Battled in Iraq...battling for my education

[ljo249]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WA

This whole mess started when I received from the University that I was attending, a couple of checks by mail totaling a few thousand dollars. I didn't know why the school was sending me money so I took the checks to my financial aid VA rep. at the school. He checked my records and said that I was all caught up on my tuition and that he saw no outstanding or pending balances, his guess was that my student loan must have over paid and so they sent me the difference. I then checked with my student financial aid rep and she too found no outstanding or pending balances. I was told by both reps that the money was mine. Just to be safe I held off on cashing the checks. Then a couple of days before they were going to expire I took them to the financial aid reps and again they found no outstanding or pending balances, one rep even told me to buy myself something nice with the money. So I cashed the checks and spent the money on much needed repairs on my car. Well, soon after, came the time for me to register for the next semester, I was told that I was not able to register due to an outstanding balance (that equaled the exact amount of the checks that I had received). I was then totally abandoned by my VA rep. and left to deal with the financial aid Administrator by myself. Ill skip through the multiple other issues that came about during my battle to try to stay in the school, a battle that ended with them preventing me from finishing my degree program, they refused to release my transcripts, my student loans went into default, and a year of my Montgomery GI Bill was wasted.

Its been over 3 years now, recently I decided to stop by the school and see if the new GI Bill would help me to go back and finish my degree. They had me meet with a new financial aid rep to look over my options. I explained to her what had happened previously, she brought in my Admissions Adviser as well as the Admissions Administrator and had me explain to them what had happened, they all said that they were going to pass my issue on up the ladder, during our meeting she took a look into my file and saw that the outstanding balance that prevented me from registering was actually an unpaid balance from my first semester at the school! That proves that when I took those checks to those financial aid reps, and I have witnesses that went with me to their offices both times, that balance was in my records and they both failed to catch it. If they would have done their jobs correctly and found that balance that had been outstanding for a whole year, then they wouldn't have basically ruined my life. I was in good academic standing and I know I would have graduated from my AAS Degree Program and the BAS Degree Program that I had planned and been in the career field that I was headed for, anyone that knows a soldier knows that when we have a mission we don't quit until that mission is complete.

This new rep I spoke to also noticed that the school was overcharging me by applying my Military discount then removing it for a period of time and then re-applying it over and over again during the time is was there. That military discount was nearly 50% off of the standard tuition costs. This is a well known accredited Private University, they shouldn't make these kinds of mistakes.

I'm usually the kind of person that just lets things slide, but these mistakes that were made have had a tremendous effect on my life, and I really think I deserve some retribution, at least for these years without my college degree. So please someone tell me that I have a case here.I appreciate anyone that has taken the time to read this, and thanks ahead of time for any advice that you may have for me.

 

[ecmst12]

Retribution? No. If they let you complete your degree, that is more then they are required to do. Had you paid the balance, you would have been able to continue your education.

 

[Humusluvr]

When it all boils down, you are the one responsible for your education, and paying for it. Though the financial aide rep may have made a mistake, or may have not been properly trained to read the reports he was looking at, it's not his fault you don't have a college education.

You did take the money. You deposited it, even without knowing where it came from and why. You spent the money on your car. Now, you have to make up the difference. There is no one who took that money but you.

This is an issue you should not have let slide. You should have been diligent in finding out what your balance was and why you were given those checks. I have seen the exact opposite happen too, I got a check from a University 3 years after I completed their program because they had over charged me. The difference is that you didn't keep your money until after you received your degree.

There's no way to sue here. It was a mix up in the paperwork, and you spent the money, now you owe it back.

 

[ljo249]

When it all boils down, you are the one responsible for your education, and paying for it. Though the financial aide rep may have made a mistake, or may have not been properly trained to read the reports he was looking at, it's not his fault you don't have a college education.

You did take the money. You deposited it, even without knowing where it came from and why. You spent the money on your car. Now, you have to make up the difference. There is no one who took that money but you.

This is an issue you should not have let slide. You should have been diligent in finding out what your balance was and why you were given those checks. I have seen the exact opposite happen too, I got a check from a University 3 years after I completed their program because they had over charged me. The difference is that you didn't keep your money until after you received your degree.

There's no way to sue here. It was a mix up in the paperwork, and you spent the money, now you owe it back.

I did hold on to the money for over 3 months. The checks were about to expire and after both financial aid reps checking my records twice each and telling me to buy myself something nice, I felt that I was in the clear so I spent the money. The Financial Aid Administrator that I was dealing with told me to find a way to pay the balance so I went to the Education Office in my Reserve Unit and was told that there was $15,000 left over in the education fund from that fiscal year and that the fiscal year had one month left so he said that I needed to register for the semester with the school and they would be able to give me the money I needed. The Financial Aid Administrator basically called me a liar to my face and refused to let me register until the money was paid. I don't know if it was because I was in uniform each time I met with her, but I felt that there was some discrimination going on there.

Has there been any issues with discrimination against Military Personel?

 

[ecmst12]

It is normal to not allow a student with an outstanding balance to register for classes. No discrimination, just normal policy.

 

[Humusluvr]

I did hold on to the money for over 3 months. The checks were about to expire and after both financial aid reps checking my records twice each and telling me to buy myself something nice, I felt that I was in the clear so I spent the money. The Financial Aid Administrator that I was dealing with told me to find a way to pay the balance so I went to the Education Office in my Reserve Unit and was told that there was $15,000 left over in the education fund from that fiscal year and that the fiscal year had one month left so he said that I needed to register for the semester with the school and they would be able to give me the money I needed. The Financial Aid Administrator basically called me a liar to my face and refused to let me register until the money was paid. I don't know if it was because I was in uniform each time I met with her, but I felt that there was some discrimination going on there.

Has there been any issues with discrimination against Military Personel?

I dont blame you for depositing the checks, but you didnt spend them on your education - and that's where you're getting burnt.

This is not the fault of the school. They are absolutely correct in not letting you register with an outstanding balance. I know you are looking for anyone to blame, but it's not discrimination, and it's not the school's fault.

You are going to have to find a way to come up with that money you spent, and then complete your education and receive your degree.

Good luck.