jordan&christy
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Indiana
Sorry. This is long, but I wanted to explain it well:
In November 2009, my wife and I were discussing the possibility of me returning to Ball State University to earn my Master's degree. Because she was out of work, we agreed that my attendance would depend on the cost of classes and the financial aid available.
I filled out an application for admissions, and scheduled a meeting with an advisor, and made it clear that I was there ONLY to estimate costs. I asked her how many semesters it would take and what classes I would need per semester. She gave me the information I needed as well as courses she would suggest for the upcoming semester.
Shortly after our meeting, I found out that I was ineligible for financial aid because I had already earned too many credit hours. Because I was under the impression I hadn't signed up for classes, we decided to try again when we were were more financially stable.
In March 2010, I received a letter from Ball State asking why I hadn't been attending classes and warning me that the last date to drop classes was approaching. Confused, I called the bursar's office to figure out what was going on. They told me I was signed up for classes and owed over $4000. I told her that I never signed up for classes, and explained the situation with asking the advisor to help me estimate costs and the lack of financial aide. The lady from the bursar's office gave me the name and address of a lady and told us to write her a letter explaining this. In light of the misunderstanding, She said she saw no reason they wouldn't let me drop the classes and waive the charges.
My wife and I wrote and mailed the letter within a week of that phone call. A week or so later, I received forms in the mail to fill out explaining the situation and requesting to drop the classes. We filled that out and mailed it in immediately.
A few months later, we started receiving paper bills in the mail for approx $4500. We made additional phone calls and were told I owed the amount regardless.
In October 2010, I received a phone call that Ball State would be sending the account to collections. I told the lady of the situation. She told me she had no record of the letter or paperwork. I told her the name of the person we sent the letter to, and offered to send the letter. She said no.
She called us back a few days ago saying she saw that the letter was sent and classes were dropped, but I still owed the money. She insisted they had sent electronic bills to my student email account and that I should have contacted them sooner if I noticed a problem. I explained to her that i had not been a student since 2006 and assumed I no longer had an active account. I don't even know the password. I had no reason to check it, because as far as I knew, I had never signed up for classes. She insisted that I must pay and that she was sending the bill on to collections.
What should we do now? I truly feel I do not owe this money. And honestly, we don't have $4500 just laying around to pay it. If we had the money, I would have gone to school. I wanted to go to school.
Indiana
Sorry. This is long, but I wanted to explain it well:
In November 2009, my wife and I were discussing the possibility of me returning to Ball State University to earn my Master's degree. Because she was out of work, we agreed that my attendance would depend on the cost of classes and the financial aid available.
I filled out an application for admissions, and scheduled a meeting with an advisor, and made it clear that I was there ONLY to estimate costs. I asked her how many semesters it would take and what classes I would need per semester. She gave me the information I needed as well as courses she would suggest for the upcoming semester.
Shortly after our meeting, I found out that I was ineligible for financial aid because I had already earned too many credit hours. Because I was under the impression I hadn't signed up for classes, we decided to try again when we were were more financially stable.
In March 2010, I received a letter from Ball State asking why I hadn't been attending classes and warning me that the last date to drop classes was approaching. Confused, I called the bursar's office to figure out what was going on. They told me I was signed up for classes and owed over $4000. I told her that I never signed up for classes, and explained the situation with asking the advisor to help me estimate costs and the lack of financial aide. The lady from the bursar's office gave me the name and address of a lady and told us to write her a letter explaining this. In light of the misunderstanding, She said she saw no reason they wouldn't let me drop the classes and waive the charges.
My wife and I wrote and mailed the letter within a week of that phone call. A week or so later, I received forms in the mail to fill out explaining the situation and requesting to drop the classes. We filled that out and mailed it in immediately.
A few months later, we started receiving paper bills in the mail for approx $4500. We made additional phone calls and were told I owed the amount regardless.
In October 2010, I received a phone call that Ball State would be sending the account to collections. I told the lady of the situation. She told me she had no record of the letter or paperwork. I told her the name of the person we sent the letter to, and offered to send the letter. She said no.
She called us back a few days ago saying she saw that the letter was sent and classes were dropped, but I still owed the money. She insisted they had sent electronic bills to my student email account and that I should have contacted them sooner if I noticed a problem. I explained to her that i had not been a student since 2006 and assumed I no longer had an active account. I don't even know the password. I had no reason to check it, because as far as I knew, I had never signed up for classes. She insisted that I must pay and that she was sending the bill on to collections.
What should we do now? I truly feel I do not owe this money. And honestly, we don't have $4500 just laying around to pay it. If we had the money, I would have gone to school. I wanted to go to school.
