I don't get the problem.....

I am just starting to pay off the £6400 I had for my student loan in the first year.

I have just had a pay rise which coincides with starting to pay it off. The net effect is that my pay rise is wiped out - yes its a pain BUT what it actually means in reality is that the next pay rise will be the actual pay rise not this one.... so in reality I just miss a pay rise.

So what- I got a good education out of it, I got a foot in the door, I got a career.

Now... if things were as they will be now then I would be paying less back than I currently do and it would take longer due to this and as there is more to pay back. I personally don't see the issue.

Its stopped at source + doesn't affect your credit rating + you don't need a credit rating to get one.

The protests were just an excuse for a ruck by a bunch of tossers who prob aint students anyways.