Community Discussions
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No credit check apartments? Or other aid
Main Post:
My partner and I are currently homeless in portland. We are both employed full time and I have an emotional support animal (husky) so we can't stay in a shelter. We also don't want to be split up. We have some savings for deposits and first months rent on an apartment but keep getting our applications denied due to charge offs on our credit report. We don't have the means to pay them in full as required to be accepted. What can we do? Does anyone know apartments that don't check credit or will allow for a higher deposit without just forcing us to pay these credit card charge offs to qualify? We are very discouraged...the only solution we have found is extended stay motels but the distance to our jobs and costs are much higher than renting a place would be. Any insight would be appreciated
Top Comment: Call 311. There are shelters that accept pets and 311 can get you connected to services to help you get stable housing. Check Craigslist for your price range and you may be able to rent without being on a lease. Many people are looking for extra income to get by and may be willing to rent to someone without good credit.
WGU Financial Aid
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Has anyone else had any issues with the WGU Financial Aid this semester? I've been waiting for 14 weeks now and when I call, all the information I get is that they're "overworked." Then they tell me to call back the following week and do. Still get the same answer every time, today included. I'm just wanting to see if everyone else is having this issue or if it's just me.
Top Comment:
Knock on wood. My 3rd term started yesterday and I got a message today that my WGU account is funded. I checked the timing for that for my last term and it was ~5 days later that I received my refund. I know the first semester takes a bit, but NOTHING like 14 weeks. Is there a way to get to a supervisor or anything? It seems like something is on hold for you (a glitch or something maybe) and no one cares enough to dig too far to figure it out. But that's over half a term you've been waiting, that's way too long. Are you enrolled for the semester the aid is due for? Did the school get their money from the aid?
My (18) college financial aid refund check (About $10,000) was deposited into my parents’ checking account. Am I entitled to that money?
Main Post:
I'm 18 in an abusive household. I get told constantly how if they kick me out I will have nothing. I have no family and nowhere to stay. I’m making plans to move out by the end of the month.
TL;DR: My college financial aid refund check worth $10k went to my parents’ bank account. Am I entitled to this money? What can I do to get this money?
I do have a couple concerns:
- My important documents like birth certificate, SSC, and other things. I don't know what all my "important documents'' are. I don't expect my parents to give these things to me. I do have my diploma, though. I have a scan of my insurance card, SSN, and diploma saved. However, my parents would completely cut me off if I left and I doubt I’ll be on their insurance. What exactly should I have on hand?
- I have no bank account. I submitted an application to Ally Banking. I now have an Ally Checking Account
The wording from my institution says the money is “deposited directly into your checking or savings account.” The payment advice says my full legal name. On my student account, the Account Holder info is my parents name.
Am I entitled to this money? Can I dispute this? If so, how? Is it proof enough that the person receiving the money is NOT me when the supplier is listed as me? It does say I hereby authorize in accordance with the rules and regulations of the National Automated Clearinghouse Association ("NACHA") my institution to credit any reimbursements due to me via automated clearinghouse electronic fund transfer ("ACH") to the bank(s) referenced above.”
I also have my scholarship money included in that amount. The scholarship money was sent directly to my institution and was included in the refund. My parents paid no money. The financial aid, scholarship money, and a very small loan was included.
4. What can I present to my parents that they are legally obligated to give me my money if I do have a case for it? What else am I legally entitled to? They’d probably take me off their insurance and most other things as well. However, my university has a health insurance plan I can pay for (if I can get the money sent to them).
Additionally:
5. My W-2 form came in the mail. My mother took it, filled it out, and made an account on a FrXXXTXXUSA account. She did this without telling me and told me to submit in April. She won’t tell me why. (They deliberately kept me ignorant to most things. I ask and get told I don’t need to know certain things. I’m not allowed to ask follow-up questions or else they'll throw me around for talking back.)
6. What am I missing? As they’ve kept me ignorant to basic functions, I don’t know what I don’t know. Google and many other resources are available and I’m no stranger to doing my research. I just need to be educated on what I need to look into and do.
Top Comment:
Wow. First take a deep breath and take one issue at a time. Assuming you have a smartphone open up the task/to do app and make a list of action items. First, you need your own phone number, email address (that your parents don't have access to), and mailing address ( if you haven't moved yet, get a PO Box). Second, contact your employer, the university and any other company you have business with, such as student loan,etc and update all the info to your contact info only. If you have any trustworthy relatives, change your next of kin contact info from your parents to them (with their approval). Talk to the registrar office about getting the financial institution changed in your loan and scholarship paperwork.
Then move on to the other issues. 1. You can get a certified copy of your birth certificate and ssn card. However you don't want to leave your social security card with your parents if they are not trustworthy. Don't confront them until the last step. You may need the actual card for the registrar, I can't imagine they would settle for a copy of a copy. The next time you need it, just keep it. Do you have a driver's license? If not, get a state id card, you will need your birth certificate for that.
4. Your parents cannot legally spend your scholarship money or your student loan money on nothing but your educational expenses, so talk to the the financial aid office first.
5. Do not send anything in to the IRS that you have not checked out. When you say they filled out your w-2, do you mean that they filled out your taxes? They can probably claim you as a dependent but if you are 18, then your taxes are separate from parents, I think--taxes are not my strong suit. I know that you want everything filed in your name to the IRS to be completely legal. If you have a w-2, then you must have a job. First check with employer to ensure they have your info not your parent's.
What did she give you to send in? It just occurred to me that she told you to submit it in April. Do you have the log in info? If so, great. if she filed online, then make it a priority to change the banking info on your tax form. Go to the TaX website and check on that account. The problem is that your mom might have used her email address to set it up. See if there is an option to reset the user name/password without going though your mother unless she gave you the login info so you could submit it. Even if your mother filed your taxes, you can double-check it and file an updated one. Make sure any refund you get goes to your bank account! This might be why she filled out your taxes.
6. You need help and guidance as well as emotional support. Look up the hotline number for the domestic violence hotline in your area. Or perhaps go to your college's social services dept and ask who can advise or help you. Consider moving into a dorm at the college--it will provide structure, furniture and an annoying roommate.
Recap; take another deep breath and separate what is longer term (getting emotional and legal support) from immediate. Immediate is setting yourself as an independent person (phone, mailing address, private email.) BTW, if you have a gmail account, you can get a google voice phone number to use as a voicemail account. I mention this in case your cell phone is on your parent's account. Everything you use must be in your name and paid by you. If you can't afford an expensive cell phone service, then check out tracphone or pageplus or other prepaid phone accounts.
Getting your money separated from your parents is next--change the address to your mailing address on all accounts. Check with your university to ensure you have all the paperwork done and the contact info is updated. Then start on your numbered list of issues.
One thing at a time. You can do this.
Financial aid
Main Post:
Ball state is my dream school. While I have done lots of research on the price I’m still unsure of just how much it’ll cost me per year. I was just admitted and haven’t accepted due to the fear of not being able to pay. I’m not the smartest so merit scholarships won’t help. Can any students or alumni give me an estimated amount?
Top Comment:
You can accept, they won’t charge you until you actually sign up for classes. They publish the amounts on the website. Let me find it.
https://www.bsu.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees
Here is the student ad calculator