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Currently I'm living on campus at an university. I signed a contract for 'summer housing', which covers the period of summer quarters. A 'bridge housing' program exists to cover students who needs housing between summer and fall quarters, which is about two weeks.
When I contracted for summer, the email said:
"Students contracting for Summer Housing and who will hold an on-campus Housing contract for the upcoming 2011-12 academic year will have the option to remain on-campus after the end of their Summer Housing, September 3rd, and the beginning of their Fall move-in date, September 17. Fall Bridge Housing is available only for students contracted for Fall 2011 and living in Summer Housing on September 3. Students may be able to move from their Summer residence to their Fall residence during Labor Day weekend and will be assessed a room only charge (dining not included) from September 4 – September 16 based on the Summer room rate (single vs. double). Students will not contract for Fall Bridge at the time they are submitting their housing application. Students will sign their Fall Bridge contract addendum in early July, only after they have received an email from the Housing Office identifying them as eligible for Fall Bridge."
However, I did not remember that students will be contacted early July, but thought otherwise (near the end of August). That is my fault; however, while I satisfy both requirements of being on campus at end of August and am a student in the upcoming fall quarters, I was never contacted via email information regarding bridge housing. I inquired about this to the proper department and they told me that contracts deadline was August 1st.
In addition, when I signed for summer housing, the housing authority sent me some papers where I was suppose to mark what housing programs I was interested in (summer early, summer I, summer II, bridge housing, not sure if there were more). I am not sure weather this was the contract itself but I did check box where it said 'bridge' housing, so they knew I had interest in bridge housing.
Now I am unsure what to do, because the summer contract expires on the 3rd; I have my fault as well, not contacting Housing for information around July or early August. However, I assume that university is also at fault as well, and in my opinion, greater fault than mine, since I showed intention for bridge housing and they still did not contact me despite me meeting requirements.
Since I was never in such a situation (dealing with bureaucracy, contracts) I need advice on how to deal with this properly. Thanks TL.
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watch more anime
fixes everything+ Show Spoiler +though seriously id like to help but your situation sounds pretty delicate
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You've probably already done this, but can you just ask them if bridge housing is still available? Even if you didn't send in the paperwork on time, someitmes they'll still be willing to sell it to you.
Don't threaten a lawsuit, breach of contract, anything like that unless you absolutely have to.
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Probably nothing you can do beyond asking if they can give it to you anyway.
If that fails then you should just go get a friend to crash with for a couple weeks, or go on craigslist if all else fails.
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South Africa4316 Posts
I hate situations like this, where an administrative fuck up along with your own forgetfulness gets you into trouble. It happened to me twice in the last two years.
The first time, I signed up for my Masters and handed in the forms, but some of the final forms I had to sign got lost in the mail (from them to me). As I'm doing pure dissertation, I continued meeting with my supervisors for about 8 months before finding out I wasn't officially registered. Now my dissertation is basically done (maybe three months left), but I can't officially graduate for another 10 months as the minimum duration of a Master's degree is one year.
The second time, I spent months before registering for a Bacherlors in Commerce finding out when registration opened. What I didn't realise was that the university required both an application and a registration, and the registration period opened two months after the application closed. I ended up having to beg so many people to get me in, and only got in because my mother knew someone in administration at the University who could sneak in an application and approve it. That's what I'd suggest you do. Contact everybody you can, maybe you can find a sympathetic ear somewhere.
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If you make it clear to the Accomodation office that you will have no place to live then they will help you.
You could always just not move out, and tell them that you sent the forms w/e when they ask why you are still there. I don't think they are going to throw you out onto the street.
Threatening language or talking legal stuff will get you nowhere, you just have to appeal to them as people. Going to see them face to face is always better than talking on the phone or writing a letter as its hard to say no to someone face to face.
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Okay situation hasn't improved; a person I can rely on just got roommates and I don't want to disturb his situation.
So I have to appeal to the housing authority... I was thinking of saying that as an international student there isn't much I can do, although I do have a house in Georgia. But that would be moving with all my stuff twice in two weeks. Something along the line of 'There's nothing I can do (bar staying in a hotel for two weeks) and somehow adding "it's your fault as well" but not in a threatening manner...
Any suggestions?
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Calgary25987 Posts
Call them? I can't see this being an issue at all. Tell them you weren't contacted and you meet the requirements for bridge housing so you should have been. Call them every day until it's resolved. One more person staying won't shut their entire operation down.
Don't be afraid to call and call and call. You can make magic happen by calling someone every day until they do what you need them to do.
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Impose on your friend and buy his roommates a round of drinks. I've been staying in my cousin's place sleeping on his couch for a full month now. There was reconstruction and 2 more roommates moved in-- they didn't mind my presence.
If not, try looking up hostels. They should be cheaper if you share a room with multiple people. I would still try to appeal to the housing authority, though.
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Calgary25987 Posts
Your approach is way too aggressive. Don't open with "I have no other options!!" and don't open with "This is your fault!!"
Open with:
You: "Hey. There was a mistake, it's not big deal but I actually need to get on that bridge housing list."
Her: "Oh, sorry sir the deadline has passed."
You: "Yea, I know, but I wasn't contacted so I didn't really have a chance and I actually need to get on the list. It's no big deal I can stay anywhere for those couple weeks just please add me to the list."
Her: "Well, the dead was Aug 1st there's nothing we can really do."
You: "Well, one more person isn't going to break the operation and I should have been contacted so I just need to get into a place. Please add me to the list."
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Basically - don't focus on your situation and don't focus on blame. Just focus on what she needs to do now.
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Talked to them - asked nicely, didn't blame directly (never had a chance to be on that list) and they say deadline has passed and it's no longer possible. They also mentioned that maybe a week past deadline (2nd week of August) I may have been able to get in, but not now (we move out this weekend).
Going to call another department but I don't think it'll go well.
As a last resort, should I threaten anything? Who's liable here? They didn't contact me although I met requirements but I didn't contact them after they didn't because I forgot that they would contact during July.
EDIT: another complication... FML.
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EPT
