Starting uni in less than 3 weeks time - still no accommodation!

[GrumpyOldBag]

DS is off to Birmingham in a coupe of weeks - he's still waiting to hear about his accommodation as it was his insurance choice. He just called them and they said it will not be allocated until next Tuesday, and it's not guaranteed for insurance students.

He's pretty relaxed about it - but I'm not! Can anyone put my mind at rest please...

[GrumpyOldBag]

Ono, very smooth for us too. DS couldn't wait to get rid of us so he could start getting to know his new flatmates! His accommodation is in a lovely area, but rather cramped and he has the tiniest shower I have ever seen. It was my first visit to the Birmingham campus and I thought it seemed lovely.

[ono40]

Grumpy, he never did get round to buying the Freshers' ticket online before sales closed. However we had to stop by the Guild before unloading the car and he joined a very long, cash-only queue to buy one. Drop off was very smooth and well organised. So that's it. How was it for you?

[GrumpyOldBag]

ono, DS has now found all but 1 of his flatmates on the Facebook chat and it turns out one of them has similar dietary restrictions to him which is a great relief to me! We also know someone in his final year but DS is being very non-committal about planning to meet up with him.

All the bits are bought now. I made DS make a list of everything he still needed to do last weekend and he hasn't done any of it yet, so running out of time ... and that's before we even think about packing.

[ono40]

Grumpy, I have now found that he hasn't actually signed up for anything yet as he is 'considering' the options (apparently). This means when the tickets sell out he will be on the phone to me moaning. He has been in touch with two of his flatmates but the other three have not yet made an appearance on Facebook or the App or whatever they are using. I have put him in touch with a colleague's son who is in the final year of the same course so they've arranged to meet for coffee.

[GrumpyOldBag]

ono40 DS has signed up for the £70 ticket !!!! He did the maths and decided it's the best value for money (well he is doing Maths ...). But he's not that into music and has a limited diet so I'm not sure how wise this is .... but I heard him tell his brother he was going to be out until 4 am every night. Which is most unlike my DS who usually likes an early night ....

[LineysRunner]

carmen, that's the crazy limbo we've been in for so long. We just ended up paying whatever they said - and even that has been contradictory. Felt (and feel) boxed into a corner by it.

Legally I think we are 'in contract' with the halls - but the whole thing has been massively problematic.

[ono40]

Grumpy, DS is shockingly bad too, they should meet! However I am a nosy old bag naturally curious and have Googled Birmingham Guild. Their website gives the full programme for Freshers. I needed to 'encourage' DS to come home for prize giving at school and the only way I could do that was by telling him (truthfully) that there was nothing on that night that he would miss.

Is your DS getting the £55 Fresher's ticket? Seems a lot of money for a couple of 'discos', lol!

He is currently travelling so I have had to open all his mail from the uni in case he missed anything urgent (which he would have done). I have also had free rein to Google the colour scheme in his halls and select a matching duvet and cushions. God, I sound like a stalker

[GrumpyOldBag]

ono40 - No! had no idea that was needed! DS is very bad about reading emails - skims & doesn't read them properly; & ignores others.

I will tell him. Thanks so much. Any other quirks we should be aware of? Am currently busy assembling kitchen equipment and giving some last minute cooking lessons ...

[ono40]

Which uni is that Carmen? It sounds very stressful. Can you look at private halls? These are very popular in some cities like Manchester.

Grumpy, he did that before he left, slot is 12.15 on Sunday...hence me saying DH is cutting it fine.

Have you packed his old school tie for freshers? Or a superhero costume??

[Iusedtobecarmen]

Oh well,my good news was short lived.
Although I had confirmation I've still not paid deposit yet to secure it.
Been waiting since Tues and the email said I've have to pay within 72 hours.
I rang today to see what was going on. I was on phone 57 min. Spoke to someone who said nothing was confirmed. Put me through to someone else who said the place was guaranteed and not to worry. Gave me another number!!!! Rang them and in a queue and only option was to leave a message. Which I've done,but it's now Fri night so no one will ring till monday, if I'm lucky

I'm furious. When all this is over i will complain. So much for unconditional offers being allocated first. I still have no idea when he will get move in date.
Don't know what to do about work, sorting younger dc Etc. No payment schedule either,which I really need as need to budget. Skint as it is and ds chosen one of the most expensive it seems. And his student finance not due till after start date.
It's total chaos.

[GrumpyOldBag]

mateysmum hope your DS is enjoying Birmingham?

[GrumpyOldBag]

ono40 you need to get your DS to log on and book his arrival slot. They are half hour windows and you are only given 10 minutes to park & unload!

[mateysmum]

ono40 Traffic at the Vale was fine last year as you are given an arrival time slot. There are loads of helpers who unload and carry for you and once theyhave their key it is pretty quick. We arrived at about 1pm and I was away before 3, having helped DS get unpacked.

[mateysmum]

Grumpy.. so glad you got sorted. We were in precisely the same position with Birmingham last year. They said we would hear by the Monday when DS would need to be there the following weekend and not to worry because there was always lots of accommodation in Selly Oak! How we were supposed to travel and sort that in the space of 4 days I don't know.

I was furious and basically got DS to keep calling the accommodation Office till he could talk to somebody with decision making capability and get an offer. It wasn't to any of his choices,but actually worked out fine.

[LineysRun]

now has a contract 4 weeks longer than he needs

Same here. Very very expensive at £176 A WEEK And definitely not what the university had on its website. But it's take it or leave it apparently.

[ono40]

Grumpy and Holly - my DS is in Chamberlain catered, top of the price range (gulp!). Oakley Court and Mason were both lovely too. My DS is off travelling, home for 2 days and then off on 17th. I think the traffic in and out of the Vale will be grim...and DH has booked to go to Paris that evening at 8pm for work. I think he is cutting it fine!

[pericat]

Ds has heard today that he has a place in his first choice accommodation. It's been a long 3 weeks waiting but very happy ds now.

[bigbluebus]

DS had an unconditonal, applied for his accommodation almost as soon as the applications were open in May, put down his 3 choices - and didn't get any of them! You do wonder what sort of a system some of these Universities run. We eventually managed to sort something but he now has a contract 4 weeks longer than he needs - so thats another £500 we need to find!

We are still waiting to find out the arrival arrangements - he goes on the 16th and there is no info on their website. DS says they advised they will send out emails with arrangements once he has completed his on line registration - which he said he had and completed 3 days ago. They seem to make it all very stressful for parents - who are undoubtedly the ones who have to make the travel arrangements in most cases. DS is totally laid back about it and doesn't seem to care - probably because he knows we will bend over backwards to fit in with whatever the arrangements happen to be.

[GrumpyOldBag]

It's frustrating isn't it Peri? We now have only 10 days to sort out everything DS needs as I couldn't do anything until I knew for sure how things were going ...

[pericat]

Ds is still waiting to hear from Warwick. Apparently everyone should hear by Friday 15th Sept! .

This means we also don't know what our "drop off" time and date is either.

As someone who likes to plan everything (I can't help it!), I am finding the lack of info very difficult!.

[GrumpyOldBag]

Great news Carmen!

[Iusedtobecarmen]

My ds is sorted!I rang them again and they apparently sent an offer a couple of months ago. Didn't receive it and the woman said they must have been an error

Just waiting for them to ring and take the deposit now. Phew!!

[2014newme]

I had no accommodation on my first day!

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Just checked for update, glad DS has got somewhere OP.

[angieloumc]

Great news for both your kids, hope they settle in well.