Student Finance - am I worrying unnecessarily?

[Acacia123]

So DD accepted an alternative university through clearing and immediately updated her SFE account online with details of the new course and university.

Her SFE account still shows the original university - we've phoned several times and have checked online regularly - they just say dont worry, backlog, covid, dont worry, yadadada....but I am worrying.

Payment is due 28th and we are relying in it.

In addition, it's showing 'awaiting confirmation' despite the fact that she has enrolled (online) for the course.

Do we just sit and wait patiently (they have had nearly a month to implement the change) or....?

I'd get your DD to call them to check where they are up to.

Oh, she has...and I have as well...always the same message, we've got a backlog and we are allowed to take this long...but I see other student have actually been receiving their maintenance grants already so how can we still be pending.

I suppose, to be honest, I am highly irritated by being on hold for 45 mins (plus queued for 35 minutes online to even access the account). I just want them to get on and do their jobs.

Like everywhere else, Covid and working from home will be the issue. I don’t think lots of industries and financial institutions are working normally yet. Can a relative loan money if the loan payment is late? This isn’t unusual! Happens every year to some.

Also so many changes and more going to uni this year will slow things up.

Even without COVID, there is always a backlog at SFE at this time of year. The delay could also be a delay in the university confirming enrolment, if they have a backlog.

It's worth talking to the university. DS's university allows students to delay paying for accommodation if there is a delay with the maintenance loan being paid. They also offer hardship loans for living expenses, if needed.

Something very similar happened to my dd. She did Y1 of a course last year, hated it and got a place to study elsewhere this year. She contacted Student Finance who told her to change her details online.

A few weeks later she received some correspondence that assumed that she was going to her previous uni. When she contacted them, she was told that she had been given the wrong advice and should have completed a paper form. Your daughter's position is a bit different, so this may not apply to her.

We have found that the best way of contacting them and getting a response is to tweet them or to call at 8.00am when they open.

My dd has emailed her new uni and explained that they may be a delay in her fees coming through.