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"Argh, Student Finance thing"

Jesus frecking christ.

Some time last year, my college told me to sign up with the Student Finance site to get information from them on when to apply for finance. So off I went and applied.

I signed up fine, got my ARTID thing and waited until today.

Seeing as things in my room come and go, the slip of paper detailing my 'ART ID' had dissapeared. Time for the phone, I thought.

After being in the 'queue' listening to some blippy bloppy R n B music, I came to this conversation: -

"Hi can I have your ArtID?"
- "Er, thats the problem, I can't remember it. I signed up with you like a year ago"
"So you've already applied for finance?"
- "Nope, my college told me to sign up with you to get information"
"We don't offer that service"
- "Er well, I haven't applied for no finance yet, I just signed up and forgot my username"
"So you haven't applied for any finance?"
- "No :@"
"We don't allow people to sign up without applying though"
- "Well it signed me up all right"

Eventually she gave me my ARTID and we completed the conversation. Great.

But now my password doesn't work. I try three different passwords and eventually I get 'locked' out of my account.

Back on the phone I go (disgruntled), waiting in the queue.

The woman basically told me my password is in the post and I won't be able to call them until I receive that password.

In the post? Have they not heard of a little thing called e-mail?. They're wasting trees just sending me a slip of paper with a password on it .

I wish I'd applied by paper now.

EDIT: Yes I realise paper based applications also consume trees.

Moral of story: Don't sign up for things that give you numerical usernames.

ERASMUS is from Shooting Stars.

Tomm wrote:
> Ok "Have you been accepted onto the ERASMUS echange sheme?"

I'm thinking thats some European exchange rollocks. Ignore it.

I got my dad to do mine, a hassle free solution.

gerrid wrote:
> well if you don't have that then tick "no"
> anything which is like "as a refugee do you steal towels"
> write N/A

Ok "Have you been accepted onto the ERASMUS echange sheme?" Since I dont even know what that is, i'll put N/A since no would infer I applied and got rejected? Ah its too confusing...

well if you don't have that then tick "no"
anything which is like "as a refugee do you steal towels" write N/A

Am i meant to tick 'No' for all the "Do you have settled status/refugee status/exceptional leave?" questions... or leave them blank. I dont think any apply to me...

gerrid wrote:
> • Between £22,010 and £32,744 will receive some help with
> tuition fees, and

Thats our family, just about :P

and as for loans:

The maximum amount of loan that you could get for maintenance (living costs) in 2005/06 is;
• £4,195 for students living away from home
• £5,175 for students in London and living away from home
• £3,320 for students living at home

75% of the maximum loan is available to all eligible students regardless of any other income they have. Whether you can get any or all of the remaining 25% depends on your income and that of your family. This will be assessed by your LEA

• Up to £22,010 will have all of their fees paid for them by the Government,
• Between £22,010 and £32,744 will receive some help with tuition fees, and
• Over £32,745 will be asked to pay the maximum fee contribution of £1,175 a
year.

from the dfes website

If you earn above £25,000 you'll have to pay the full amount, I think. Maybe it's £30,000. Either way, fnid out if your parent's colelctive income is above that, and if it is, you'll have to pay all £1250 per year.

Well I've applied this year but am deferring so the whole thing is totally confusing.

I guess I should phone someone soon. :P