Complaint Review: PINNACLE FINANCIAL GROUP - KAPLAN COLLEGE - MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota

I was attending Kaplan College during the early 2004 semester. I decided to withdraw from Kaplan college as some of the counselors and instructors were not reurning my phone calls for assistance. I tried to withdraw earlier from kaplan but was dodged by the staff. I finally talked to someone from the school and was finally able to withdraw successfully in July 2004.

I was contacted by the Kaplan staff that I owed 600.00 for the scholarship awarded to me earlier in the year. I read nothing that I owed them any money in my award letter. They pulled the scholarship fund as soon as they found out I had withdraw from my classes. There were numerous occasions where I recieved phone calls to my home and my place of employment harassing me, stating that I owe them money. In many occasion I contacted the school to find out where these charges were coming from and no one seem to know, and know one could help or return any of my phone calls.

I kept getting charged for the entire year until the bill hit 1300 for I did not attend any classes with Kaplan. I was so disatisfied with staff, advisors and with the school. It was so upsetting to see how I was getting billed and I didn't even attend that shcool. Therefore I enrolled with AIU University to fulfill my education, and I'm pleased with their services.

I kept sending dispute emails to Kaplan and again nobody reponded back to me to discuss the discrepancies. I was contacted by Pinnacle Financial Group on April 2005. I sent a letter explaining the dispute with kaplan and asked for an explanation for the costs.

On May 30, 2005, I recieved another letter with intent to collect from Pinnacle Financial Group. I called this collection agency and asked for my explanation and my rights to 30 day dispute. The collection agency claimed to never recieved my letter but had all my updated information including my new cell phone number. I advised the manager Connie about my 30 day dispute and she claimed to not have recieved my letter and deemed the period invalid.

My rights to information were not honored and thus the credibility of this collection agency was not satisfactory. I metioned the law code and was told by connie not to even mention numbers as they have the power to report anyone to a credit bureau to ruin their score. I was practically threatened by this connie. Connie indicated that if I pay they will not send my information to the credit bureau and not ruin my chances to borrow as they know I am still attending school at another institution.

I was forced to pay the amount and I asked for clarification that I no longer owe to Kaplan or anyone associated with them. I was told by the collection agency that a letter for finalization will be sent. It is now two months later and no letter has arrived.

I am worried that Kaplan is still charging me for any listed amount and this collection agency will again try to collect for an unknown amount. I would like to find recurse against the illegal tactics utilized by these two groups and want everyone to know not to deal with Kaplan college. Always send letter of dispute certified mail. It is weird that they claimed to not recieved the letter but have my new phone number and cell phone when I placed it in the dispute letter. Please someone help me with past abuse with Kaplan college and Pinnacle Financial Group.

Tony

HUMBLE, Texas
U.S.A.