University attempts debt collection

[scottcasey]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas/Occured in Hawai'i

Long story short...I graduated from a university in Hawaii in Fall 2004. At the time I was active duty and utilized tuition assistance until I had used those monies for the year, then the university's counselor enrolled me for the next semester with Financial Aid. Continuing classes for two more semesters under financial aid until Sep 2004, finishing my last class.

Completed active duty service honorably and returned to the mainland in Dec 2004. The university forwarded my bachelor's degree to me at the address that I had proved. I, to this day, continue to receive alumni, donation, foundation letters at this current address.

Anyhow, summer of 2005 I logged onto this university's site to request transcripts for grad school here in Texas. After not receiving them after 3 weeks, I called. I was told that there was a business hold for tuition owed. Well, I asked how I was allowed to "clear" the education center on-base if debt was owed. I was told that I would not even receive a diploma since I owed debt and they claimed that they had no address to send a statement to. I asked how I had received 8 months prior a diploma and the various other catalog info from the school. No answer given, only that some $4400 was owed. This would have been over the total of three (3) semesters. I forwarded letters to university asking how this could have happened since their university catalog states that no student will be allowed into a new semester if an outstanding debt is owed. Now that I am off island, out of the service, they are attempting to recoup this saying that I never filled out the financial aid paperwork properly. None of this would have happened, had I not enquired about grad school transcripts.

The university sent this to collections for the first time iin May 2006 and I wrote to the University President and she only passed me off to the evening programs people who initially made all of these mistakes. June 2006 collections cancelled per a fax from the university to collections that was forwarded to me with statement of charges. And re-sent to collections around June 2008.

This statement that I received today, clearly shows three semester, as well as, the cover sheet explaining that I did not complete financial aid paperwork for these 3 semesters.

What the heck am I suppose to do? This was not done maliciously. I was under the impression that financial aid was covering this tab, especially being allowed to continue for THREE concurrent semesters, allowed to leave island/military, and also receiving my diploma in the mail. All I want is my transcripts...any ideas? Please?

Scott

[ShyCat]

All I want is my transcripts...any ideas?

Pay the $4400 that you owe. Mistakes happen, as in this case. You cannot reasonably expect to profit from it. You mistakenly assumed everything was taken care of by financial assistance and want to believe that relieves you of responsibility for the debt now that you know that assumption was incorrect. The university mistakenly assumed everything was paid up when they sent you the diploma, catalogs, etc., but now they know differently and refuse to send you transcripts. If they have to sue you for the $4400 in order to collect it, it will end up costing you more for court/legal fees because they will win.