University Of Phoenix Online Ripoff wannabe campus attempting to collect for entire class that was dropped two days into the second week. Phoenix Arizona Internet
Enrolled in class to begin May 29, 2007. Told by enrollment counselor (Richard Grace) that if I enroll in the Month of May that application fee would be waived, as there was a special in May to waive such fees. Guess what fee was not waived. Started my first class on May 29th and completed the first week on June 4th. By the second week of class decided that the program was not for me and withdrew on June 06, 2007. I was told from the very beginning that I would never have any out of pocket costs, as financial aid (loans) would take care of that. After dropping the class I didn't hear from anyone regarding my status so I emailed the financial aid person (Celestina Deleon), the enrollment Advisor, (Sheila Fortune), and the enrollment counselor, (Richard Grace). Told that I was being charged for the entire course ($2058.33) where do they get this total from? They have been aggressively attempting to collect and have since added another ($71.00) to the total, (for what?) all this in less than three weeks of dropping their class. I have already filed a report with the consumer protection agency in Hawaii and it is now in the process of being investigated. Before I am done, I will file a report with the Attorney Generals office in my state and file a report with the FAFSA (the Government student aid program) . I am also considering going to the media and looking for an attorney to file a class action suit. Anyone else looking for justice and thinking along these lines, respond!!!
Elaina
Puunene, Hawaii
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim
Boise,Idaho,
U.S.A.
Elaina
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2007
When the creditors show up, maybe you can show them this UOP employees email as substantiation that you shouldn't have to pay this debt.
Think it will work?
Fred
Fort Collins,Colorado,
U.S.A.
To Poster... conduct all communications with the UOP via email rather than phone, at least then you will have a record of the process....
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, July 03, 2007
You said,
"I was told from the very beginning that I would never have any out of pocket costs, as financial aid (loans) would take care of that. "
Sorry for your experience, it must be aggravating. You are in good company claiming you were told, by EC's I assume, you would have no out of pocket costs. Reviewing this board you'll find many reports like this. Often, describing how students are given all kinds of misleading or false information about the UOP, only to discover the real truth when the collection agency is calling.
As you can see from reviewing recent posts by company employees, the UOP appears to rely on the "lawyer like" argument "it's all in the fine print", which too often seems to be at odds with what a UOP employee told the customer. Unfortunately, you were likely only given the assurances you claim orally, and NEVER in writing.
For future students, it might be best to conduct all communications with the UOP via email rather than phone, at least then you will have a record of the process....
Donald
La Crescenta,California,
U.S.A.
RE: University Of Phoenix Online Ripoff wannabe campus attempting to collect for entire class that was dropped two days into the second week. Phoenix
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, July 03, 2007
Elena,
The application fee waiver is limited to students who complete their first class. If you do not finish, then you are not eligible for the waiver. Read the Memorandum of Understanding please.
Financial Aid does not pay for Failed, Withdrawn or Incomplete coursework. This is clearly stated in the Acknowledgment section of the Financial Aid application. The electronic application requires your acknowledgment before it will allow you to continue. As such, you will end up being responsible for the first week of attendance that you were in class. Since you started on a Tuesday, I will assume that you enrolled in a Bachelors program at $494 per credit.
$494 x 3 Credits = $1482
$1482 / 5 weeks of class = $296.40 for the first week of attendance
$296.40 + $45 app fee + $70 rEsource fee = $411.40
$411.40 should be the total due according to those calculations. I would check with your finance counselor again and ensure that they are calculating this correctly. If you cant make any headway with Celest, contact her manager, Lisa Singh at 602-387-4315. Lisa's Director is Angie Quinones at 602-387-6140.
Also, check with the NSLDS website (www.nslds.ed.gov) for your loan/grant information. This website has all your information and can give you confirmation as to whether money was actually sent out. You can also contact the lender and follow up with them as well.
Good Luck,