Business Computer Training Institute BCTI This school was a scam. 14 years later, I'm still paying for it! Fife Washington

I attended BCTI in Fife, WA in 2002. They promised a wonderful career after completing and receiving the "Computer Applications Certificate" (aka worthless piece of paper). Being 19, a new mom, I trusted the enrollment advisor that their programs were better than going to a community college and she rushed me through enrollment which she filled out herself and I just signed. She totally took advantage of my excitement and naive attitude. I wasn't told the programs were non-transferable and not accredited. Also wasn't told I had a time frame where I could quit early. This school was so deep in investigations and had problems, but I had no clue about all of it when I enrolled.

The training was nothing new or challenging, things I already learned in high school. Their software and computer equipment were out of date. The job I got after completion was a minimum-wage, part-time office assistant position at a non-profit organization, and in about $10,000 in debt. Today, I don't even put that I've attended this school on job applications, or else I wouldn't move forward in the hiring process. I still have close to $5,000 - $6,000 in federal loans which I had deferred and made forbaranced a lot. The private loans I've long since paid off, but they were harassing and kept me at low-income level and constant debt.

Since I found out about the school closures and lawsuits, a few years after, I felt like I missed out. But there is good news for those in the same boat as me, if you go to studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/borrower-defense#help, or google "Borrower defense forgiveness" and go to the StudentAid website, you can ask for loan forgiveness. This is for those that didn't know or wasn't notified the school closed, the fraudulent cases, and missed the lawsuit. So if you didn't go to court to sue the school, you can submit a request to the US Department of Education. Just google "BCTI school closures" and you'll see multiple news articles with evidence of all the illegal things this school did. I attached these to the loan forgiveness request I sent to the US Dept of Education.

In the state of Washington the law states, "Since the inception of the Degree-Granting Institutions Act in 1986, the agency has had the authority to both investigate student complaints and ensure protection of student records, such as transcripts. Additionally, the agency safeguards consumers by ensuring authorized schools meet minimum standards related to academic quality and financial ability; investigating institutions that may be operating illegally in the state; considering student complaints to determine if an institution is in violation of the Degree-Granting Institutions Act; providing a service to former students of closed institutions by providing copies of their transcripts; and by investigating institutions believed to be issuing false academic credentials. The Act also protects Washington consumers from substandard, fraudulent, and deceptive activities at degree-granting colleges and universities authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). In 2012, the Washington State Legislature enacted the False Academic Credentials law, RCW 9A.60.070, which both defines and provides penalties for the issuance or use of false academic credentials." (Washington Student Achievement Council - Protecting Education Consumers)

To get a transcript, the Washington Student Achievement Council has a list of closed schools (BCTI is on the list) you can request it from them. They have instructions and form to fill out on their website. You can also go to MyStudentData.com and find out all of your loan and school attended information.

Good luck to you all.