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Erika of Franklin, OH December 30, 2008
I have been a student at UOP since 2007. I've had numerous issues with them but this last one was the straw that broke the camel's back. I found out I was pregnant the beginning of my second week in my two new classes, and I immediately called for a medical leave because I had been very sick and tired all the time. They denied it and told me to stick it out. I ended up having to drop my algebra class because I could not pass.
My advisor, Steven N. told me to just miss attendance the week I informed him of this, as I had already missed two weeks of it, and I would be dropped from the class. He assured me it was the same as withdrawing and that I was only going to be charged for the weeks I was in attendance so the total should have been around 600 dollars. Instead they are telling me I have to pay the full 975 for the entire course.
I had previously gotten a private loan from Sallie Mae that I needed for personal reasons. I'm 23 making minimum wage on 2-3 days a week and pregnant. They just cut the last check of 2k and even had the gall on the phone to say I have 2k to pay for this class. I not so calmly explained to him that the money is for other obligations otherwise I would never have borrowed it, therefore they would not see a penny of it. Not lying to me and deceiving me as they did. I'm sick of them!
Elizabeth of Glens Falls, NY October 18, 2008
After enrolling in the online program and finding it a very ineffective way to learn (most students could barely spell or correctly use grammar, the assignments were equivalent if not easier than any assignment I've done in high school) I decided to drop my courses and decide if I wanted to attend a college close to my home or enroll in a vocational nursing program.
I spoke with my financial advisor Alicia who informed me that I would have a balance of approximately 1,200. I then asked her if sent to collections, would I be able to make steady payments until my balance was paid in full. She stated that most of the time, that's what people did to resolve their balance. Yesterday I receieve a call from Sherry in the collections department. She states that I owe a balance of 2,888.90 and it is due immediately. In addition to being very rude during the entire course of the conversation, she told me that I had incurred extra fees over 1,000 dollars in extra fees, yet she would not tell me why or what for. I then explained to her what Alicia had told me about paying in steady amounts until the balance was paid and she told me that the financial advisor had no idea what goes on in the collections department and she was giving me false information. When I explained to Sherry that I do not have almost 3,000 dollars just lying around she suggested I apply for a credit card to pay my balance or start begging family and friends for the money. I gave her an amount of money that I could pay immediately and then make a monthly payment every month. She then told me that was not acceptable and that the amount was due in full. She also told me that they had sent me a bill in the mail in July and recieved no response. Having gotten nothing from them, I asked her how exactly I could have responded. She replied with unfortunately, that is your problem. She then informed me that I had 48 hours to contact her back with payment or they would proceed with legal action against me. She gave me her contact information and hung up. After thinking for a few minutes about how I was going to deal with this women and get her to understand that I realize I am responsible for the bill and have full intention of paying it, I decide to call her back and speak with a supervisor. I was hoping to speak with someone who was not so rude and to understand my financial situation (I am a single mom living far below the poverty line.) Well, I attempted to contact Sherry again at the phone number she provided only to hear the message that the number has been disconnected!!
I am now terrified that some kind of legal action will be placed against me. I have nothing of value to take and I'm barely surviving. I have been trying since yesterday afternoon to reach the people in the collections department only to be run around in circles without an end in sight. Ruth of Sumter, SC October 18, 2007
I have been thinking about withdrawing. I just started and my first 2 classes will be over 11-11-07. I have asked 5 people for a withdrawal form and the conditions. Still no answer, John in finances was supposed to call today but did not. I was told that I only needed an associates degree to a get a web design job. They did not post my entire schedule until last week and I only have 18 core credits; but I have 21 credits of writing. They have already received 3500.00 from Sallie Mae. I got the statement last week. So far no answers as to why, just a run around from everyone. I have A's in both classes. We're in the 6th wk and there are only 9 weeks in each class.
Justin of Johnstown, PA October 11, 2007
While trying to withdraw from the online program, I was told that I have to pay the full tuition for the class even though I posted for, at most, a week and a half. When I went to their enrollment centers I spoke with a gentleman that informed me that I would only have to pay 20-25 percent of the tuition fee. Then, out of nowhere, their affiliate, the Apollo Group, started to take money out of my account. I was under the impression and was even told by a UOP rep that no money transactions were to be made until the completion of the class and even then they would allow up to 60 days for the tuition to be paid.
When I questioned UOP about this transaction they informed me that they had no record of the Apollo Group attempting to take money. However, three days ago I received a letter from them indicating that they did indeed try to take money out but could not.
It has been a complete nightmare just trying to withdraw over the past week and a half.
Wes of Decatur, AL October 4, 2007
I attended many classes at University of Phoenix. I started a new job and told my counselor I couldn't afford to spend time on my next class so I didn't want to start it. She told me as long as I dropped the class in the first week I would get a full refund but to try the class and see if I thought I could handle the load. After 3 days I knew that I couldn't support the class so I tried to call her and drop it. I left several messages. I also emailed my counselor and my financial counselor to let them know I needed to drop the class and get the stated refund. Turns out my academic counselor was let go. They did drop me from the class and they did acknowlege I was trying to do so in the first week, but it was their fault it didn't happen, and that my account would be credited back to my student loan. Seven months later I get a call from the school telling my they are starting the collection process for 1300 I owe them. Seven months! Turns out I got a new finnacial counselor and she found faults in my case and had to send me to collections. Now they tell me the policy is once you log in to class one time you owe the full amount and thus I owe them the full amount for the class. They tell me there is no recourse for this and that I should have read the course drop manual that was not provided to me and which I have not found to date. They say I have no choice but to pay.
Potential black mark on credit. Can't transfer my classes to another school. Stress dealing with this school that will not even talk to you in person.
Robert of Lake City, FL December 26, 2006
I was attending University of Phoenix for about a year. I was receiving financial aid and using the National Guards tuition assistance. In January of '06 I was activated to deploy to Iraq for 12 months. I notified the school and my military liasion there, Rika, immediately so that I could get a military withdrawal. She advised me to be put on leave of absence instead so i could pick up when i returned from duty.
I agreed and she said all she needed was a copy of my orders. I did not have a copy yet, and told her that and she said to get it to her when i got a chance. I didn't end up deploying until the end of Feb or beginning of March. I was in contact with her and she again said no problem.
When I finally deployed I was gone in training for about a month when due to an injury I was sent back home. I contacted Rika once during the time I was gone in response to a request for orders. I told her we still did not have official orders yet, which was true. when i was sent back home, the first thing i did was try to enroll back into class only to find out that they had, in 3 weeks time, declared my account inactive, returned any money to the lender for financial aid, and sent the leftover balance to their collection agency.
I tried for about 2 months to resolve the situation speaking to everyone in the food chain from Rika to Mike B (the next person down in finance below the president of the school) All refused to help and said I was to pay them 1900 dollars that i owed and they would still not take anything off my credit report.
I needed to stay focused on school so i enrolled in the local community college and started classes in summer. After starting class there, Ted G, 2 positions above Rika, calls me and says they found the mistake and all i owe is 350 dollars and he could get me enrolled, but the catch was the i had to enroll back with UOP immediately. I told him I already enrolled in another school and they would have to wait until this class was over. He said no deal.
I didn't have the money since i just enrolled in another school and was out of work for a month after i returned home due to injury. He laughed at me and said what was the point in me disputing it if I didn't have any money anyways? i tried to explain to him that the situation would have been different if they had listened to me to begin with. So now this is on my report and I have turned to a military attorney for help.
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