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Report: #155967

Complaint Review: University Of Phoenix - Online - Internet

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Port Orchard Washington
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
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  • University Of Phoenix - Online uopxonline.com Internet U.S.A.

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I need advice regarding University of Phoenix. Approximately, two years ago I enrolled (after much pressure via UOP staff)in one of their BS degree programs.

I was "promised" at that time that all of my expenses for the first year were covered by the amount borrowed via US Educational Loans. I explained to them at this time that I could not attend if I had to pay anything out of pocket as I was not employed. I was told by both Admissions and Finanical Aid offices that there was "no problem and everything was covered" and many phone calls were made to alay my fears as I was reduced to tears on more than one occasion during the admission process.

Two weeks out from completing my first course I received a bill for $5700.00. Many of my fellow classmates also received similar type bills at the same time and relayed eerily-similar admission horror stories; thus, prompting more than 3/4 of my class to have to withdraw completely.

Upon contacting UOP and expressing my shock and horror at being bullied into enrolling under false pretense, I was informed that I they were "unaware of any such 'promises'" and told to withdraw before the start of my 2nd class in order to not be charged anything more, which I promptly proceeded to do.

From that time up to today's date they have continued to hold firm that I owe them $636.00 or exactly "half" of the amount owed for the second class, which I did not take and according to the FA offices, withdrew from in the appropriate manner and time. They have ruined my credit by sending this to collections and refuse to admit any wrongdoing.

How and why do they think I am responsible to pay for a course that I did not take and what legal action is there for holding them accountable for the unethical enrollment practices that adhere to?

Any and all help regarding this is very much appreciated.

Regards ~

Tammy
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/04/2005 02:15 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/university-of-phoenix-online/internet/university-of-phoenix-online-financial-aid-scam-internet-155967. 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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Updates & Rebuttals

REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
3Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#3 UPDATE Employee

Response

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, September 25, 2005

Tammy,

At no point in my post did I insult or attack your character. I am pointing out facts because I work in Online Enrollment for UOP. I know how the process works. I help students fill out paperwork every day. My students are very satisfied with the level of service I have given them.

I apologize for misunderstanding you did not attend the second class. If that is the case then you should not be made to pay for that second class. The way attendance is monitored is by the posts you make each week. Weekly attendance is met by posting once on two different days in one week. Thank you for that clarification.

NowI am assuming that this means you only attended one class at UOP. Pass or fail, if you did not continue on in the second class then your funds would not have posted from your financial aid. If that is the case then it is possible that the amount they are charging you is from the first class not the second class.

I do not know your situation but I am not trying to make snide comments either. The amount of $5700 doesn't seem right for the cost of tuiton and books for even 4 classes. That amount however sounds more like a financial award letter. For the 05-06 Aid year the amount at level 2 is $7500, level 3/4 is at $10500. As a level 2 student you may have gotten a $3600 disbursement for the first 6 months with Maximum $2050 grant. That would total about $5650. Or maybe you were a level 3 student at $5040 disbursement with a $700 grant. I don't know, I can only assume from your comments.

Regardless, I am aware of the process and I am trying to logically dissect the situation to see where the problems are stemming from.

As far as loan amounts that you qualify for, this is based on transfer credit. If you tell your counselor that you have an AA from another school during your first interview, he is probably expecting that you will transfer a minimum of 45 credits or more to meet General Education requirements. Unless a pre-evaluation done, you won't know for sure. Even pre-evaluations can be wrong since the process is based on your OFFICAL not UNOFFICAL transcripts.

I don't like to make assumptions but I can't exactly be on your side unless you state all the facts. If you choose not to state the whole situation, as is your right, then you should prepare to have your opinion criticized on this forum. Good luck.

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#2 Author of original report

do not deserve your uninformed inferences and do not agree with your pseudo legal advice

AUTHOR: Tammy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, September 24, 2005

Robert,

You failed attempt to appear nonpartisan in your refute to my claim was quite frankly off-base.

In response to your rebuttal and poorly contrived insults to my character. I will restate my original complaint. I DID NOT attend the 2nd class at all, not once; therefore, I do not feel "responsible" to pay for that class. I did pay for the first and only class attended in full.

Also, the "invoice" for 5700.00 was the total amount due for all classes. Your suggestion that I exaggerated this is ridiculous; as you, yourself, stated you DO NOT know my situation and yet feel comfortable to make snide commentary.

In summary, this is amount far exceeded my FASFA loan and is in fact, according to both electronic and telephone communication with said financial advisor, a vastly different amount than was originally quoted to me by UOP. This was both documented and understood that the only charges I would/could incur would be the amount UOP quoted to me and covered by my financial aid.

FYI - Invoice as defined by Merriam-Webster's is as follows: 1 : an itemized list of goods shipped usually specifying the price and the terms of sale : BILL

I respect the forum of discussion here, but do not deserve your uninformed inferences and do not agree with your pseudo legal advice.

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#1 UPDATE Employee

Financial Aid works a great deal differently than what you seem to expect

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, September 24, 2005

Tammy,

First off I am sorry to hear about your experience.

Now when you fill out the Financial Aid Appication for UOP Online there is a section that you must ackowledge you have read that states the following:

Shortfall in Funding:

Many undergraduate financial aid applicants will not receive enough funding to cover tuition costs for the academic year and should choose a secondary form of payment for those costs in excess of awarded financial aid funds. Eligibility requirements for financial aid funds vary based on the number of transfer credits accepted by the institution. Students must pay tuition not covered by financial aid prior to each course start date. Please contact your local campus for details on shortfall payment options and due dates.


That shortfall covers the expectation that there will be an out of pocket expense. This is something you had to have acknowledged. If you skipped past it without reading, I am very sorry but it is quite clearly spelled out for you.

The "bill" you state you recieved you will notice does not have a due date on it. This is because it is not a bill, it is an invoice of the cost for the class you are taking. I don't knwo your situation or the classes you are taking etc. but $5700 seems a bit excessive. If I didn't know any better I would say you are exaggerating this amount. That amount sounds more like an Financial Aid award letter to me.

If 3/4 of your class dropped out due to a misconception of an invoice then clearly they also did not read that it is just an invoice.

The withdraw policy states that they will refund the cost of tuition on a prorated basis up until the third week of class. This means that if you made attendance for only the first two weeks you will get refunded 60% back of the tuition you paid. Three weeks of attendance and you will get refunded back 40%. Four weeks of attendance and you get nothing back because at that point you are eligible for a grade.

These are all policies you have to have acknoledge that you have read and understand or you cannot enroll.

As far as the amount that you owe... my figures come out to about $640 due with two weeks of attendance and the online books so $636 sounds about right.

I think you should hold yourself responsible for not meeting your financial aid obligations or signing something you did not fully understand. You should consult a legal professional about the documentation UOP had you sign so they can point out how flawed your argument is. I don't mean to be disrespectful but if you try to pursue legal action they will pull out the paperwork you signed and acknowledged. Hope this helps and good luck in the future.

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