Ashford University

Tammie of Montezuma, GA March 25, 2009

Tammie of Montezuma GA (03/25/09)
I was having so many difficulties with my financial aid at Ashford university, that I decided to take a break after my grandmothers death, and what a big mistake that was. They had me registered in classes that I did not ask for. I took a leave of absence, and decided not to return, and why did I do that. They started calling saying I owed money when I never received any type of money from them, so I asked them to explain to me what I supposely owed them. I was supposed to receive financial aid. Now they have a debt collection agency calling me day, nights, and weekends, why is that?

Debt collecting agency alw which other people are complaining about as is, is continously calling me, so I asked them to send me something explaining to me how I owe anything. My credit is already a mess, and adding this on is even more fustrating. I need help now!!!

Loretta of Fullerton, CA February 12, 2009

Loretta of Fullerton CA (02/12/09)
My program kept getting scheduled incorrectly and I could not get any follow-through from my assigned academic advisor, H. Hancock. She sent emails, then didn't read my replies, which became obvious the first time I finally connected with her by telephone. At that time, she had to be made to pull my messages up and read through them, and even then, she kept trying to stop to talk about something else. She would tell me she had fixed a scheduling problem, and days later, it would not only still be wrong, the accounting department was sending me invoices for tuition. This happened three times before I just gave up and withdrew.

This was back in November, 2008. Since that time, despite emails and voice mails, she has continued to cheerfully call me and email me monthly, wanting to know why I'm not enrolled in a class and what my intentions are. My last two voice messages back to her have been left at shriek level, and it's made no difference!

So far, I have not yet been pressed for additional money or threats about withholding any credit. I pay in full for every class I take, anywhere, and do not use grants or student loans, but I am concerned that Ms. Hancock's conduct may be indicative of a bigger problem at Ashford and that this may not be the last I've heard from them.

Darryl of Philadelphia, PA January 27, 2009

Darryl of Philadelphia PA (01/27/09)
Ashford University overbilled 4,067.75 for tution, I have left this University numerous emails and phone calls to have them refund this amount to me because I didn't re-enroll in any classes there and I transferred to another University, I was sent an electronic receipt from them on 12/23/08 stating that they received 12,271.25 and that my account was paid in full,but they billed me for 16,271.00 dollars, I sent them an email informing them of this but they won't respond at all and this is very frustrating that they can get away with keeping 4,067.75 of my tuition money

In addition to this I was constantly harrassed by Ashford University to pay them 16,271.00 even though I was still attending school, they then put me in a collection agency nemed Cain & Weiner who also harrassed me by calling me all times of the day and night even at work.

The economic damage is that I need this money to continue my education because books are very expensive and it is very frustrating for a University to take tution money that I will have to pay back to my Lender Wells Fargo and this money isn't being used by me for the school I am currently attending.

Carolyn of Allen Park, MI January 18, 2009

Carolyn of Allen Park MI (01/18/09)
I have been threatened by the university that if I do not pay a fee that I was not aware of when taking a break from taking classes my credit will be jeopardized. The admission counselor I joined the school with is conveniently no longer employed there and the school is saying I agreed to a 1800 fee which I did not since my employer only pays for credits and I as the student pay for books. I see this is a trick and others have complained online. I don't want to ask my work to pay for something that is not legitimate nor be harassed if not legit either if this is a scam!

Very disturbing to agree now to pay something I did not agree to. I was faxed over my and another student's application which I did not sign, they said i and the other student signed electronically. This did not happen at my other college (University of Phoenix) please advise.

Amy of Sandy, UT November 21, 2008

Amy of Sandy UT (11/21/08)
I am a single disabled mother who wanted to go back to school. I called Ashford University in April 2006 after I saw an advertisement on the internet. I first spoke with an enrollment counselor by the name of Eric. He told me that vocational rehab will pay for any additional expenses after my pellgrant. I told him that that was great, but I needed to call my counselor before I enrolled. He told me that there was no need to and I needed tojust get the process started. I filled out all of the paperwork including the financial aid and I started class thefollowing Tuesday.

In the meantime, I left a message formy vocational rehab counselor. I found out that Ashford University was not on their approved list. I called Eric and he told me that yes they were that I just needed to talk to their vocrehab specialist. It took her a few weeks to call me back. When I found out that Ashford was not approved and that I still had to pay for the class I was enrolled in because I was in the third week of class, I decided to finish that class and then transfer to an approved college. My class ended in the last week of May. I enrolled at theUniversity of Phen. and waited until Ashford released my financial aid as they had setthe dates up for an entire year so I could not get aid anywhere else.

I called Ashford 2 x a week and was told everytime that it would be done that week. After 4 weeks and it was still not done, I came up with a plan with my voc rehab counselor to go back to Ashford and use my pell and a little bit of student loans at the same time as a local college which they would pay for. So I called Ashford back and they put me back in classes. I talked with financialaid at the time (Martha) and she said that everything was fine on her end. I am a straight A student with a 3.9 grade point average.

In August I noticed on my student account that they refunded my student loans and pell grant. I called Marthat and left her several messages. When she did not return my calls I spoke with another financial aid counselor. I was told that they sent my financial aid back and was repackaging it for the 2007-2008 academic year instead of 2006-2007. She said it was just a formality. then in December, there was still no money on my account.

I then called in September to check the status andspoke with Chrystal, shesaid that the counselor before her did notnote it on my account to resend the email and she would put a rush on it. I did this and called to verify she received it on September 3. At the same time I enquired anoutmy pell for the 2008-2009 year. She told me that I was still in the 2007-2008 year. I did not understand this as I was in the end of my second academic year there. She said that when they repackaged my student loans they forgot to process my pell grant for my first year and left my student loan year in the 2006-2007 year. I was just out a full year of pell grants and she was sorry. I was furious. She said that I should have the additional money that I requested by the end of the month.

In october I called several times. I was told they were still working on it.Finally I received an award letter stating that my money wsto be disbursed in November. I also receieved an email saying that student loans would be sent to students on the 7th and 14th week of the students academic year. I again called and this time my counselor was changed to Sandra. She told me that the additional money that I requested did not was not included int the disbursement dates. I would get it as soon as they received it. On Novemebr 18 the first part was posted to my account. I noticed that a check for 338.00 was posted tobe sent tome.I called Sandra on November 20 and she then told me that I get 30% on week 7 and he remaining on week 14. The additional 2,000 isnot in the first 30% because it came to them late, but I would get it on week 14. This will be after Christmas before I see it. Everytime I call I get a different story.

First I was shorted 4500 dollars in federal pell grant money. Was lied to from the beginning. I was also counting on the additional student loan money or I would not have requested it. My children are not going to have a Christmas now and I fear that they are holding the money because they are in financial problems.

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