<p>Alright so here's the problem. Just today I got an email from UCSB Housing, and apparently they claim that they haven't received my housing contract, and although I only did the online portion, they will be unable to offer me housing anymore, and that if I want to dorm, I will need to dorm at a private dorm. Of course, I was mad, and thought I made a mistake (I faxed it to them at Office Depot). </p>
<p>Luckily I still had the "Transmission Verification Report" that they gave me as receipt of some sorts and it had the EXACT same number that we were supposed to fax to (1-805-893-3500). So what gives? I don't know what to do now, I was told that Tropicana and Fountainebleu wasn't as good, not to mention the extra 2-3k involved. Is it still possible for me to call in and try to settle things with them? I feel as if my options has ran out and that it's too late for me... Any help/tips? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Well, I know that sometimes rooms open up prior to the beginning of the actual school year. Considering that the last day for people to cancel the housing contracts they’ve submitted is June 30th, I’d think at least one freshman will decide not to go to UCSB before the deadline.</p>
<p>Perhaps you can be put on some waiting list? That’s what I think they do for upperclassmen who apply for on-campus housing but don’t get it in the lottery. Upperclassmen don’t compete for the same housing you do, so you wouldn’t be put in line after them or anything like that.</p>
<p>I think you’re right in trying to avoid Fontainebleau and Tropicana Gardens. That’d be a decidedly different first-year experience (that I don’t know about).</p>
<p>you’ve already gotten a good introduction to the beauracracy of a large UC </p>
<p>It’s up to you now (and for the rest of your time in college) to push for what you need. If you have a receipt that shows the successful transmission of the housing contract to the correct number, then don’t let it drop. They messed up. BTW it is better if the verification receipt you have shows the 1st page of what you sent; all the fax machines I’ve ever used do this, and it helps show you faxed the contract and not a list of jokes or something. Maybe their fax was out of paper, maybe they lost it. But if you can prove you sent it then you need to politely but firmly insist they find you a room in the dorms. Be sure to press for specific dates and people who are responsible. And don’t be afraid to escalate. If the person you deal with isn’t getting it done, then find out who they work for and contact them. You can find a list on <a href=“http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/home/about-us.htm[/url]”>http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/home/about-us.htm</a> by clicking on “staff and phones”. </p>
<p>At this point while the phone is useful for quick communication, be sure to follow any phone conversation up with an email summarizing what was said so that everyone agrees what was said. For example
If the 21st rolls around and nothing happens, then you call back and they say “we never said we’d find you a room, we just said we’d check if one was available” then you escalate and have an email backing up what was said. I really hope it doesn’t come down to something like this, but if you’ve followed all the rules then they need to hold up their end of the bargain.</p>
<p>BTW you should call the Office Depot and ask if they keep a log of faxes they’ve sent. I think most copy-shops do this. And if so, be sure to mention this when you talk to the folks at UCSB; they can independently verify that you faxed them something.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. The receipt doesn’t show the page I faxed, but I just called a while ago and they said that they’ll double check for me right now since I gave them the date and time that I called and they’ll call me back if anything happens. I’m hoping things turn out well, but I’ll call back in an hour or 2 just in case to get things straight. Wish me luck.</p>
<p>O yeah, forgot to come back and post my results. So I did end up calling and the lady asked for the date and time I sent it, I told her and she said she’d call back in half an hour or so and she did. Turns out she found it, but I asked for verifcation and she said in the steps of enrollment it’d show a check to tell me that I submitted the housing contract. I’m not sure if this is a verification but there’s a check now and the next step would be the Health thing. So I guess I’m in the clear… right?</p>
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