University of Phoenix - Withdrawal Credit

I started going to the University of Phoenix in February of 2010 to study IT with a concentration in Web Design. When my first block of classes finished, my classes did not update as they still did not have the option to look at future course available for me online, so I called Paul, my third academic adviser. He advised me that something was wrong but he would manually enter my information in and get me started with the next two courses.

Once the second block of courses was done I have to call him again because the classes were not updating. He told me that he will investigate why but in the mean time, he would manually make the changes again.

Two weeks from the end of my third block of classes, I received a call from Paul saying that they figured what was wrong and it was because they had me under the wrong degree program from the start and that I need to drop the two courses that I am currently taking. He also told me that one of the classes that I took previously, would not be counted toward my IT degree. I was furious but I kept my cool because they agreed that they would pay for my courses and refund me the money to do with as I pleased.

Then I started two new courses only to be told that another two courses that I completed would not count either. I went through the appeals process to have them count. Then in February of 2011 I was one of the lucky ones selected for verification.

I was advised by Leigha, my financial adviser, that they do not select the people to be verified, that the Department of Education does. I faxed in on their letter head the taxes from the previous year as well as a statement saying that we received child support for my step daughter. In March 2011, I received two phone calls, one from my financial adviser and one from the financial aid processing center saying the information was not received, that was after my husband faxed it twice the first time because of previous issue with "missing" faxed documents. Again, I got the information together, but at that point, my daughter no longer lived with us. So the processing center said that it was no big deal that I could just fax in a letter stating that we no longer receive child support. I emailed it that very night.

Well it was not until May that I received an email from Leigha saying that the information was still not received.

I called the processing center and they said that it was received that I needed to write a letter showing how much child support I received and my 2010 taxes needed to have all the boxes filled in. I advised that we filed via TurboTax and that there was no way for me to fill in the boxes unless I have printed and hand filled them. They said that was fine to do. I did it again and sent the email. A few days later I received a call from Leigha saying that they denied my information that I sent because I hand wrote the information, did not initial it and that the letter did not specify how much in child support we receive monthly. Again, I called the processing center and advised them that we did not receive child support any longer and that I did TurboTax. I asked them why if the Federal and the State does not need the boxes filled in, why would they?

I received a response saying that I need to fill out the tax return by downloading a copy from the IRS website, via Adobe, and fax it in. However, I also needed to send a letter stating what child support monies we received in the 2010 aide year. That was in May!

Rewinding a bit, around February I contacted my academic adviser to alert them to the gap in classes that they had me on, I asked them as well whether it would affect my financial aide and after Paul and Leigha talked, they advised me that it would not affect the timing of my aide. Fast forward to July, I started two new classes the first and second weeks of July and they received my loan monies, but still had not processed the Pell Grant stuff. Leigha rushed the information, or so she said, and I was advised that I would receive a response by the end of July and most likely receive my money by first week in August.

By the end of July I still had no update and Leigha said that she would check on it next week. This happened until last week when I contacted the processing center via my academic adviser to find out that Leigha coded my information wrong and nothing was submitted rush, not until July 19, and by that time, they had 11 days to process those requests. After 11 days, which was a Tuesday, August 4, they still have not processed anything. Natasha, the Senior Processing representative emailed me on Friday, August 5 to advise me that the information had been approved for verification however, the funds will be released on September 23 because of the staggering classes that I asked for! I advised her that I did not ask for the staggering classes., I was advised that the classes would be staggered based on the University of Phoenix policy because they did not want students to post in two classes on the same weeks and then homework in both classes the next week.

When I told Natasha that that's not acceptable, she just continued to tell me that there was nothing more that she could do. I politely hung up and called Leigha to advise her of the finding and she said that I should not have a delay for the classes, that they, were looking into it. I received a call from Leigha's manager and was advised that there was nothing that they could do because of the request for staggered classes that I asked for! Again, I advised him that I did not ask for it and I was advised that it would not affect my funding and distribution monies. I asked him if they could release the $2,450 that is sitting on my account for the next two courses and then re-coop their monies on the 23rd of September. They advised that I could not because, "the monies on account are loan monies, and that they are not allowed to release those funds".

After talking with him on the phone, I was pissed off and I hung up on him, knowing that this is getting nowhere. I sent Leigha a message via email saying that I will never recommend the University of Phoenix to anyone and that I will just finish my degree then say goodbye to this institution. I added that I'm glad I don't have to stay longer because University of Phoenix is not something that I can ne proud of.

I sent that email at 12:20pm, August 8 and two hours later at 2:35pm, I received an email from Leigha saying that her manager was able to go further "up the chain" and they can have the credit sent to my account. She advised that I will be receiving an email with a Credit Balance Request form attached and that I need to send it back. She added that the email will be sent by end of that business day and that she was sorry that the re-calculation happened and that she was not able to give accurate information. She said that she also feel terrible yet she is glad there is something that they are able to do for me for the mean time. By 5:48pm, I have not received the Credit Balance form and I emailed Leigha saying that "I believe that it is the end of the business day and I have yet to receive it (the form)."

After that I received a response, that was 6:29pm and it said, "I was told that the processing center was told by end of business today, the processing center should actually send it to you tomorrow." It is now the next day at 3:53pm and I still do not have the form.

I was involved in a head on collision and was not able to return to school for this reason. I sent a letter to redraw from my classes I attended and future classes, to my advisor and teachers. I had previously redrew from one of my classes because of personal situation. The teacher let me withdraw and the other gave me a F, noting this is after I was involved in a wreck, heavily medicated and probably out of it, which made my GPA a 2.0. Mind you, I have been making As, Bs and around the wreck time ended with a Cs.

I wanted to switch my Masters program from Education to Business. UOP would not allow this until I paid all the tuition from the current Masters program I was in. I could not pay the full tuition and tried to make payment arrangements. They denied any type of payment arrangement and wanted their money in full within 2 weeks. It went to collections at Reliant Capital where they also refused to make payment arrangements.

My HR dept received a call from Reliant stating that they will be putting a lien on my account. I contacted them again to make some kind of arrangement and was denied again. I even told them that I could pay the full balance in 2 months but they wanted half now and then the rest in two months. Now they are threatening to take me to court.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.