Money / Consumer
We can advise students of their consumer rights. We can also help students write to companies and help students once all their attempts have proven fruitless.
We are able to provide basic advice about paying and reclaiming tax.
Students do not pay council tax unless a member of the household is a non-student. We can advise students of where they stand and how to get a council tax exemption certificate.
We can give practical advice about setting up accounts, paying bills etc.
All properties must have a TV licence, including all University residences. We can advise on this.
Debt and Hardship
We can give practical help and advice about getting an overdraft and maintaining it.
We issue a £50 hardship loan to students. We have to have 24 hours notice, a postdated cheque and cheque guarantee card and students can only have 3 per academic year (1 per student, per term).
We can refer students to other services which can offer a hardship fund if the Advice Centre is unable to help.
The Access to Learning fund (ALF) is administered by Student Support. Students can download forms from the website or collect from the Student Support Office. It’s a pot of money given by the government to help the most needy students. Priority is given to student parents, those with dependents and final years.
We can advise students on what being in debt to the University means.
Benefits
We have HC1 and HC5 forms available on reception which students can pick up at any time.
Please see our factsheets for further info. If you have any questions regarding Benefits or you are unsure of your rights we suggest you visit the University Student Support Office webpages for further advice: