Un-enrolled, but still have to pay?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by littleFish, May 23, 2003.

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  1. littleFish

    littleFish New Member

    I paid a school $500 down payment to start their MBA program, and later changed my mind. I held on to the materials that were e-mailed to me and never corresponded with the professor for two weeks, then made a decision to un-enroll.

    I have made no additional payments, although the total cost for the course was to be paid over the next 16 weeks.

    They are not giving me a refund nor a partial refund on the down payment of $500, even though I received nothing except e-mails with syllabus and instructions and assignments. The contract I THOUGHT I agreed to was that I would get a percentage of the fee back if I un-enroll within a certain time frame.

    Is this typical of distance learning? Shouldn't I expect to receive SOME of my money back? How can they charge me $500 when I received nothing? In fact, they tell me I OWE THEM money still because I waited two weeks on a sixteen week course.

    Any advice? I sent e-mails to the accountants. I will reveal the name of the school once I get their final response to my second request for a refund.

    Thank you for your help.
     
  2. Jeff Hampton

    Jeff Hampton New Member

    Let me guess... Kennedy-Western.
     
  3. littleFish

    littleFish New Member

    No. It is regionally accredited school.
     
  4. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    I don't think so. Kennedy Western are smart enough to get more than $500 out of you up front.

    Most universities will keep a fraction of the total course fee (not just a fraction of the down payment) if you withdraw. Here is the refund schedule at the institution at which I teach:

    100% of total: From the date of registration until the 1st class meeting
    75% From the 1st class meeting until the second week's 1st class meeting
    50% From the second week's 1st class meeting until the third week's 1st class meeting
    25% From the third week's 1st class meeting until the fourth week's 1st class meeting
    0% From the fourth week's first class meeting

    So based on this schedule, a person in littleFish's situation would owe 50% of the total course fee (which would probably be more than $500).
     
  5. Charles

    Charles New Member

    LittleFish,

    I'm not sure that this is unreasonable. What does your enrollment document/student handbook say regarding withdrawal. Oxpecker's drop/withdrawal policy appears to be more generous than many.
     
  6. littleFish

    littleFish New Member


    The schedule is similar to Oxpecker's, actually. The handbook states this, but doesn't make it clear that if you are on a payment plan that you could owe money instead of being given a refund. I did not know this, nor was it explained.

    I don't think it is fair, since I never got any instruction that would warrant keeping any of my money.

    If I have to pay the additional money anyway, I may as well just take the course. THey have a rather rigid course plan, with a certain order, but now that I have been soured on the experience, I don't want the degree anymore, but there is one course I wouldn't mind taking.

    Somehow, I have the feeling I'm stuck with the crappy entry course that I don't want, and I'm out of my money, too.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 23, 2003
  7. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

    > I don't think it is fair, since I never got any instruction that
    > would warrant keeping any of my money.


    Two reasons why it might be fair:
    (1) If enrollment is too low, sometimes an institution cancels the course for that term. If people enroll and then drop, they may be forced to go ahead and pay the professor etc, for a course that will result in a loss for them.
    (2) Alternatively, if enrollment is too high, there may be a limit on the number of students they can accept. Somebody else may have been turned away because the spot was reserved for you.

    > The handbook states this, but doesn't make it clear that if
    > you are on a payment plan that you could owe money instead
    > of being given a refund. I did not know this, nor was it
    > explained.


    You expected students on a payment plan to bear less financial responsibility than students not on a payment plan?
     
  8. littleFish

    littleFish New Member


    THe school is correspondence, rolling admissions, and no course is dependent on enrollment due to the fact that there are no real online classes.

    I expect to get a service for a fee. I paid a fee, and changed my mind about getting the service, so I am due at least a partial refund.

    If you buy a correspondence course from say, Education Direct, and you don't like the material, you should return the stuff for a refund, right?

    Only I got no material. I got a file emailed to me.
     
  9. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster



    NorthCentral University?

    Hope Not!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 24, 2003
  10. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster


    This NCU Policy:

    LEARNER RIGHTS TO DROP A PROGRAM

    A Learner has the right to cancel the Enrollment Agreement and withdraw from the University at any time by notifying the University in writing. The date the notification is postmarked or emailed is the effective date of the withdrawal.

    All refunds are based on the amount paid for the current semester, less a processing fee of $25. Refunds will be paid to the Learner within 30 days of notice of withdrawal. The refund schedule for Learners who withdraw from the University is as follows:
    Before the semester begins 100%
    Within 7 days of the semester start date 80%
    Within 14 days of the semester start date 60%
    Day 15 of the semester or thereafter 0%

    Sound pretty much like your situation!
     
  11. Han

    Han New Member

    So, from the school's point of view, you were in the class for two weeks, right? You were in the class to them, since you didn't notify them. I hope you get something back, but see how the school thinks that a full refund is not warrated. I think you should get a partial refund, since you dropped in week 2. Hopefully, you got it in writing that they received your notice of withdrawl.

    Good Luck.
     
  12. littleFish

    littleFish New Member

    Yes, it is NCU.

    They are saying since the course cost $1000, and I paid $500...60% of $1000 is $600, so I owe $100! (Withdrew in writing during the two week period.)

    I understood at the time I agreed to participate that I would be getting 60% refund of whatever I had paid so far.

    Am I a dummy?

    I don't like that first course, LS610, a research course (it is nothing BUT fluff crap). I discussed this issue, aside from the finance problem, and the result is I would have to pay an additional $50 to become a non-degree status student so that I don't have to take the courses in their exact prescribed order.

    Sigh.
     
  13. littleFish

    littleFish New Member

    I got e-mails from their accounting department, which is SCUPS.edu. I looked up this school and researched it here on this board.

    I had no idea NCU was affiliated with another school.
     
  14. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    I have read the Catolog three times, I have pointed out couples of problems with it, They keep changing a lot, and even spoke with them about that. If I decide to go with them, I told them that I want everything in writing in reference the tuition increase because, when I send my evaluation their current catolog was $250 per credit and the claw me in $300 in the old catolog. What is the answer for this, "small group of people would be affected by this no need to put it in web." but I bet you I can get that same tuition, after I give this to my lawyer.

    So, courses in the old catolog is $1,200 in contrast of $1125 new catolog. The different is that in old catolog will be cheaper that new one for the whole program. I even spoke with the president and he assure me the tuition increases will be prorated. See I am scare they jump me from $300 to current tuition the old catalog be at par if not more expensive than new one. I will wait unitl I have enrollment agreement and my lawyer evaluates it.

    If does not work out I can still go to Argosy, which I am giving a lot of consideration!
     
  15. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    Believe or not SCUPS is the Parent company!

    NCU is run from SCUPS!
     
  16. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster


    If I decide not to go there, it will cost me $100 dollars, just for looking around!

    :eek:
     
  17. Myoptimism

    Myoptimism New Member

    If this information is correct, they owe you $100.

    Tony
     
  18. Pizzaman

    Pizzaman New Member

    Your luck, they took 4K from me, I'm still fighting with them.

    NCU, Not....
     
  19. littleFish

    littleFish New Member


    Does anyone else believe I owe money? I'm kind of taking a sanity poll here...please feel free to comment, those who have not already.


    My two personal experiences with for-profit education has been poor, but I'm wondering if that is because my expectations are unrealistic.
     
  20. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster


    If you can tell, what were the reasons for not continuing the program?
     

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