

I realise I was supposed to tell them, although I only realise this having googled people who have had the same problem. I honestly had no idea that having left my course when it finished in June that I would be expected to pay back a portion of the financial support I had received.

Anyone have any idea on the other things?

Cheers, Ryan.

Reply 4

I had this EXACT same problem. I ended up paying £120 towards this grant before I realised this wasn't fair at all. Since I'd gone back to university and wasn't earning, I couldn't afford to pay it, and their reason that 'it was for summer' doesn't count much when you go back to education.

I appealed and just kept on and on about it to them and they finally told me to get a 'notification of transfer' form from my new university. The university happily did this, even though I had changed courses completely and gone into the first year, Student Finance accepted this and dropped the charge, paying me back the £120 I already paid.

Don't fall into the same trap I did at first - you do not have to pay it back! Moan and moan and moan about it and get your new uni to send a transfer form and it should all work out...

Also - read this thread - http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=732037
That documents the whole ordeal of mine & someone else's same problem.

Reply 5

montyr

OP

18

mimimimi

I had this EXACT same problem. I ended up paying £120 towards this grant before I realised this wasn't fair at all. Since I'd gone back to university and wasn't earning, I couldn't afford to pay it, and their reason that 'it was for summer' doesn't count much when you go back to education.

I appealed and just kept on and on about it to them and they finally told me to get a 'notification of transfer' form from my new university. The university happily did this, even though I had changed courses completely and gone into the first year, Student Finance accepted this and dropped the charge, paying me back the £120 I already paid.

Don't fall into the same trap I did at first - you do not have to pay it back! Moan and moan and moan about it and get your new uni to send a transfer form and it should all work out...

Also - read this thread - http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=732037
That documents the whole ordeal of mine & someone else's same problem.

Just read through the entire thread, thats awesome...exactly the same situation and almost the same amount of money.

I changed from my LEA to student finance england, by the seems of things I should still be with my LEA? Since it is technically a transfer and I started with Hampshire LEA.

Did you need anything from your previous university or was it just a notification of transfer from your current university?

Thanks, Ryan.

Reply 6

montyr

Just read through the entire thread, thats awesome...exactly the same situation and almost the same amount of money.

I changed from my LEA to student finance england, by the seems of things I should still be with my LEA? Since it is technically a transfer and I started with Hampshire LEA.

Did you need anything from your previous university or was it just a notification of transfer from your current university?

Thanks, Ryan.

I only needed the notification of transfer from my current university, who were more than happy to help.

I'm pretty sure LEAs still exist, Student Finance England is just the new name for the whole system, isn't it?

To be honest, you should PM Taiko, the one replying on that other thread, he seems to know exactly what he's talking about.

I hope you can do the same as us! So nice to be free of that pointless debt :woo:

Reply 7

hypocriticaljap

Taiko left TSR some time ago.

Reply 8

hypocriticaljap

Taiko left TSR some time ago.

Oh right, I didn't know that. Then again, his profile says he was online 2 weeks ago, so maybe sending a PM just in case wouldn't hurt...

Otherwise, just follow the advice on the other thread and do what I did :smile:

Reply 9

cpj1987

15

Taiko has left. No need to PM him - he can't access the messages.

The grant is to cover the summer - you should attempt to contact SFE again and arrange a repayment plan, but also have a look at this thread from Taiko: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1133567

Reply 10

cameronjay

Complicated..but help would be greatly appreciated! :smile:

I completed my first 2 years of university, then proceeded to study abroad in the US, however due to medical and personal reasons I was required to withdraw at the start of the second semester. I then remained in the US for another month to receive treatment etc. I have now returned to the UK and have withdrawn from what should be my final (4th year) at my previous university and been accepted to complete studies at another.

However, the SLC have informed me because I withdrew I have to repay the maintainence loan they gave me, but I used the majority of this for rent, living costs and a return flight. I have attempted to explain this to a number of call center staff but am now just waiting to figure out what to do. I can't repay it as I don't have such a large sum :frown:

Does anyone think its possible for them to add this repayment to my total amount that I will have to pay upon graduation? I hope so..

Thanks guys :confused:

Reply 11

MulderMan

11

cameronjay

Complicated..but help would be greatly appreciated! :smile:

I completed my first 2 years of university, then proceeded to study abroad in the US, however due to medical and personal reasons I was required to withdraw at the start of the second semester. I then remained in the US for another month to receive treatment etc. I have now returned to the UK and have withdrawn from what should be my final (4th year) at my previous university and been accepted to complete studies at another.

However, the SLC have informed me because I withdrew I have to repay the maintainence loan they gave me, but I used the majority of this for rent, living costs and a return flight. I have attempted to explain this to a number of call center staff but am now just waiting to figure out what to do. I can't repay it as I don't have such a large sum :frown:

Does anyone think its possible for them to add this repayment to my total amount that I will have to pay upon graduation? I hope so..

Thanks guys :confused:

No, you spent money that you weren't entitled to.

Tough luck. You don't repay the loan, you don't get another one.

Reply 12

cameronjay

Does anyone think its possible for them to add this repayment to my total amount that I will have to pay upon graduation? I hope so..

They won't do this... I asked them to do that and they said they couldn't. There's no deadline to pay it, and you'll be in the US, right? So just ignore it for now :p:

Reply 13

hypocriticaljap