SRC Jobs Available – Paid and Voluntary

The SRC are looking to recruit enthusiastic and committed individuals in a variety of roles. Opportunities include both paid and unpaid posts, among which one Advice, Training and Policy Officer vacancy.

If you wish to read more about these opportunities click here. You will find details of all positions, info on the recruitment process and deadlines for appplication.

SRC Strategic Plan 2008-11

The SRC’s Strategic Plan 2008-11 is now available online. To download a pdf version of this document, please click here.

The Strategic Plan sets out the future direction of the SRC, yet it is intended as a flexible document which will adapt to the priorities of various student officers and to the issues faced by the organisation at each particular moment. It is the result of tireless work of all student officers and SRC staff.

Bank Charges – No Need to Pay for Refunds

The SRC has recently learned that students have received unsolicited calls from ‘no win, no fee’ companies offering bank charge refund services. The SRC solicitors, Govan Law Centre, advise students not to use no win no fee services. Why give your money away?

Claims can be pursued without paying anyone for help. You can get free representation from the SRC’s Advice Centre. Free are also the services offeder by the Financial Ombudman Service. You can download a complaint form for the Financial Ombudsman Service. If you decide to use the FOS you should exhaust your bank’s internal complaints process before complaining to the FOS.

SLAP Awards 2008 Announced

Cairn Properties recently received a SLAP by an independent panel of West End residents and students. Well, not quite literally – SLAPs are the SRC Letting Agents Prizes, which are given away every year on the basis of the complaints received by the SRC Advice Centre.

Cairn Properties were chosen because of their failure to take responsibility over repairs and their negative attitude to students who seek help from advice agencies. Nominations also included:

• Countrywide Letting
• Guardian Property
• Kohli Properties
• Scottaslands
• Thistle Property Services

SLAP Awards’ main aims are to provide students with the truth about landlords’ services and to to make sure the latter improve their practice in dealing with students’ accommodation.

STAY ALERT – Possible Accommodation Scam

The SRC has heard that some students have been asked to deposit money into an account which can be accessed by the landlord, before they’ve even had a chance to view the flat or get proper contact details for the landlord. We urge students not to fall for this – please don’t part with any money until:

• You have visited the flat and you are happy with its condition and with the terms of the lease
• You have made a definite decision to move in
• You have full contact details for the landlord

If you have any doubts or queries, feel free to contact the SRC Advice Centre for more information and advice about your rights.