I enrolled at BCC but they misinformed me about my Bright Futures scholarship, saying it wouldnt come in when it would. So this led me to withdraw from my classes (cuz I can't pay out of pocket). And the lady who withdrew me told me I wouldnt be charged.
Six weeks later, I get a letter saying I owe them money for classes ($500 for 2 classes), since it turns out I withdrew 2 days after the deadline.
Is there any way out of this? Or do I have to sit back and let them screw me over...
2006-12-21 08:33:47 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Financial Aid
You can claim a hardship, but I find that these places are rather flinty when it comes to money
2006-12-21 08:35:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you enroll in the college, you're supposed to play by their rules, howeverI would go back to the lady who said you wouldn't be charged and explain the situation to her. BE VERY NICE! Don't accuse her or the college or anyone, just say you want to get this straightened out. People make mistakes and if you give them a chance they are often willing to help you.
If she is unable to help you, remember she is just doing her job and has to abide by the rules her employer sets, thank her for her efforts and explain you understand that it's beyond her control. I suggest you write a letter to the registrar. AGAIN BE VERY NICE! Politely explain what happened, send them a copy of the drop slip and write that you think it's unfair since they contributed to the problem both by misinforming you about the scholarship and in telling you that you were two days too late when you withdrew. Stress that you want to work out some solution, again make sure you don't accuse them. Make sure it is a nice letter, well-written in a professional style. If you need help, email a copy of the letter and I will help you with the letter.
If you back someone into a corner and he can't escape he'll fight back. Give them a chance to gracefully help with your situation. If they offer a compromise such as they will only charge you $250, grab it. If they are unable to help you, ask them nicely and politely if there is an appeal process.
When you have gone through this procedure, regardless of the outcome, send a thank you letter to both the lady and to the registar telling them how grateful you are they took the time to address your problem. Even better, if you were to give the lady a small boquet of flowers from the supermarket or somewhere where they const $4 or $5 and thanked her for her efforts, you would score huge points with her and others in the office.
One caveat, make sure you really are in the right and not seeing it in your own eyes before you do this. If you were informed two weeks or so before you dropped then you contributed to the problem and probably should not get them to credit your account.
Again be very nice and try to understand their point of view.
Good luck. Let us know what happens. BTW, you'll find this will work well throughout your life.
tfedge
2006-12-21 08:56:07 · answer #2 · answered by tfedge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if you officially withdrew from the classes by the deadline (most colleges have a withdrawl deadline about four weeks into the quarter/semester), you should not have to pay for the classes.
Go back to the lady you talked to, or bring the bill and proof of your withdrawal to the Registrar's Office. Probably their accounting department just didn't catch up with this in time.
2006-12-21 08:44:59 · answer #3 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are very fortunate, you will be able to talk to the person who withdrew you from your classes and she will be able to work things out because she has records or remembers talking to you. If you have no proof that you were told there would not be a charge, you are out of luck! Every school has written rules that make it your responsibility to know when withdrawal dates are listed for classes. Anytime someone tells you that you won't be charged after any dates that are posted, you MUST get that promise in writing from the person in charge. Otherwise, it is your bill that you are obligated to pay to the college.
2006-12-21 08:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by Paula P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd talk to them about this. Did you happen to get the name of the lady who withdrew you from your classes? The one who said you wouldn't be charged? If you can go to the accounts office in person and calmly and politely explain the situation they may be able to stretch their policy on the withdrawal deadline.
I know it's frustrating but they'll be much more apt to help if you go in without an attitude. Good luck.
2006-12-21 08:39:50 · answer #5 · answered by eyz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are federal deadlines for financial aid issues and if you withdrew after the deadline, then you are indeed legally responsible for the tuition for the courses. You are not being screwed over - you are an adult who has now learned a lesson I doubt you will forget.
2006-12-21 08:42:38 · answer #6 · answered by cottey girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're stuck. A deadline is a deadline and regardless of the circumstances, you were withdrawn after it passed..Your only hope is getting the lady who withdrew you to put in writing what she told you about not getting charged and then try to appeal to the powers that be at the school.
2006-12-21 08:41:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, you're probably going to pay for those classes.
If your school is similar to mine, they have the deadline posted everywhere for this very specific reason. They announce it in class, it's on the syllabus, it's on the schedule, it's on the website, etc.
You are responsible for the drop date, not the person who told you. She may have told you incorrectly, but it is not her responsibilty to check on the deadline -- it's yours.
I hate to be harsh, but it's true. And I went through the same thing three years ago, only it cost me $850 for one class that I never took. No amount of begging or pleading is going to help.
2006-12-22 02:55:27 · answer #8 · answered by tifftheneutron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, you DID withdraw 2 days after the deadline but i'd still go back and beg and try to convince them... whoever it is that you convince, make sure you say thank you and you're super nice to them...
i got my state residency reinstated by just asking... the lady said i was a couple months too old to claim dependency on my parents but since i did show her that i had been living in the state for 6+ years and i had bank and other paper records to show her and i was nice to her, and she knew i really needed it so i could have lower tuition and be able to transfer, she gave it to me =)
2006-12-21 08:45:00 · answer #9 · answered by M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call the registrar and tell them what happened. as long as you withdrew by the correct date, you should be ok. usually after that, you still have to pay for some of the fees. but since they told you that you wouldn't be charged, there may be some way around it. good luck. college bureaucracies suck.
2006-12-21 08:41:04 · answer #10 · answered by jit bag 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go back to the school and talk to the lady who actually withdrew you and try to go from there with the collection department. If they pull the attendance records and the womand vouches for you, you should be able to get them to resind the debt.
2006-12-21 08:37:13 · answer #11 · answered by slsmjr 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋