SLC Blocked Student Accounts Before Working Out How to Fix Them

SLC Blocked Student Accounts Before Working Out How to Fix Them The Student Loans Company froze thousands of maintenance accounts on 25 March 2026. Two weeks later, they still cannot process changes. That is what GBS CEO James Kennedy told students in a town hall on 9 April. The timeline 24 March. The DfE sent a letter to universities. It said weekend students should be classed as distance learners. It gave universities a few days to respond. 25 March. Before any response was possible, SLC changed student accounts. Maintenance payments were blocked. Students received no warning. 9 April. Kennedy confirmed that SLC is still not ready to accept changes from universities. Fifteen days passed between the freeze and the town hall. SLC still had no system in place. The 6-17 April window SLC gave universities a reporting window. Changes to student timetables should be submitted between 6 and 17 April. But there is a problem. SLC has not told universities how to submit those changes. They set a deadline without building the process. Kennedy was blunt about it.

"They've gone ahead and done this without actually knowing how they're going to do it."

GBS says it is ready. Every student who picked a new group is on a list. The data is prepared. Oxford Brookes is coordinating. They are waiting for SLC to tell them what format to use. That instruction has not arrived. What this means for students Students picked new groups. They confirmed by email. Some chose Friday-Saturday. Others chose Sunday-Monday. But nothing shows on their SLC accounts. Nothing has changed on their student finance records. When students call SLC, they hear the old status. One student described calling SLC and being told the system still shows weekend-only. Another said their timetable was blank after requesting a group change. Kennedy told students to assume their group change is happening. If you ticked the box in the email, you are on the list.

"If you tick that option, it's happening."

But "happening" at GBS level and "showing" at SLC level are two different things. SLC controls the payment system. Until they process the change, maintenance stays frozen. SLC briefed universities but gave no tools SLC held a briefing for partner universities on 8 April. One day before the town hall. Kennedy said the briefing confirmed SLC is not ready. They gave dates but not systems. They explained what they want but not how to do it. Students asked Kennedy for a specific date. He could not give one.

"They have said that we can start making changes from next week, but they haven't been clear on how long it will take them to actually process it."

What should you do? If you received the email and selected a new group, your university has you on the list. You do not need to do anything else for that step. If you did not receive an email, contact your SST or customer services now. If your timetable is blank or shows the wrong group, contact customer services. The registry team is processing changes. Do not rely on what SLC shows on your account right now. The data has not reached them yet. That is not your university's fault. SLC has not opened the door. Don't miss critical updates This situation is changing daily. Ministerial decisions, legal challenges, parliamentary questions. When something changes, you need to know immediately. Join the newsletter → New articles and updates go straight to your inbox. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.