Our DC are nearly all officially students now (going to university 2019/20) - seizing the moment, spending, socialising, societies and studying!

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[Edited by MNHQ to fix the link]

@hopelesschildren that’s a real bummer, I got caught out on a Sunday several months ago, I go into central London quite often at weekends with my job and it’s now getting so expensive, parking is also 50% more expensive if you have a pre 2016 diesel car in Westminister and Islington and the inner zone is due to expand in the next year or so. I shall be changing my car!

Oh my goodness! That is not a stress you or she needs!

@hopelesschildren - ugh, what a pain! Yes, the ULEZ is the same as the Congestion Charge zone, however it is 24/7.

@WheelDecide - had DD1's re-marks back - all three papers, not one mark changed. I'm not sure it would have had a bearing on her place (not Oxbridge); it was more a matter of pride.

I left DD1 to her own devices until yesterday evening, when I cracked and requested a Facetime chat. She's fine - has thrown herself into university life, and is really enjoying herself (but she's tired!). We are in Spain at the moment, which has been a welcome distraction, but it will be a much quieter house we go back to.

Oh heck, Gin!

DD1 has had a message to say SF funds will be with her in the next three days. She's paying the lot over to us, and we're drip-feeding it back to her, as she is worried about overspending.

@Ginfordinner we have been told different amount by student finance. But they won't speak to me if I call them. It's confidential information. You might have the same problem.

@Ginfordinner that is the last thing your dd or you need. On a positive note it sounds like something that SF should be able to correct quite quickly, and I would have thought Uni's have some experience of not all things SF quite working as they should. Hope it does get sorted quickly for you.

How are your DC finding our about when they are getting their student finance? Via email?

My DD went up to Manchester on 14th and her loan came through on the 17th.

She didnt communicate a lot in her first few days and I decided to leave her to it as I didnt want to be a needy Mum. But we had a chat on Friday and then a quick call again on Saturday. She had a little blip with a flatmate last week when drink had been consumed after an intense amount of partying but all was fine by Saturday. She's throwing herself into it.

I'm really excited - I happen to be going up there for work on Thursday so we will meet up for lunch. It will be so nice to see her - I have a few little treats for her.

Payment dates should be on the paperwork from SFE. I'm pretty sure that's where I got the info from.

@ginfordinner mine said he got a message and I assume he meant a text as there was nothing on his email. What a worry for you, though! As others have said they probably won't talk to you.

@nokidshere there seem to be changes to what was written and the reality. Once they have actually enrolled it is up to the uni to confirm this to SFE. My DS enrolled a day before he was scheduled to but will get paid 3 days after the promised date.

I will still have to try and ring them and find out what DD needs to do. This is so frustrating as I am not at home where all the paperwork is.

Fingers crossed for you.

Good luck Gin. I'm sure you will get it all sorted out. Has she got money in the meantime?

Yes. We are subbing her. We are paying for her accommodation. The maintenance loan is for her living expenses.

@Ginfordinner how exasperating - good luck.

@Benjispruce and other Durham starters, it's starting to get a bit real now - we keep thinking of stuff to take/jobs to do. I thought there'd be less stuff than for DD as hes catered and has less clothes but looks like I am wrong

How are you finding confirmation from Sfe? Are DCs giving you login details because we don’t have anything. We have a copy of the tuition fees letter but that’s probably a conditional as it was way before uni started

Dropped DD off at Cardiff at weekend - she didn’t grow up in The UK and is finding it a bit of a culture shock. Can’t understand the need to get drunk all the time - she’s not teetotal, but finds the desire to get drunk before even leaving to go out totally alien. Hoping it will calm down a bit after Freshers week. Taking it all in her stride though - she just feels a bit like an anthropologist observing a tribe. Hoping she might find a couple of French people so they can compare notes.

I wonder if it varies with each unis enrolment procedures? Ds enrolled online but had to go to something yesterday with ID so perhaps until that hit is processed he is not fully enrolled? Hence delay in releasing the student loan.

Unfortunately the behaviour your daughter has observed is quite normal among many students, and I'm afraid it goes on well beyond freshers.

I think it's a bit rubbish that the SFE maintenance payments aren't coming in until about a week after the DC start. Suppose parents aren't in a position to sub? However, I can't see how else they could do it because presumably they need verification that the student has started at the university before they can release the funds?

LillianGish know exactly what you mean. The getting drunk scene was also a culture shock for my older DC- but they soon adapted . Dropping off this Thursday at Imperial- they have a two day soft landing for ASD students, with a clear schedule of events to keep them busy, socialise and settle before the mad rush on Saturday. DS thinks this will give him an advantage when others arrive as he will already know staff on the bar . Am feeling a bit worried for him, as he's so excited and I dont want him to be disappointed, because you never quite know how its going to work out in the flat. One of my older DC had people in his flat he only met once in a whole year! he mostly hung out with people on his course.

The getting drunk scene amused me at first but now five days in and no sign of dd backing off I'm getting a bit fed up with being sent video snapshots of a club at 3am. I'm going up at the weekend to take stuff and I am going to Have A Word.

DD not a big drinker. Lots of booze in her halls but she seems to have found a few like minded girls. She stayed in last night with a hot choc and Netflix and said everyone was knocking her door to make sure she was okay! I think there are plenty of Teens that don't feel the need to drink excessively and hopefully, they will find each other.

Phew.. so many messages since I last posted! I hope you get your SFE sorted @Ginfordinner how stressful! .. have you tried logging onto the website? I’ve just logged on and can see both boys loans, and scheduled payment dates.. both say 30th Sept.
so Ds1 goes to lboro tomorrow.. I’m working today but he wants a trip to bluewater for some tech and clothes.. thankfully he’s worked over the dinner so has money to spend. Love him dearly but will be glad to be rid.. his stuff is everywhere! No idea how it’ll all fit in the car
Ds2 does leave for Durham till Sunday.. he’s barely lifted a finger other than to sew some fake fur into a tabard for his freshers prehistoric party! I don’t know about you guys but there seems to be lots of themes and fancy dress and that’s not our strong point!!!

Regarding student finance, DD1 told me they had recently messaged her about the payment date, and if it didn't arrive by the 27th to call them - I assumed it was an email. I have all the login details (to be honest, I did the application for her, firmly wearing my backpack ) but as others have said I wouldn't get anywhere were I needing to phone, because it's her finance and she's over 18.