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Need advice: Ripped off by Private College

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tweaked

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Florida

I don't know if this is the correct forum thread to post my issue, but it was the closest one I saw on here. Please read on...

I attended IADT, Tampa right out of highschool in 2002, and graduated December of 2003. Anyway, after graduating I had to relocate to find a job (they couldn't help). The following will pretty much sum up my issues with IADT.

Accreditation:
When I spoke with the admissions reps at IADT I specifically remembering asking them over the phone about being able to transfer my credits from IADT, should I wish to attend another college afterwards. They told me "Oh sure, that shouldn't be a problem at all!" They said the same thing to my mother and I when we went to visit the school, right before I signed my life away to them.

In other words, they lied to get me in there, and screwed me over. They are, in fact, "accredited," but they are only nationally accredited, through ACICS (Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools). All the school I wish to attend now are regionally accredited through SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.)I did quite a bit of research on this and linked ACICS back to the same private company that actually OWNS International Academy of Design and Technology. So they basically accredit themselves. When you have that much money, you can do what you want I guess. Buy some schools, and if they can't be accredited by a legitimate accrediting agency, just create your own.

Well, there blows out my idea of continuing my education. No university I wish to attend will except the credits! They tell me the best thing to do is to start over, and this time go to a community college! That's $32,000.00 down the drain for me. And to top it all off, IADT doesn't even offer my program anymore (Computer Networking). It was more of an exeperimental course. They evidently didn't enough suckers for the class to make enough money, and quite shortly after I graduated. So my degree is basically worthless. The school can't be "well known" in my field if they only had the program for a small amount of time, and it isn't even offered there anymore.

It just ticks me off beyond belief to know that I am $32,000.00 PLUS $10,000.00 interest in debt because of a rip off such as this. I'm not sure what to do or where to turn now. If anyone has any information, I would very much appreciate it!


Although that is my main issue with the school, it certainly is not the only issue. These private schools do not even require their instructors to be certified or anything. Most of them have no clue how to teach students. I have read numerous other complaints about this on sites such as ripoffreport.com, and other forums on the net.

Can someone please give me advice on this issue? My payments start very soon and I know I can't make them, I shouldn't have to in my opinion!

I forgot to mention that I wrote a letter to the President of the school stating my concerns and my reason for the letter. He basically says he doesn't see where there is/was a problem, and mentioned the fact that I "signed all the documents," bla bla bla.
 
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tweaked

Junior Member
Is there a way to get out of it?? It was clearly wrong how they mis-lead prospective students into thinking that you can transfer your credits to any other college, but then when you try to do that, you can't. I was 19 years old and not aware of scams like that, or I would have never attended the school. Now, in order to continue my education, I have to start from scratch at a "real college." I lost 32K, and two years, for nothing. The school closed the program (because it was experimental and must not have made them enough money). They no longer offer the class, so I couldn't consider finishing their (not like I would anyway).

Do you think what they did was right and fare, or do I have a case?
 

moburkes

Senior Member
Yes, start at a local community college. You are responsible for doing your own research. I've got a bridge to sell you..or some great land in FL.
 

tweaked

Junior Member
So your basically saying its cool and legal to rip someone off?... I bet there would be legal consequences if I called up my lender and said "well, guess you should have done some research on me. I'm not paying you a dime." I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work out. I'm trying to get help here. I didn't know any better, or I obviously wouldn't have gotten myself in this situation.
 
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moburkes

Senior Member
What was illegal about what they did?

You don't have to pay them a dime. I never said that you did.

You received legal advice. It is not a requirement of this or any other website that you LIKE what you HEAR.
 

tweaked

Junior Member
They manipulated me into thinking I could transfer my college credits to wherever I wanted (which wasn't true). They said they were very reputable and would have no problem getting me a job making $40K right out of school (which was a lie, couldn't get me ANY job). My program was a frigin "experiment" and they closed it down after about 2 graduating classes... That doesn't seem like my diploma is reputable at ALL. I am stuck not being able to extend my AS degree into a Bachelors... what good is it to me?

Please tell me if I'm wrong here, but isn't there a problem with that? Put yourself in my shoes and listen to what you told me. You can sit there and say that b/c it isn't happening to you. You would probably be just as worried as I am if it actually happened to you, and you owed $50,000.+ for a 2 yr degree that DOES YOU NO GOOD!

What do you mean by saying I don't have to pay a dime?
 

tweaked

Junior Member
Don't take me the wrong way... I am appreciative of the responses I get. I'm just trying to find out what I can do about my problem. I am running out of time.
 

moburkes

Senior Member
With all due respect, you had every opportunity to check them out to see if they were indeed reputable. I could tell you MANY lies. Lying isn't illegal.

Are you looking for legal advice? Or Oprah?

You don't have to pay. It will affect your credit. But, you're not required to pay.
 

tweaked

Junior Member
But can't they take money out of my paycheck, or keep my tax returns? I thought they could do both, and take %10 of my paycheck. I have 9 loans in total, so that would be 90% of my paycheck. What is the way around that?

I'm not worried about credit. I have family friends that own banks, so that isn't a problem. I can get loans that I need such as home, car, etc...

Thanks for your info by the way!
 

moburkes

Senior Member
Sure, they can do that. Once they get judgments, they can garnish your check, but there is a maximum amount that can be garnished. Why don't you, instead, get a loan from one of your family's banks, use it to pay the current loan, then pay back the bank?
 

tweaked

Junior Member
B/c I'm trying to get out of paying this college. They ripped me off! That's the whole point here. They should be ripped off for doing this to me. It's like $800/month for me to repay this. That is a LOT of money to me. I have bills that must be paid, aside from this junk. I have rent ($1000), electric, $200+, groceries, internet, car, insurance. I only bring home around $2K monthly. So if you can do basic math, you will see that it doesn't work out! That would mean I would have to live on the street basically, in order to repay my school debt.
 

moburkes

Senior Member
B/c I'm trying to get out of paying this college. They ripped me off! That's the whole point here. They should be ripped off for doing this to me. It's like $800/month for me to repay this. That is a LOT of money to me. I have bills that must be paid, aside from this junk. I have rent ($1000), electric, $200+, groceries, internet, car, insurance. I only bring home around $2K monthly. So if you can do basic math, you will see that it doesn't work out! That would mean I would have to live on the street basically, in order to repay my school debt.
Your own words:

I'm not worried about credit. I have family friends that own banks, so that isn't a problem. I can get loans that I need such as home, car, etc...
Get credit through your family. Get extended payment terms so that you do not need to pay them back $800/month.
 

tweaked

Junior Member
I've barely even started and it seems as though this is going to ruin me. I don't see how it's right AT ALL. I'm 23 years old and would STILL be paying my college loan by the time im 45. For a stupid 2 year Computer Networking A.S. degree from a crap college that lied to me, and the degree hasn't even helped me.

This whole ordeal will pretty much ruin most of my life it seems.
 
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