Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
So.... my student loan STILL isn't in!
All semester it's been one thing after another.. I call them, ask if everything is a-ok on my file, they say "yes it is, should be processed soon" and I go "whoopie! My loan will be in soon!" only to receive another letter in the mail or in my email telling me I have to send in some new form or a letter or a transcript or this or that.. so each time, I send in the new thing asap and follow up with a phone call once again asking if everything is a-ok on my file.. to again be told yes, all is good.. loan should be in soon.
WELL... finally (apparently) everything IS good now. There is NOTHING I still need to send in.. I made sure I called a number of times to confirm this with a number of different people.
So anyways... it's been over a month since I sent in the last batch of crap they asked for.... was told that once it was all in, should take about 4 - 6 weeks for processing.... so I called today to check on the status of it.....
I was told that no one has even LOOKED at my damn file yet!!!!
IT IS THE END OF FUCKING NOVEMBER FOR CHRISTS SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I asked the girl how long it should take and she tells me anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks yet......
I explain my situation to her. I tell her that I am literally OUT OF MONEY... as in.. I have no money..... I have rent due in less than a week, and bills that are 2 months overdue. I haven't gone grocery shopping in about 2 weeks and my fridge and cupboards are getting pretty bare. I don't even have enough left on my credit line to pay one more months rent.. and I don't have a credit card right now because I had to cancel it.
So.. I explain all this to her.. telling her that I genuinely CAN NOT wait 4 to 6 weeks for my loan. I need it immediately. I further explain to her that the only reason I am in this situation in the first place is because they are so bloody disorganized on their end of things that every time I asked if they needed anything else they gave an answer that turned out not to be true. That if they had done their jobs correctly in the first place I would have had my loan months ago.
So I ask her kindly to please put my file on some kind of priority status. She tells me they don't do that kind of thing, and there is nothing she can do to help me. She said that someone will get to my file in due time and my funding will be released once it is processed. I explain to her again how important it is that my money comes in asap and again she tells me there is nothing she can do. I tell her that I understand that as a bureaucrat she doesn't understand the concept of a situation that does not fit well with standard procedure, I get that.. but that all I am asking her to do is grab a post-it, write a note on it saying HIGH PRIORITY THIS GIRL IS LITERALLY OUT OF MONEY, stick it to my file, and place my file on the top of the pile. She again tells me that she can't do that.
WHAT THE FUCK?!
So... yeah... I get to borrow more money from my parents now, who really can't afford to be throwing thousands of dollars at me right now....
I am beyond livid.
All semester it's been one thing after another.. I call them, ask if everything is a-ok on my file, they say "yes it is, should be processed soon" and I go "whoopie! My loan will be in soon!" only to receive another letter in the mail or in my email telling me I have to send in some new form or a letter or a transcript or this or that.. so each time, I send in the new thing asap and follow up with a phone call once again asking if everything is a-ok on my file.. to again be told yes, all is good.. loan should be in soon.
WELL... finally (apparently) everything IS good now. There is NOTHING I still need to send in.. I made sure I called a number of times to confirm this with a number of different people.
So anyways... it's been over a month since I sent in the last batch of crap they asked for.... was told that once it was all in, should take about 4 - 6 weeks for processing.... so I called today to check on the status of it.....
I was told that no one has even LOOKED at my damn file yet!!!!
IT IS THE END OF FUCKING NOVEMBER FOR CHRISTS SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I asked the girl how long it should take and she tells me anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks yet......
I explain my situation to her. I tell her that I am literally OUT OF MONEY... as in.. I have no money..... I have rent due in less than a week, and bills that are 2 months overdue. I haven't gone grocery shopping in about 2 weeks and my fridge and cupboards are getting pretty bare. I don't even have enough left on my credit line to pay one more months rent.. and I don't have a credit card right now because I had to cancel it.
So.. I explain all this to her.. telling her that I genuinely CAN NOT wait 4 to 6 weeks for my loan. I need it immediately. I further explain to her that the only reason I am in this situation in the first place is because they are so bloody disorganized on their end of things that every time I asked if they needed anything else they gave an answer that turned out not to be true. That if they had done their jobs correctly in the first place I would have had my loan months ago.
So I ask her kindly to please put my file on some kind of priority status. She tells me they don't do that kind of thing, and there is nothing she can do to help me. She said that someone will get to my file in due time and my funding will be released once it is processed. I explain to her again how important it is that my money comes in asap and again she tells me there is nothing she can do. I tell her that I understand that as a bureaucrat she doesn't understand the concept of a situation that does not fit well with standard procedure, I get that.. but that all I am asking her to do is grab a post-it, write a note on it saying HIGH PRIORITY THIS GIRL IS LITERALLY OUT OF MONEY, stick it to my file, and place my file on the top of the pile. She again tells me that she can't do that.
WHAT THE FUCK?!
So... yeah... I get to borrow more money from my parents now, who really can't afford to be throwing thousands of dollars at me right now....
I am beyond livid.
It seems when it is not them in such dire straights, they don't care!
crazedmom - please refrain from such rudeness. It is unnecessary.
at least that way if you have to borrow from your parents, you will know it can be more of a short term loan.
Every time I have called them I have asked to speak with a superior. Apparently they "don't do that." Funny.. everything I ever ask these people to do re things they "don't do" .... it's ludicrous!
Little advice people - don't EVER rely on the Ontario government for anything! From what I've been told by a guy that works for the university I go to, the only people who ever seem to have problems with their student loans are people from Ontario... students from Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, etc.. no problems.. they fill out app, send it in, loan comes in, ta da!!
can you call a political representative in your district and ask if they can investigate why there seems to be an on going problem with the student loans process in ontario?
However, my Mom will be gathering up all my info and going down to her local MLAs office to see what can be done. My guess is a whole lotta nothing, but it's worth a shot. At least, if nothing else, it will be one more person being visibly pissed off and sending the message to one more MLA....
Regardless of how things continue to pan out, I will be making myself quite a nuisance until the loan comes in... haha
hope you've explained it to your parents, it's really out of your control, so i hpe that they are ok with helping you. they'll get paid back eventually. sigh. hang in there sweetie!
also, i'll report that person, crazed mom for you, you have enough goin on.
"We are from the Government, we are here to help you with your big Girl Panties"
I like it better this way
Smile Sboom!!! :)
Hug!
Suggestion .... if you aren't already try to deal with the same person every time you call (get their first and last name, extension number, email address, etc.). Why? Make yourself a PERSON to this individual and not just a NUMBER or FILE they have to deal with.
If you have to, go higher up the food chain to get your file looked at. Don't be afraid to ask the speak to supervisor, etc.
Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I know it sounds ludicrous..
because it is!
I'm genuinely NOT trying to throw myself a pity party here.. but I am at my witts end because this truly is one of those situations in which I have NO control. I always try my best to maintain whatever control I can over a situation so as to not let it get out of control and to the point where I feel as frustrated as I do at this point in time. I have literally done everything I can to make this process run smoothly, but OSAP is just not working with me at all. It doesn't matter how nice I am on the phone, or how kindly I make my requests.. they simply DON'T care. I'm at the point where, literally, there is not a damn thing I CAN do about it.. so all I have left to do is vent about it so that, at the very least, I can have some help dealing with the frustration. This is just too much to handle on my own.. I am in the middle of writing term papers as well as preparing for finals right now. I am stressed out enough without having to deal with the stress of literally being out of money.
Anyone who does not want to support me and be there for me when I need to vent my frustrations, I kindly request that you stay off this thread. I am not trying to bother you, and I would appreciate not being denigrated and talked down to as if I'm some 14 year old pissing and moaning about breaking a nail. I have a genuine problem that I am trying my hardest to deal with and I do not need to be treated in such a rude and un-called for manner. I appreciate your compliance with this simple request.