Post I got today.
Dental Invoice
Not for the operation, but for the initial consultation. *sigh* Private healthcare is expensive.
Quality compared to NHS, but expensive.
NHM Travel allowance
Money for the year. Hooray
Cheque from Oystercard
For £21.
For those of you playing along at home, this is the difference between what I paid in paper tickets while waiting for my card, and what the refunds department decided I was entitled to.
Now I'm just waiting for that actual refund.
Student Oystercard
Oh yes, I didn't tell you about this, did I?
I applied online for a student oystercard, to enjoy a discount of 33% or such about. They then contacted UCL to check I was a real student. Trouble is, they then returned an email telling me that "University Administration Office has checked your details and has been unable to confirm your eligibility for the scheme".
This is almost certainly related to
The Saga of IB's Studenthood.
UCL have decided they want to switch to online registration this year. In theory it's fine. You log into the spanking new admin system using your usual login and password, then register. It checks your fee status, sneds you a new session card, all very nice.
Unless you're a research student. Y'see, UCL's not so bright with regards to research students and their fees, which are all paid by a sponsor, usually a research council. (Mine's the Natural Environment Research Council). In recent years, they'd invoice the RC, and we'd never know a thing was going on.
This year, universally across the board they appear to have neglected to do this, and every research student who has tried to register has encountered a bill for £3,000 tuition fees, which has to be paid by credit card immediately or they won't let us register.
So we go to click "sponsorship details incorrect," and we're asked to provide a signed letter on printed letterhead paper giving evidence that I have a sponsor. As the fees department are neither replying to emails noe picking up the phone, so far I have:
a) emailed my contact at NERC to ask him what he knows
b) contacted the Students Union Rights and Advice centre and alerted them.
c) told Paul1.
At some point I suppose I'm going to have to actually stand to queue at the registrar's office.
Anyway, so I was pleased to get the Student photocard, even though I thought I wasn't being allowed to be a student this year. So I went online to register it.
Ahahahaha NO. Because it's the oystercard website, innit? And it won't let me register 'cause apparently my mother's maiden name is incorrect (bollocks to that).
So I phone the nasty line, and actually speak to someone willing to help. He has a look, sees that there's a problem with my card and puts me through to the student card people. And actually gives me a number before doing so in case I get cut off.
And the guy on the student card bit was friendly and helpful too! He listened while I explained the problem, talked with me while me both tried to figure it out, and tracked down a problem with the website, because the online registration's new.
So he told me to try again in a couple of days. So I will.
Letter
from our downstairs neighbour complaining about Tuesday night, when drakhen and I locked ourselves out. Drakh's since gone to them and explained, so hopefully we're not on the neighbour blacklist.
OK, Now I'm going to go back to the Parentals' for an opticians' appointment. bye!
Not for the operation, but for the initial consultation. *sigh* Private healthcare is expensive.
Quality compared to NHS, but expensive.
NHM Travel allowance
Money for the year. Hooray
Cheque from Oystercard
For £21.
For those of you playing along at home, this is the difference between what I paid in paper tickets while waiting for my card, and what the refunds department decided I was entitled to.
Now I'm just waiting for that actual refund.
Student Oystercard
Oh yes, I didn't tell you about this, did I?
I applied online for a student oystercard, to enjoy a discount of 33% or such about. They then contacted UCL to check I was a real student. Trouble is, they then returned an email telling me that "University Administration Office has checked your details and has been unable to confirm your eligibility for the scheme".
This is almost certainly related to
The Saga of IB's Studenthood.
UCL have decided they want to switch to online registration this year. In theory it's fine. You log into the spanking new admin system using your usual login and password, then register. It checks your fee status, sneds you a new session card, all very nice.
Unless you're a research student. Y'see, UCL's not so bright with regards to research students and their fees, which are all paid by a sponsor, usually a research council. (Mine's the Natural Environment Research Council). In recent years, they'd invoice the RC, and we'd never know a thing was going on.
This year, universally across the board they appear to have neglected to do this, and every research student who has tried to register has encountered a bill for £3,000 tuition fees, which has to be paid by credit card immediately or they won't let us register.
So we go to click "sponsorship details incorrect," and we're asked to provide a signed letter on printed letterhead paper giving evidence that I have a sponsor. As the fees department are neither replying to emails noe picking up the phone, so far I have:
a) emailed my contact at NERC to ask him what he knows
b) contacted the Students Union Rights and Advice centre and alerted them.
c) told Paul1.
At some point I suppose I'm going to have to actually stand to queue at the registrar's office.
Anyway, so I was pleased to get the Student photocard, even though I thought I wasn't being allowed to be a student this year. So I went online to register it.
Ahahahaha NO. Because it's the oystercard website, innit? And it won't let me register 'cause apparently my mother's maiden name is incorrect (bollocks to that).
So I phone the nasty line, and actually speak to someone willing to help. He has a look, sees that there's a problem with my card and puts me through to the student card people. And actually gives me a number before doing so in case I get cut off.
And the guy on the student card bit was friendly and helpful too! He listened while I explained the problem, talked with me while me both tried to figure it out, and tracked down a problem with the website, because the online registration's new.
So he told me to try again in a couple of days. So I will.
Letter
from our downstairs neighbour complaining about Tuesday night, when drakhen and I locked ourselves out. Drakh's since gone to them and explained, so hopefully we're not on the neighbour blacklist.
OK, Now I'm going to go back to the Parentals' for an opticians' appointment. bye!