Summer of 2010, I received a call from Ashford University asking if I ever considered higher education. I told the rep yes, and they put me through to a Joshua H., the advisor. When I told him I was interested in becoming an Early Intervention Therapist, (someone who works with disabled children ages 18 months through 3 years old) he stated he wasn't sure what that was (that should have been my first clue to hang up) but he was pretty sure I would need a Bachelors in Health and Human Services.

So I started taking classes and the school sent me emails stating I needed to submit my paperwork for loans (which I didn't want as I have no way to pay them back.) I submitted the paperwork, took classes, and even though I found myself taking classes with people who obviously had already taken college courses and thus putting me at an unfair disadvantage (at least I thought so) and finding it very difficult to reach the instructors when I didn't understand the material (which was often, it was way over my head), I pressed on because I wanted my degree.

Fast-forward 4 months...I find out from someone who is an Early Intervention Therapist that I need a Bachelor's in Special Education, (not Health and Human Services). I called Ashford and they informed me they don't offer that course/degree. So I dropped out. Soon after I started getting emails and letters saying I owed $7000 in loans. I wrote the financial aid dept. a letter stating that Ashford's advisor gave me the wrong information on the courses I needed, and they basically wasted 4 months of my time. Wasn't that an advisor's job...to "advise" students on the courses they need to get the degree they want?? They responded with a curt reply telling me to contact Ashford's financial dept. to make payment arrangements, which to this date I still have not done.

I feel cheated and ripped off. I do not have a job, have no credit, I have 2 kids with autism who receive SSI, which is my only income. I own a 25-year old car, rent a house (which Section 8 pays for), use food stamps, and have Medicaid. In short, I am living below the poverty line. So their threats to ruin my credit, attach my wages, or take my vehicle fall on deaf ears. I do not own anything they could put a lien on. Friends and family tell me to ignore it, they can't get blood from a stone. Well I am still angry because up until now I have never had any debt. I wrote and told them the only income I have is my children's SSI and I am not supposed to use that to pay back student loans (and I'm not going to.)

I advise anyone to stay away from these people. They sell you a bunch of lies just to get you in and you end up with nothing but collection notices. If they call you, HANG UP.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on Ashford University

5 Updates & Rebuttals

Jeanski

Buffalo,
New York,
USA

question

#2Consumer Comment

Sat, September 10, 2011

I admire your desire to go to college and try to make a career for yourself, particularly with the challenge of two autistic kids. But I have to wonder - how did you think you were going to pay for college if you didn't take out student loans? You stated you didn't want them, but submitted the paperwork anyway. That indicates your acceptance of the loans.

I'm sorry, but you owe the money :-( If you don't pay it back, the government will take it from your tax refund.

Dorene

Elmer,
New Jersey,
United States of America

Ok, ok...want proof they are shysters??

#3Author of original report

Sat, September 10, 2011

Perhaps you should check out this article:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18660_why-you-should-beware-schools-from-late-night-tv-ads.html?wa_user1=3&wa_user2=Weird+World&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=recommended

I have good reason to be pissed off. My "apathy" towards my future career has nothing to do with the fact that they LIED and MISLED me.

Now go troll someplace else.

Flynrider

Phoenix,
Arizona,
USA

Correction.

#4Consumer Comment

Wed, August 17, 2011

Earlier I wrote : " No one could be that apathetic about their future career."

I stand corrected.

Dorene

Elmer,
New Jersey,
United States of America

comment

#5Author of original report

Tue, August 16, 2011

I'm not sure what you mean by "did you really care?"

I did do some research into what was needed in my state to become an Early Intervention Therapist, but unfortunately couldn't find much. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places, who knows, but I was hoping the college advisor could help me. After all, isn't that part of their job?

As you can see from my post, I am very low-income and have no assets. What are they going to do to me? Also I am not 22 years old, I'm 42. I will probably be dead before the loans are paid off, especially if I opt for their 30-year payment plan, which with my income I know full well it will take more than 30 years to pay it all off.

I fail to understand why they would award loans to someone with such a low income. If I applied for a car loan I would be laughed at. They should have just told me I was a bad risk. Any other loan office would have done that. Besides, I was told by Ashford that grants would more than likely cover everything. More lies.

Obviously they are not doing something right, judging by all the other complaints about them on this site. Read the other posts. Some people really got a raw deal, worse than me.

Flynrider

Phoenix,
Arizona,
USA

Did you really care?

#6Consumer Comment

Mon, August 15, 2011

"...I find out from someone who is an Early Intervention Therapist that I need a Bachelor's in Special Education"

   Wouldn't that be something you'd find out before enrolling in a college?   You said yourself that the rep (i.e. salesperson) didn't even know what the job was, yet you decide to enroll based on that person's guess at what degree might be required???     Sorry, but that doesn't pass the smell test.    No one could be that apathetic about their future career.

   You signed up to receive education loans and now you're going to have to pay them back.   While it's likely you may have decided that college is not for you, that doesn't make the loan go away.   The lame excuse you're trying to pass off is ridiculous.

" I do not have a job, have no credit,"

You may not have credit in the future either. If these were government guaranteed student loans, they won't just go away over time. They are not subject to discharge even in a bankruptcy.  They will follow you forever.