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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Student finance 'shambles' anger | Student finance 'shambles' anger |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Students in England are increasingly worried they might not have their funding in place before term starts. | Students in England are increasingly worried they might not have their funding in place before term starts. |
| The Student Finance Company says it is still receiving 5,000 more applications each day - and that it is still processing forms from last month. | |
| Students are e-mailing the BBC News website, one saying it is a "shambles", another that she is "sick with worry". | Students are e-mailing the BBC News website, one saying it is a "shambles", another that she is "sick with worry". |
| One university, Oxford Brookes, says it is allowing students to defer rent payments until funding is resolved. | One university, Oxford Brookes, says it is allowing students to defer rent payments until funding is resolved. |
| The Million+ group of new universities says the finance problems are "very disappointing". | The Million+ group of new universities says the finance problems are "very disappointing". |
| "It is vey important that students are not deterred from going to university by these delays," says the group's chief executive, Pam Tatlow. | "It is vey important that students are not deterred from going to university by these delays," says the group's chief executive, Pam Tatlow. |
| 'Panicking' | 'Panicking' |
| Some university courses have begun already and many more are set to begin in the next couple of weeks. | Some university courses have begun already and many more are set to begin in the next couple of weeks. |
| The Student Finance Company, which handles applications, will not say how many remain unprocessed - although last week the numbers processed suggested more than 100,000 were still to be completed. | The Student Finance Company, which handles applications, will not say how many remain unprocessed - although last week the numbers processed suggested more than 100,000 were still to be completed. |
| On Friday, the company sought to handle more inquiries with a 50% increase in phone lines and extra staff. | On Friday, the company sought to handle more inquiries with a 50% increase in phone lines and extra staff. |
| Students and their families have been sending the BBC News website increasingly anxious e-mails over delays in arranging loans and grants and difficulties in getting a response from helplines. | Students and their families have been sending the BBC News website increasingly anxious e-mails over delays in arranging loans and grants and difficulties in getting a response from helplines. |
| These include mature students with children who are worried about childcare payments and parents who see their children's arrival at university as being clouded by fears over funding. | These include mature students with children who are worried about childcare payments and parents who see their children's arrival at university as being clouded by fears over funding. |
| There are also claims of lost documents and conflicting information from advisers. | There are also claims of lost documents and conflicting information from advisers. |
| "I am furious," writes Graham in Felixstowe who says his funding application remains unresolved while his accommodation has to be paid. "What an utter shambles." | "I am furious," writes Graham in Felixstowe who says his funding application remains unresolved while his accommodation has to be paid. "What an utter shambles." |
| "I am really worrying and panicking about what I will do about my finances. I have to pay the first instalment of my tuition fees on Monday and I am really panicking, and have been sick with worry," writes Laura, starting a teacher training course in Oxford. | "I am really worrying and panicking about what I will do about my finances. I have to pay the first instalment of my tuition fees on Monday and I am really panicking, and have been sick with worry," writes Laura, starting a teacher training course in Oxford. |
| Terri, a parent of a student from Exeter who has to pay for his accommodation, says: "As a family we are beside ourselves with worry... As parents we cannot believe the incompetence we have experienced in our dealings with this body. We have exhausted ourselves and our savings and feel beaten up." | Terri, a parent of a student from Exeter who has to pay for his accommodation, says: "As a family we are beside ourselves with worry... As parents we cannot believe the incompetence we have experienced in our dealings with this body. We have exhausted ourselves and our savings and feel beaten up." |
| A mother of a student from Plymouth writes: "I am very concerned because without the loan there are no living expenses and no way to pay the rent." | A mother of a student from Plymouth writes: "I am very concerned because without the loan there are no living expenses and no way to pay the rent." |
| Another Oxford student writes: "I started my PGCE a week ago now and I am still yet to receive any money from student finance. My application was sent in on time and was meant to be financially assessed but this process has nowhere near been completed." | Another Oxford student writes: "I started my PGCE a week ago now and I am still yet to receive any money from student finance. My application was sent in on time and was meant to be financially assessed but this process has nowhere near been completed." |
| Emergency funds | Emergency funds |
| Universities are seeking to reassure students caught up in processing backlogs. | Universities are seeking to reassure students caught up in processing backlogs. |
| Oxford Brookes is saying students can register for courses despite delays over funding - and they can defer payments for university accommodation. | Oxford Brookes is saying students can register for courses despite delays over funding - and they can defer payments for university accommodation. |
| A spokeswoman also says that emergency funds will be available for students. | A spokeswoman also says that emergency funds will be available for students. |
| The university has received calls from worried students and wants to send a message that help will be available. | The university has received calls from worried students and wants to send a message that help will be available. |
| Million+ has criticised the Student Loans Company for failing to respond to the volume of applications. | Million+ has criticised the Student Loans Company for failing to respond to the volume of applications. |
| "The additional demand from students starting in 2009 can hardly be a surprise and the SLC should have staffed up to meet the expectations of both students and universities," said chief executive, Pam Tatlow. | "The additional demand from students starting in 2009 can hardly be a surprise and the SLC should have staffed up to meet the expectations of both students and universities," said chief executive, Pam Tatlow. |
| Derek Ross, deputy chief executive of the Student Loans Company, has promised: "Everyone who applied on time should be paid on time." | Derek Ross, deputy chief executive of the Student Loans Company, has promised: "Everyone who applied on time should be paid on time." |
| A spokeswoman from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says that ministers are continuing to monitor problems. | A spokeswoman from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills says that ministers are continuing to monitor problems. |
| Have you had problems with your student loan or grant application? Send us your experiences. | Have you had problems with your student loan or grant application? Send us your experiences. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |