How do I cash a Canadian Student Loan while in South Korea?

September 24, 2009 9:04 AM

Need to cash my Canadian student loan but I am in South Korea. I've been confirmed to receive my Canadian student loan; however, I need to bring the form to the Canadian post office so that they can confirm it. Unfortunately I can't seem to do it from South Korea. Last semester, I had the same problem; however, my mother sent me the form, I signed it, and sent it back to her and there was no trouble when she brought it in. They put the money into my bank account. This time, the post offices state that I need the power of attorney. What can I do? My classes have already started and I need to pay for everything.
posted by Knigel to Work & Money (3 answers total)

Ask your mother to take it to a different post office (or even a different teller) and try there. I'm amazed at the inconsistencies bureaucrats exhibit when enforcing (or not) regulations. This, in my experience is true for both the US and Canada.

Good luck.
posted by walleeguy at 9:09 AM on September 24, 2009

Get the POA. Have your Mom go to a local attorney and draw it up. It will help with more than this issue, too. That's what they are for.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:37 AM on September 24, 2009

As above, get your mom to go to another post office. Any will work, and some really don't care.

Or: once, instead of taking it to a post office, I just took it to my provincial student loans office (since I was going there with a friend anyway) and they accepted it, no questions asked. On that line, you might try just mailing it directly.

Also, don't ask the post office what they think: ask your provincial student loans officer(s) directly. I imagine they must deal with this from time to time (imagine a Canadian living abroad with no close connections to Canada).
posted by astrochimp at 10:14 AM on September 24, 2009