State University of New York at Potsdam

Gerald of Athens GA (7/21/03):
Upon graduation at this dubious facility, in June of 1996 I had moved on thinking of possibly pursuing a masters degree, and or doctorate if opportunities didn't prove to be forthecoming. Lo and behold they did not.

I had made financial arrangement for all of my loans to be consolidated, and were accomplished adequately so by Sun, Inc. based out of Alabama. A few years later, I believe in the year 2000, I had decided that meager wages and a generally depressive market economy were sufficient indicators that I should pursue further education, and so I applied for further Educational Assistance. This is where the difficulties arise.

I was given a go by the State and Federal lending institutions, but when I requested that my records be released from SUNY Potsdam they refused. Upon further investigation I learned that they had sent a complaint to the State Attorney Generals Office for debts not paid. I investigated further and the State A.G. replied by claiming they had attempted to contact me at a previous address but could not, and so this case was railroaded through court and a judgment was ruled in favor of SUNY. Big suprise.

As if this isn't bad enough, I couldn't get either the State Attorney, nor the College to relay just what in the world I was being sued for. Furthermore, after speaking with a Federal Student Loan Affairs officer, who had access to all of the loans that were released to me during this time period, revealed that it was true no loans were taken out during this 'supposed' educational time period, either State and or Federally sponcered funding. SO on it went.

I learned after receiving paper work from the State Attorney General that this 'claimed' outstanding debt was a personal loan issued by the school, and furthermore, it was for a semester after I had graduated! The debt is releatively small, $1,800.00, but the repercussions have been great. I need to have this matter taken care of, and every attempt I have made to repair this infinitely annoying fiasco (through legal avenues and otherwise) has been quickly averted for reasons that there had already been a judgement made upon this case. Sabotage, for I have not been able to continue my education because of this complication.

Damage: A mulitiplicity of despair. I have not been able to pursue an advanced diploma, nor get my official diploma, nor have my transcripts released, and to further excacerbate the embarassment, I have been denied a myriad of loans and employment oppertunities because of this. This has been a cornerstone issue that has disrupted my life immensely, and has resulted in many decisions that may never have been considered, merely to accomodate this debt.

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