No Show Housing fee at a University

[Tespiritu]

We are in Illinois and the school in question is in Arizona.

LAst year my daughter applied for college and housing at ASU. She got in and put a $50 deposit on housing. She didn't end up going to the school, and in all the confusion of deciding where she would go, she forgot to notify them that she was not attending that school. The housing department now is charging her $500 and has put her in collections. Is there any way to legally get out of this?

I just find this amount outrageous, especially with tuitions all over on the rise. Seems like a money making scheme, as this kind of thing can easily be over looked.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Ohiogal]

We are in Illinois and the school in question is in Arizona.

LAst year my daughter applied for college and housing at ASU. She got in and put a $50 deposit on housing. She didn't end up going to the school, and in all the confusion of deciding where she would go, she forgot to notify them that she was not attending that school. The housing department now is charging her $500 and has put her in collections. Is there any way to legally get out of this?

I just find this amount outrageous, especially with tuitions all over on the rise. Seems like a money making scheme, as this kind of thing can easily be over looked.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Your daughter is an adult and should have read the contract for housing regarding cancellations. The housing department kept a place open for her to attend so that she would have a place to live. This fee is not outrageous. She could have been charged for the entire semester of housing because she did not cancel. Some universities do that. Think of it as a lesson to your daughter on the price of signing a legal contract and the consequences of not following through.

When she signs a lease and changes her mind she would still owe rent even if she never moved in.

[swrdmbo]

I can see where your daughter gets her attitude if you have taught her that "these things get overlooked all the time"

No, not really. More people need to learn that signing a legal contract MEANS SOMETHING!!! The obligation goes BOTH WAYS!!!

The university may have turned down another student if the dorm was full, and now that your daughter did not "bother" to let them know she would not be needing the room, they are out the money.

I don't think $500 is outrageous at all!! I think she is lucky that that is all they are charging!!

Step up and do the right thing.Teach your daughter the right thing to do. And TEACH HER TO TAKE ALL LEGAL AGREEMENTS VERY SERIOUSLY!!

For you to be so cavalier by saying "it is done all the time", as if that is a defensible excuse, is shameful.

[stealth2]

It's not outrageous at all. There are other students - and their parents - who have had to deal with providing first/last month's rent and other fees for their kids to get other housing because your daughter's irresponsibility locked them out of campus housing.

[Tespiritu]

Wow, some of you people are something else. I came on here looking for legal advice/help to my question: "Is there any way to legally get out of this?" And you guys are telling me "she should've read the contract". Well no sh*t, that's pretty obvious and kinda late for that isn't it?

If someone came on here asking for help with a DUI, is the only advice you would give them, "well you shouldn't have driven drunk in the first place".

I guess I know which forum NOT to go to anymore. I posted this on several other forums and this was the only one I got these types of answers. Other legal professionals were much more tactful in their answers. I'm thinking not all of you are lawyers anyway, so why are you bothering to answer?

They should change the name of this forum to "Free Moral Opinions".

[CourtClerk]

You hear that... those people on the other forums apologized, smiled and coddled you while telling the OP she was SOL.

You guys forgot to present the fluff and bunnies while giving the legally accurate answer. Shame on you.

[CourtClerk]

If someone came on here asking for help with a DUI, is the only advice you would give them, "well you shouldn't have driven drunk in the first place".

No, I'd tell them to hire a criminal defense attorney after I told them "well, you shouldn't have driven drunk in the first place."

In your case, before I said your daughter was SOL, I probably would have said "if between you and your parents you can't read and comprehend a university housing contract, I feel sorry for the outcome of your education." Reading is fundamental.

[Tespiritu]

This is great, I'm getting trolled by lawyers. Thanks guys, it's been entertaining. You can go back to practicing "law", dishing out moral lessons, and playing World of Warcraft.

[swrdmbo]

"And you guys are telling me "she should've read the contract". Well no sh*t, that's pretty obvious and kinda late for that isn't it?"


OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...and no sh*t sherlock....something else is even MORE OBVIOUS...at least to all of us ....

you are looking for a way out of this....the fact is she signed a legal and binding contract...there isn't going to be a way to sniv out!!!


HOW IS THAT FOR OBVIOUS?????

Oh...and she IS SOL.

Now here comes the nice fluff stuff! Tell your daughter we wish her the best of luck in her pursuit of higher education. It's going to cost her $500 more than she planned. BUT she hopefully learned something from that mistake.

(here is where you explain to her that the lesson is that you should ALWAYS READ any contracts you plan to sign, and then if signed,abide by them).

How's that???

[Tespiritu]

Oh wait, you're not even a lawyer. LOL ... Thanks for the legal advice, but your opinions have as much value as the opinions of the janitors in your court building.

Meant for Court Clerk.

[Zigner]

Oh wait, you're not even a lawyer. LOL ... Thanks for the legal advice, but your opinions have as much value as the opinions of the janitors in your court building.

Meat for Court Clerk

You mean those janitors who didn't end up paying an extra $500 because they couldn't be bothered to read/follow the terms of a contract they signed?

[CourtClerk]

Oh wait, you're not even a lawyer. LOL ... Thanks for the legal advice, but your opinions have as much value as the opinions of the janitors in your court building.

Obviously both the janitors and I are smarter than you and your child combined. I never signed a contract I didn't read first, and I've never had to pay for a place I didn't lay my head... that includes in college - and to think, I was a minor when I started college and STILL read the contracts. Doesn't say much for your kid (or you).

Meat for Court Clerk.

I prefer filet mignon (bacon wrapped if possible). I could buy a lot of it for the $500 that you and your kid have to throw away because neither one of you can read... but I'm sure you meant "meant." Can't read or spell. A shame.

[Tespiritu]

swrdmbo - really, you respond with so much passion, I can tell you really care about your profession and helping people out <sarcasm>.

All that was needed was a simple "You guys are SOL, there's no way out of this if she signed a contract".

No fluff, no coddling, no insults, no lessons in life needed.

[CourtClerk]

You mean those janitors who didn't end up paying an extra $500 because they couldn't be bothered to read/follow the terms of a contract they signed?

Yeah those... and they have limited English skills.

[swrdmbo]

Be my guest...troll all the different websites...the answer is going to be the same.Not surprised you don't like it...you are the person that came on here looking for a way to get out of it ....because**************.

"things like this get overlooked all the time!"

What a great role model for your children to emulate. You don't like the answer that says you are bound to do the LEGAL and correct thing. All either you or your daughter had to do was notify the school. You did not do that...either from oversight, poor organization,dropping the ball...whatever...but all YOUR FAULT!!

It does NOT surprise me that you are on this forum looking for some sleazy loophole to get your daughter out of her legal responsibility.The world is full of people like you, and now you are training your children to be the same kind of slacker.

Don't like the answers you've been given so you resort to insults. Again...not surprised.

Pay some money and get a "real lawyers" answer. It's going to be the same.

TaTa!