Ashford University of Clinton, Iowa

[doug02346]

Ashford University of Clinton, Iowa, is a nightmare. My son was pushed into enrolling. And we started paperwork for financial aid. Ashford never got it right. They kept calling him saying the paperwork was wrong and he had to fill out the same forms over and over. He took 2 classes while all of this was going on. Finally he got an email saying he was dropped from the university with no explanation. About a month later he got an email from one of their collectors saying he owed them $3700 and he must pay in within 15 days. The email address it came from was said do not answer this email because you will get no reply. They only had an address to send the money. Now they are telling him if he don't pay within 5 days they will add 33% interest. He is unemployed and has no means to pay it. There is no way to contest the debt because there is no email address or phone number to call, only the address to send the money. He can't even negotiate payment terms because there is no way to contact anyone at the school.

We can't get pro bono legal aid from Iowa because we are not residents. No legal aid service in our home state of Massachusetts will take the case.

We are out of options and don't know what will become of this situation.

[AFFA]

I wish to inform you that you may send a letter to Ashford University stating that you do not owe any money. In your case your son is bound by the terms and condition which exists when your child was in University. As there is no amount due till that time therefore your son cannot be made liable. Your son can be made liable only if fees or charges of university are not paid when your son was student. Further rate of interest of 33% can be applied only if your son has agreed to such a ate of interest. If your son has never agreed to such a rate of interest then he cannot be made liable for 33% a rate of interest. If University takes any legal action then your son can inform court that he is not liable. Your son may further demand basis of such an amount from University.

AFF

Based on what you say here, you could file suit against them (or at least threaten to do so) in small claims court or in regular court; filing in small claims court is easier and requires no attorney...you could try to collect all of the costs and damages that you suffered due to their behavior...


You may also report them to your state attorney general's office.

[msg]

You might also write them and ask for full billing details as a first step.