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Report: #1139089

Complaint Review: Grand Canyon University - Phoenix Arizona

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  • Reported By: Nelz — Iowa
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  • Grand Canyon University 3300 West Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona USA

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I applied at Grand Canyon University and spoke to Alex Rodriguez the Enrollment Counselor. When I spoke to him, he told me all the forms I need to fill in to be able to attend the University and to obtain my Financial Aid including the Direct Loan MPN and Entrance Counseling, even after I stated few times I am not interested in applying for loans. Alex Rodriguez said I needed these forms filled in regardless and I was not aware I signed up for the Loans since he stated "It's just a procedure". I thought it was part of the Financial Aid (Pell Grant) and he even stated it. He told me to go ahead and start the class on 12/23/2013 so that I can activate my enrollment. I asked few times about the financial Aid and he kept on telling me I would receive a phone call from my financial adviser.

After not receiving a call, I emailed Cindy Hernandez cindy.hernandez@gcu.edu on 12/29/2013 which I have the email to prove that I have emailed her and asked her about the Financial Aid and how the Aid would be disbursed. When I looked at my Fafsa information I qualified enough to cover a semester. I got a call from Cindy on 12/30/2013 while I was at work and I proceeded to leave voice-mails since each time I try to get in contact with Cindy she is either out of the office due to a holiday or she is just not available. It's very hard to reach the financial advisers at GCU. I shouldn't have entered the class knowing that the whole procedure didn't make any sense and I was getting a runaround but in faith of Christianity, I gave it a chance. When I did spoke to Cindy, she advised me that she didn't have the information on my Financial Aid and what I have received. The first phone call with her yet again I stated I was not interested in Loans and she told me if I do get any I can always return them and that I had a choice to do so. She never once stated that loans were actually taken out and how they would be charged each course. I never got any accurate information at all, and if each call is recorded, there is a  proof that I have stated many times my feelings on loans and not once did Cindy nor Alex acknowledge my concern about the loans. They let me believe I was only going to have the Pell Grant and I was under impression that I would be receiving loans as in scholarships that I don't have to accept. I received a bill of $2,220 and I called Alex to ask about the status on my Aid, he told me if I didn't qualify for Financial Aid I wouldn't have been able to enroll and how they will "guarantee" I will.  

I found that very odd and the only way I did find out about the loans is when I received a letter from Nelnet.  With all the runaround, I was very confused about the whole Financial Aid and I decided to research GCU and found out that they have been sued and multiple complaints with students being scammed, especially students who are not native English speakers. I believe I was a easy target to manipulate, and when I did call Cindy to talk to her about the Loans, it took a while to reach her again since she was out of the "office". I decided not to raise an issue or have her know that I was suspicious, and wrote down everything she has said to me. She told me all these things she has "apparently said to me" which is all a lie. I never got any information about my Financial Aid till it was disbursed on 2/12/2014. I was under the impression I would get $4,295.00 from Pell Grant, she said I only got $2,148.00. I asked what the GCU $ 2,170.00 Retention Tuition Credit meant, she said students get that back from what is unused and I have the choice to return it back and it would be used against my Loans. I never received that money, nor did I waned it. It makes no sense to me why they haven't used the full Pell Grant? And why would you tell me I would get unused portion back?  I was very confused, which was their main target to manipulate me. I asked why were the loans taken out then, her response of course was " You signed up for it". She waited from December till after they made the profit and making sure I was 100% locked in two courses to put the blame on me even after I have stated multiple times I NEVER wanted loans. I wouldn't have signed up with GCU if I knew they charged three courses at once and lie that the Pell Grant wouldn't cover enough. I never accepted those awards/loans. After I spoke to Cindy, I went back to check and the "Accpet Button" was gone.  

After I gathered all of my notes and research, and judging by their tone of voice and manipulate way of providing information I knew I was scammed from the start. It was all ready to late because I entered the first and second course without knowing about the loans and that I would own 100%, this is why I couldn't reach Cindy Hernandez until they made sure I entered those courses. I have made multiple calls about the Financial Aid and Grand Canyon should be ashamed and I am disgusted how a Christan school who hides behind God can scam students like this. Normal schools would gather all the information and wait for Financial Aid instead of lying to student to get a profit out of them. Once I figured out what was going on, I called Alex because I was unable to reach Cindy and demanded to have the Loans returned after I got a clear understanding what was taken out on my name.  Alex also started to give me a round around and said I got a new Financial Adviser Kimyada Jones. I knew right there and then I was a victim with all the others, and I told Alex I refuse to be a victim and I read the complaints and the same story line was used on me. I emailed Kimyada Jones and she told me that Cindy Hernandez is still my adviser. Finally I reached Cindy and  the whole blame was put on me because I signed something I had no idea it was about Unsubsidized and Subsidized Loans and was manipulated to believe it was for the Pell Grant. Cindy yet again proceeded to tell me something I had no acknowledge off and how she went over this information that was all new to me.

I was lied to from the start and If I stated many times to Alex and Cindy about my beliefs on the Loans, and each time they manipulated me to believe something completely different. I told Cindy I wanted to return the Loans and she told me the first two courses have been used and can't be returned after they made sure they made a profit. She told me I will have to pay back $1,800 in Loans and I even started I wouldn't continue because I was taken advantage off. She told me it's best to continue on, I told her I would call her back after I spoke to Fafsa and never stated I would continue with GCU. I got a letter now stating I have to pay back $2,403.63 in Loans and $1,555.00 to GCU. I called Cindy today 4/15/2014 to ask her about the Loans and she said because I didn't drop out that it went against me. Cindy did not mention anything about dropping out and that the rate would go up if I was inactive through the second course, even after she was under impression I wouldn't continue on and through the whole conversation she never once mentioned any accurate information yet again. She is very unprofessional and lied that she did go over something I never once heard from her, once she and the school made a profit, the ugly side of the truth come out of her. I am very disgusted by GCU and this school needs to be investigated and so many students are in debt because of GCU.

I do feel like I was a victim, and I never got a clear understanding how the Financial Aid would be disbursed and if they charged by each course (which I was under impression) I would have been able to afford it with Pell Grant. They take out Loans to profit off students and manipulate them to sign and believe something completely different. I refused to pay back GCU, and the Loans I will fight in court. Please investigate GCU and take actions against them, prevent others from getting scammed.  Thank you.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/15/2014 02:43 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/grand-canyon-university/phoenix-arizona-85017/grand-canyon-university-gcu-is-a-scam-phoenix-arizona-1139089. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#4 General Comment

issue

AUTHOR: anonymouseprincess - ()

POSTED: Monday, April 28, 2014

how cN i get my issue resolve my professor is rde and wants to fail me my final class

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#3 General Comment

have a problem also

AUTHOR: anonymouseprincess - ()

POSTED: Monday, April 28, 2014

Unfortunately I a in y last class y professor wants to fail e me than if I fail i have to pay the etire course and I do not know what to do get this problem solved there is soe type of favoristi in class ronald ccoulough college of business busines 485

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#2 Author of original report

Resolved

AUTHOR: Negativenancy - ()

POSTED: Thursday, April 24, 2014

This has been resolved. Gcu did their part to assist in this misunderstanding!

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#1 Author of original report

GCU IS A SCAM!

AUTHOR: Nelz - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, April 15, 2014

I applied at Grand Canyon University and spoke to Alex Rodriguez the Enrollment Counselor. When I spoke to him, he told me all the forms I need to fill in to be able to attend the University and to obtain my Financial Aid including the Direct Loan MPN and Entrance Counseling, even after I stated few times I am not interested in applying for loans. Alex Rodriguez said I needed these forms filled in regardless and I was not aware I signed up for the Loans since he stated "It's just a procedure". I thought it was part of the Financial Aid (Pell Grant) and he even stated it. He told me to go ahead and start the class on 12/23/2013 so that I can activate my enrollment. I asked few times about the financial Aid and he kept on telling me I would receive a phone call from my financial adviser.

After not receiving a call, I emailed Cindy Hernandez cindy.hernandez@gcu.edu on 12/29/2013 which I have the email to prove that I have emailed her and asked her about the Financial Aid and how the Aid would be disbursed. When I looked at my Fafsa information I qualified enough to cover a semester. I got a call from Cindy on 12/30/2013 while I was at work and I proceeded to leave voice-mails since each time I try to get in contact with Cindy she is either out of the office due to a holiday or she is just not available. It's very hard to reach the financial advisers at GCU. I shouldn't have entered the class knowing that the whole procedure didn't make any sense and I was getting a runaround but in faith of Christianity, I gave it a chance. When I did spoke to Cindy, she advised me that she didn't have the information on my Financial Aid and what I have received. The first phone call with her yet again I stated I was not interested in Loans and she told me if I do get any I can always return them and that I had a choice to do so. She never once stated that loans were actually taken out and how they would be charged each course. I never got any accurate information at all, and if each call is recorded, there is a  proof that I have stated many times my feelings on loans and not once did Cindy nor Alex acknowledge my concern about the loans. They let me believe I was only going to have the Pell Grant and I was under impression that I would be receiving loans as in scholarships that I don't have to accept. I received a bill of $2,220 and I called Alex to ask about the status on my Aid, he told me if I didn't qualify for Financial Aid I wouldn't have been able to enroll and how they will "guarantee" I will.  

I found that very odd and the only way I did find out about the loans is when I received a letter from Nelnet.  With all the runaround, I was very confused about the whole Financial Aid and I decided to research GCU and found out that they have been sued and multiple complaints with students being scammed, especially students who are not native English speakers. I believe I was a easy target to manipulate, and when I did call Cindy to talk to her about the Loans, it took a while to reach her again since she was out of the "office". I decided not to raise an issue or have her know that I was suspicious, and wrote down everything she has said to me. She told me all these things she has "apparently said to me" which is all a lie. I never got any information about my Financial Aid till it was disbursed on 2/12/2014. I was under the impression I would get $4,295.00 from Pell Grant, she said I only got $2,148.00. I asked what the GCU $ 2,170.00 Retention Tuition Credit meant, she said students get that back from what is unused and I have the choice to return it back and it would be used against my Loans. I never received that money, nor did I waned it. It makes no sense to me why they haven't used the full Pell Grant? And why would you tell me I would get unused portion back?  I was very confused, which was their main target to manipulate me. I asked why were the loans taken out then, her response of course was " You signed up for it". She waited from December till after they made the profit and making sure I was 100% locked in two courses to put the blame on me even after I have stated multiple times I NEVER wanted loans. I wouldn't have signed up with GCU if I knew they charged three courses at once and lie that the Pell Grant wouldn't cover enough. I never accepted those awards/loans. After I spoke to Cindy, I went back to check and the "Accpet Button" was gone.  

After I gathered all of my notes and research, and judging by their tone of voice and manipulate way of providing information I knew I was scammed from the start. It was all ready to late because I entered the first and second course without knowing about the loans and that I would own 100%, this is why I couldn't reach Cindy Hernandez until they made sure I entered those courses. I have made multiple calls about the Financial Aid and Grand Canyon should be ashamed and I am disgusted how a Christan school who hides behind God can scam students like this. Normal schools would gather all the information and wait for Financial Aid instead of lying to student to get a profit out of them. Once I figured out what was going on, I called Alex because I was unable to reach Cindy and demanded to have the Loans returned after I got a clear understanding what was taken out on my name.  Alex also started to give me a round around and said I got a new Financial Adviser Kimyada Jones. I knew right there and then I was a victim with all the others, and I told Alex I refuse to be a victim and I read the complaints and the same story line was used on me. I emailed Kimyada Jones and she told me that Cindy Hernandez is still my adviser. Finally I reached Cindy and  the whole blame was put on me because I signed something I had no idea it was about Unsubsidized and Subsidized Loans and was manipulated to believe it was for the Pell Grant. Cindy yet again proceeded to tell me something I had no acknowledge off and how she went over this information that was all new to me.

I was lied to from the start and If I stated many times to Alex and Cindy about my beliefs on the Loans, and each time they manipulated me to believe something completely different. I told Cindy I wanted to return the Loans and she told me the first two courses have been used and can't be returned after they made sure they made a profit. She told me I will have to pay back $1,800 in Loans and I even started I wouldn't continue because I was taken advantage off. She told me it's best to continue on, I told her I would call her back after I spoke to Fafsa and never stated I would continue with GCU. I got a letter now stating I have to pay back $1,555.00 to GCU. I called Cindy today 4/15/2014 to ask her about the Loans and she said because I didn't drop out that it went against me. Cindy did not mention anything about dropping out and that the rate would go up if I was inactive through the second course, even after she was under impression I wouldn't continue on and through the whole conversation she never once mentioned any accurate information yet again. She is very unprofessional and lied that she did go over something I never once heard from her, once she and the school made a profit, the ugly side of the truth come out of her. I am very disgusted by GCU and this school needs to be investigated and so many students are in debt because of GCU. 

I do feel like I was a victim, and I never got a clear understanding how the Financial Aid would be disbursed and if they charged by each course (which I was under impression) I would have been able to afford it with Pell Grant. They take out Loans to profit off students and manipulate them to sign and believe something completely different. I refused to pay back GCU, and the Loans I will fight in court. Please investigate GCU and take actions against them, prevent others from getting scammed.  Thank you.

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