I have been enrolled at Kaplan University as a cash pay student. I have no scholarships and no financial aid. I make cash payments and they record them. Yet the accounting department has created two accounts for me that doubled my tuition cost by almost $30,000. I have contacted the financial office many times to have this issue resolved. According to the financial office assistants I owe no money but I keep receiving bills. Also my online balance reflects a staggering amount with payments due yet according to the finance office I owe nothing.
Since my situation seems simple enough but the financial office still manages to make mistakes with my account I decided that I was not getting my money's worth so I decided to drop out of school. I called to let an academic advisor know that I wish to withdraw. He informed me that I need to talk to my own academic advisor, S. C., who I was never able to get a hold of for unknown reasons.
I set up an appointment to talk to Ms. C on Friday after 6:00 pm Central Time. I spent the whole evening waiting for the phone call and no one has gotten back to me. Ms. C called me next week around Wednesday with no apologies or explanations as to why my appointment was not kept. She also sent me an email letting me know whom I have to contact in order to withdraw from this school. I have followed her directions precisely and let her know that all the steps were completed. She then informed me that I had to do an exit interview with a senior advisor and set up an appointment on Monday at 6:00 pm Central Time. This appointment was never kept. I contacted Ms. C again and informed her that I was getting very frustrated and she did apologize and promised to get back to me. That was the last time I spoke with her.
I called again last week and was informed that Ms. C was not available to take the call but I should make an appointment with her. I made a third appointment on Friday at 3:00 pm and informed the person setting up the appointment that I would be at work. I gave specific instructions that I needed to be contacted at my job and left a phone number. Ms. C called me at home and left a message even though I made sure to leave my work number. She also had my cell that she could call and would have been able to reach me. I have sent her an email that I was very frustrated and disappointed with the way I am being treated.
Through this ordeal I kept informing Ms. C that I planned to finish the current term since I paid almost $2000.00 for it. I have copies of all the emails including the one informing her in writing that I planned to finish this term. I have not heard from Ms. C so I called the academic advisor and spoke with another person letting her know of the trouble so far. She has been very helpful and I informed her that I planned to finish this term since I already paid for it and was half way through earning 100% in class so far.
Today I tried to log into my class since I have an assignment due this week to work on it but found out that my account has been blocked. I called academic advising and talked to a lady who informed me that I was dropped from the class and that I need to contact my academic advisor, Ms. C, to be reinstated, who is not here on the weekends. So I have been charged almost $2000.00 for a class that I was forced out of for no reason but someone's incompetence and now I cannot get a hold of anyone who could help me access my class.
No one is willing to help me and I cannot get a hold of Ms. C either. I am told that I need to set up an appointment with her but according to my previous experience she is not likely to keep this appointment.
---------------------------------------------------------Here is a copy of email correspondence between Ms. C. and I.
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Mar 19
S C to me
show details Mar 19 Reply
Good Afternoon Johnny,
Good Morning Victoria,
I was so sorry to receive your request for withdrawal at the end of the term Before making such a monumental decision, it is important to examine all of your options.
If you have truly weighed all your options and still feel confident in your decision to withdraw, I want to be sure you fully understand the process. Please complete the following three action items as soon as possible.
~~~~~~~~~LISTS STEPS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will also submit your name to the Office of Returning Students. They will assist you when you are ready to return to Kaplan. Please note that you can only come through the re-entry process two times. When you return, you will be enrolled in the most current version of your degree plan meaning there may be some additional courses that we now require.
The choice to withdraw is entirely up to you, but as always, I am here to assist. If you are not sure what you should do, please call 866.522.7747 to schedule an appointment for us to talk.
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Victoria... Hello, I have contacted the Financial Aid office and has emailed Student Acco...
Mar 25 (10 days ago)
...Mar 25 (10 days ago)
Victoria .... to S.C.
show details Mar 25 (10 days ago) Reply
Hello,
I have contacted the Financial Aid office and has emailed Student Accounts, you should have received a copy of that email. I have spent two hours waiting by the phone for a senior advisor to contact me as was scheduled last week for Monday, March 24, 2008 at 6:30 PM. I did not receive any calls and am still waiting. Unfortunately this type of incident happens to be one of the reasons why I believe that I am not getting my money's worth. I am not sure what to do next. I will wait until the end of the week for the senior advisor and will try to contact you by phone at the end of this week or beginning of next week. Thank you for your help,
Victoria .....
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Victoria
show details Mar 27 (9 days ago) Reply
S. C.,
I have set up an appointment with you tomorrow. I do plan to finish this term and withdraw before the next term starts.
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Victoria to SC
show details Mar 28 (7 days ago) Reply
S C,
I set up an appointment with you yesterday for 3:00 pm central time. It is almost 5:00 pm and I have received no calls. I am very frustrated with not being able to reach anyone with my issues. I believe I have done everything on the list you emailed me and since I have not been contacted by student services and the financial aid has told me that everything is okay and I can go ahead to withdraw I can assume that I am officially withdrawn and will finish up my last term. I cannot begin to describe how upset I am with these appointments. The first appointment I set up with you a few weeks ago was missed and you only called me the next week, then I had a Monday appointment that was not kept and now today I have not received any calls from Kaplan nor do I have any messages even though I have voicemail on my cellphone and work numbers. I am certain now more than ever that Kaplan was a big waste of my time and money, a huge roadblock to my career. I am very dissappointed about the service I got for the price I paid to be enrolled.
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Victoria to S C
show details 12:07 PM (50 minutes ago) Reply
My student account is disabled and I have an assignment due. I told you several times that I plan to finish the term. I have paid nearly two thousand dollars and because of your incompetence I am forced out
of the class that I am half way through. I have worked very hard in this class and earned 100%. You clearly knew that I inteded to stay in this class, I have emailed you and saved a copy of this email so I
know for a fact you were informed. If you plan on keeping me from finishing my class I want my money back. There is no reason why my account should be blocked. This is flat out fraud, theft and I will not stand for it. I need this issue resolved is soon as possible.
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Now, notice that except for the first email this communication has been one way. I have received for about two calls from Ms. C. and thats about it. I have also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If anyone knows of any recourse I can take please leave your comments. Thank you.
Victoria
Bunrsville, Minnesota
U.S.A.