No confirmation of grant, how much fees do I pay??

augusta24

So I'm definitely gonna get a grant but when I rang my county council they said they have a huge backlog and I won't be able to get a letter off them for another few weeks/months confirming my grant.

So I was confused what to do about fees and I saw some people on here say that you still only pay the €72.

So confused, I called postgrad admissions and they said it was ok to just pay the 72€ even though I've no confirmation from county council yet!

I'm just worried now that the woman on phone was wrong because I really thought I had to pay the fees myself and get a refund from the college? Obviously I'd much rather not have to do that so I was hoping someone could help me here?

Do you think the woman was right? Or will I run into trouble when I go to my orientTion day next week for my student card???

Thanks!

ninty9er

There's a form you can get at the Fees Office that you need to fill in. But you should be able to sort it at €72. You will lose access to computers, Library etc if there isn't a payment received from your Co. Council by some time in October.

augusta24

ninty9er wrote: »

There's a form you can get at the Fees Office that you need to fill in. But you should be able to sort it at €72. You will lose access to computers, Library etc if there isn't a payment received from your Co. Council by some time in October.

Thanks!
Is that not the form that I'm only supposed to fill out when I get notification of my grant or is that another one?

ninty9er

augusta24 wrote: »

Thanks!
Is that not the form that I'm only supposed to fill out when I get notification of my grant or is that another one?

All I can remember about filling it out is that it's green.

augusta24

ninty9er wrote: »

augusta24 wrote: »

Thanks!
Is that not the form that I'm only supposed to fill out when I get notification of my grant or is that another one?

All I can remember about filling it out is that it's green.

Ok thanks. Does anyone know what will happen me at orientation on Tuesday then? Is it enough to have the giro stating I paid the levy or will this be a problem then?

augusta24

ninty9er wrote: »

augusta24 wrote: »

Thanks!
Is that not the form that I'm only supposed to fill out when I get notification of my grant or is that another one?

All I can remember about filling it out is that it's green.

Ok thanks. Does anyone know what will happen me at orientation on Tuesday then? Is it enough to have the giro stating I paid the levy or will this be a problem then?

ninty9er

Best thing to do is ring 202714 tomorrow between 9:30 and 5 for clarification.

augusta24

Called fees office this morning and yes just have to pay the student levy. In fairness to UL that's decent of them, how do they know that I'll actually get the grant !

captainspeckle

absolutely sickened by this! I was told told to pay my fees regardless and if I did receive the grant that I would be refunded, could really have done with some of that cash to keep me alive for the next few months! Why do the county councils have to be so bloody unhelpful!

citizenerased1

captainspeckle wrote: »

absolutely sickened by this! I was told told to pay my fees regardless and if I did receive the grant that I would be refunded, could really have done with some of that cash to keep me alive for the next few months! Why do the county councils have to be so bloody unhelpful!

same happened me last year, nice to have a 2000 extra in a few months when you REALLY need it though..

AKA rag week

StevieNicksFan

I would advise you NOT to pay the full fees and wait for a refund, especially if you know for definite that you are getting the grant. I did this last year as I was in the same situation and it was such a hassle trying to get my money back - It was unreal. Just pay the €72.

I know the Fees and Grants office have to deal with a lot of students every day (the queues at SAA and Fees confirm this) but they were so unhelpful to me last year in sending an invoice back to the council in order for me to get a refund. I had to wait in that bloody queue at least four times (at least an hour each time) and they refused to do what was requested (in fact the lovely lady in my Co. Council had to ring numerous times on my behalf and explain what was needed in language a three year old could understand!) In their eyes, they have their fees and really couldn't care less whether you got a refund on not, as long as they have their money. It was only a case of sending an invoice back, but seemed to be too much extra work for them!

Pay the €72 now because its a lot less hassle. At least you KNOW you are getting the grant and your fees will be covered - it's not like you are hoping for the best and trying to get away with just paying the minimum. I'm after doing this myself on Monday for this year and my friend did it last year with no problems!

chattycatty

the grants system in this country is a disgrace...
its the middle class students that are not entitled to a penny while it is there parents paying the higher rate of tax ,
How can the government justify paying fees on top of giving more money throughout the year to students and others dont get a penny.A lot of students who get grants are in a lot cases their families are better of than students not entitled to a grant.There are many deserving cases but there is alot of fraud and corruption in how accountants can manipulate certain parents accounts..

A paye worker as far as I can see is the one footing the governments bank bailout...

augusta24

chattycatty wrote: »

the grants system in this country is a disgrace...
its the middle class students that are not entitled to a penny while it is there parents paying the higher rate of tax ,
How can the government justify paying fees on top of giving more money throughout the year to students and others dont get a penny.A lot of students who get grants are in a lot cases their families are better of than students not entitled to a grant.There are many deserving cases but there is alot of fraud and corruption in how accountants can manipulate certain parents accounts..

A paye worker as far as I can see is the one footing the governments bank bailout...

How is that even remotely relevant to this thread?

floutingmaxims

Glad you made this thread cause i'm in the same boat! Pretty confident im gonna get the grant but no confirmation of it yet..

chattycatty

yea its not related at all..its like this u know getting a grants so whats your worries,just trying to make a point that people that dont get a grant have to take out loans and have more to worry about,
Also you if you get confirmation your grants is coming through,all you have to do is show them the letter admissions...
you have up until u sit an exam before they really look for money or whether u are getting a grant or not....
Also go get a loan or a job until your grant comes through........

StevieNicksFan

chattycatty wrote: »

yea its not related at all..its like this u know getting a grants so whats your worries,just trying to make a point that people that dont get a grant have to take out loans and have more to worry about,
Also you if you get confirmation your grants is coming through,all you have to do is show them the letter admissions...
you have up until u sit an exam before they really look for money or whether u are getting a grant or not....
Also go get a loan or a job until your grant comes through........

Why are you being so narky? The OP was only asking a simple question and you go off on your own tangent. If you want to talk about the disgrace of the grants system, post it in another thread. I agree that some people who deserve a grant don't get one, but why take it out on the OP? They could be in desperate need of a grant for all you know.

To quote yourself "people that dont get a grant have to take out loans and have more to worry about" - Should the OP be held responsible for that!? Don't think so! Then you tell the OP to get a job?? Surely if jobs were so plentiful, those who cannot afford college should have nothing to worry about?..which is the whole basis for your rant! Welcome to the real world!

ninty9er

StevieNicksFan wrote: »

I would advise you NOT to pay the full fees and wait for a refund, especially if you know for definite that you are getting the grant. I did this last year as I was in the same situation and it was such a hassle trying to get my money back - It was unreal. Just pay the €72.

I know the Fees and Grants office have to deal with a lot of students every day (the queues at SAA and Fees confirm this) but they were so unhelpful to me last year in sending an invoice back to the council in order for me to get a refund. I had to wait in that bloody queue at least four times (at least an hour each time) and they refused to do what was requested (in fact the lovely lady in my Co. Council had to ring numerous times on my behalf and explain what was needed in language a three year old could understand!) In their eyes, they have their fees and really couldn't care less whether you got a refund on not, as long as they have their money. It was only a case of sending an invoice back, but seemed to be too much extra work for them!

Pay the €72 now because its a lot less hassle. At least you KNOW you are getting the grant and your fees will be covered - it's not like you are hoping for the best and trying to get away with just paying the minimum. I'm after doing this myself on Monday for this year and my friend did it last year with no problems!

I never needed to follow them up. I got a loan from the Credit Union, paid the (then) €972 and got a refund straight into my bank account about 3 weeks after my first grant payment without any follow up.

StevieNicksFan

ninty9er wrote: »

I never needed to follow them up. I got a loan from the Credit Union, paid the (then) €972 and got a refund straight into my bank account about 3 weeks after my first grant payment without any follow up.

You're really lucky! I seem to get the short end of the straw when grants/loans have to be sorted out!