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Reply 20

Yes that was the number I tried. I also tried the second number after you provided it previously for someone else but that number is just for Welsh students. I eventually got through to someone by going through every combination of options, eventually I spoke to someone by going through the options which resulted in 2*111 on my keypad - I think this was to set up a direct debit but I tried so many options I can't be sure. Luckily the woman I spoke to could still reset the mysterious question answer as well as answer my query which started the whole debacle. Please feedback to whoever makes the login system that there needs to be an option for

Reply 21

Original post
by RY89
Yes that was the number I tried. I also tried the second number after you provided it previously for someone else but that number is just for Welsh students. I eventually got through to someone by going through every combination of options, eventually I spoke to someone by going through the options which resulted in 2*111 on my keypad - I think this was to set up a direct debit but I tried so many options I can't be sure. Luckily the woman I spoke to could still reset the mysterious question answer as well as answer my query which started the whole debacle. Please feedback to whoever makes the login system that there needs to be an option for

0300 100 0607 is not for Welsh students, this is the SFE line. I am glad to hear you managed to resolve this.
Thanks, Isaac

Reply 22

What an absolute joke this is, clearly people don't have this magical answer, that is so secretive that they can't answer it to get into their own accounts, but when you ring, your told "nah, not during covid, laters", i've rang the 0300 100 0611, select to update "a change in my personal circumstances", and i'm directed to the website, anyone else think whoever set this up is the biggest fan ever of ring around the roses?

Reply 23

Original post
by RingRoses
What an absolute joke this is, clearly people don't have this magical answer, that is so secretive that they can't answer it to get into their own accounts, but when you ring, your told "nah, not during covid, laters", i've rang the 0300 100 0611, select to update "a change in my personal circumstances", and i'm directed to the website, anyone else think whoever set this up is the biggest fan ever of ring around the roses?

Hi there, sorry to hear you are having issues resetting your answer.

If you are unable to do this online https://logon.slc.co.uk/cas/login and you can't do this through 0300 100 0611. Then please call 0300 100 0607 and press option 1 then option 2 to get straight through to an advisor (this is the SFE line so they can't assist with repayment queries but they can reset your login details, it does say press option 1 to reset your details but press option 2 instead). If you try this on an evening or weekend then you should be able to get through without too much of a wait.

I've just called 0300 100 0607 myself right now at 10:20am on Saturday the 30th January. I pressed option 1 then option 2 and got through to an advisor in 1 minute 22 seconds which I think is very fast.

Thanks, Isaac

Reply 24

I've had this problem for a while so posting my solution just in case it helps anyone in the future. Same issue with not knowing the Secret answer (Ridiculous practice to not be asked the actual question - solves everything). But mine turned out to be a temporary one that SLC had emailed 5 years ago. I must've used it at the time and it never prompted to change it, where it does now. So worth checking old emails for temporary login details to see if they work.

Reply 25

Ok, I was having the same issue with the secret answer. Turns out it's one they give you so unless the email actually came through you'll have no way of knowing it. The current site has no way of resetting it without calling, which seems to not always work.Fear not though, you can reset it using their dirext.gov site that was from around 2012 and is thankfully still live but a bit hidden (I found the link in a Facebook post they made in 2012).If you go to https://secure.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=379,1732148

Reply 26

I cannot reset it online because it asks for my secret answer as soon as I follow that link! This is so ridiculously hard to do, why make this so difficult for everyone?

Reply 27

I did manage to get through the Auto-Reply system and entered all the appropriate checks; OK. Then the Auto-System reset my bloody password NOT MY SECRET ANSWER. There was no option for

Reply 28

Your IT is rubbish. No one can help with this problem. I have been on hold for a total of over 3/4 hour, still waiting. None of the above

Reply 29

Original post
by bigbrian
Your IT is rubbish. No one can help with this problem. I have been on hold for a total of over 3/4 hour, still waiting. None of the above

Hi, if you call 0300 100 0607 and press option 1 then option 2 - it will put you in the queue to speak to an advisor, if you call at 8am or 8pm then you should get through fast.

Thanks, Isaac

Reply 30

I’ve also had a nightmare with the secret answer shenanigans. It’s 11:15pm for me and I thought I’d chance giving them a call as if I don’t do it now I’ll just forget for another year. I called 0300 100 0607 and went for option 1, then 2 (as suggested) and obviously - lines are closed, open 8am - 8pm. I called back just to try option 1, then 1 again, which said it was to reset my password and secret answer. I followed the automated instructions to give them my customer number, national insurance number and date of birth (best to have them ready), and it said it had successfully reset my password - it didn’t mention my secret question, so I was a bit miffed. However, I checked my emails and a temporary password AND secret question were there. I clicked the link and popped them in, created new information for both and I was in. It was surprisingly easy to be honest, given what I’d read above - now it’s even easier to remind myself just how much money I owe.

Good luck to the next of you, I hope it’s as easy for you as it was for me.

Reply 31

Original post
by Double_J
I’ve also had a nightmare with the secret answer shenanigans. It’s 11:15pm for me and I thought I’d chance giving them a call as if I don’t do it now I’ll just forget for another year. I called 0300 100 0607 and went for option 1, then 2 (as suggested) and obviously - lines are closed, open 8am - 8pm. I called back just to try option 1, then 1 again, which said it was to reset my password and secret answer. I followed the automated instructions to give them my customer number, national insurance number and date of birth (best to have them ready), and it said it had successfully reset my password - it didn’t mention my secret question, so I was a bit miffed. However, I checked my emails and a temporary password AND secret question were there. I clicked the link and popped them in, created new information for both and I was in. It was surprisingly easy to be honest, given what I’d read above - now it’s even easier to remind myself just how much money I owe.

Good luck to the next of you, I hope it’s as easy for you as it was for me.

Glad to hear it was resolved.

Reply 32

Absolute legend! Thank you so much for posting this. The phone menu is IDIOTIC and it states option 1 is for

Reply 33

Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier if they just asked the question that relates to your secret answer?

Reply 34

Yep, same problem here. I tried to ring on a Friday evening, but they're closed. Fantastic service as ever.

Reply 35

Isaac, please feed back to your team that this is beyond a joke. Try to login, give username and password....WHATS THE SECRET ANSWER? Well I don't even know what the question is. WE'VE SENT YOU THE SECRET ANSWER. No, you never have, and I became a student when these would have been sent out by e-mail, and would never have deleted it. So what is the reason that we aren't prompted with what the question actually is? Are Student Finance intentionally making it difficult for ex-students to login to their accounts so that they don't realise their monthly interest is higher than the monthly payment and they're getting deeper into debt? There is such a simple solution.
Please advise the current easiest route to fix this for ex-students repaying their loans - this has clearly been going on for quite some time so imagine the process may have changed.

Reply 36

Original post
by sorchamcw1
A student finance account was automatically made when I started receiving EMA, so I went through the forgotten password route to try to log in. It keeps asking for my secret answer which they 'sent me' but I don't know what the secret answer is because I never made one. Can anyone help? Thanks.


Hi there, If you are unable to access your account you would need to contact Student Finance Northern Ireland on: 0300 100 0077

Thanks, Karen

Reply 37

What online account. He can't even log in.

Reply 38

Original post
by sorchamcw1
A student finance account was automatically made when I started receiving EMA, so I went through the forgotten password route to try to log in. It keeps asking for my secret answer which they 'sent me' but I don't know what the secret answer is because I never made one. Can anyone help? Thanks.


Hi there, You would need to contact Student Finance Northern Ireland on 0300 100 0077 Thanks, Karen

Reply 39

In the same situation. Recently left my place of work which must have triggered something in SLC. Got a letter saying that I needed to update my details immediately or face "penalties and "charges".

None of the links in this email to change your "secret answer" work, as you need to know what your "secret answer" is in order to be able to get in to CHANGE your "secret answer". It just goes round in circles and then locks you out of your account due to security breaches if you type in the wrong answer.

Maybe it would be a good idea to tell you what the secret QUESTION is in order for us to be able to remember a "secret answer"!! I've resorted to messaging SLC on Facebook, hopefully they will be able to help.
I had almost the same palaver when I changed my address a few years ago.
It's almost as if they don't actually want to help anyone.
(edited 3 years ago)

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