<p>First of all, I would like to reinerate from post number 15, that I personally do not ever lie on the fafsa or any such thing as that. I just am really not one for going to JAIL! </p>
<p>I learned from a Financial Aid head at my old University that there is going to be a FAFSA/IRS Match, where the income tax information which you type out on the FAFSA is automatically checked with the IRS and all of that. If you desire to learn of why I had to even speak with a Financial Aid head at my old University, please PM me.</p>
<p>I actually totally believe with that because it would do away with some of the fraud which occurs. To be honest with you, itstoomuch, I have a feeling that when this checking is the norm at every place, that a lot of folks who have always been honest are going to wind up maybe obtaining more money in grants and the like. The FAFSA/IRS automatic matching is not the norm everywhere and, if you are ever bored, you can read up on the legislation behind that by going to google and whatnot. </p>
<p>And itstoomuch, everyone who goes on this web site is not from the same area of the country. And not all of the people who go on this web site started off at a Top Tier University. I know that I totally did not start my higher education at the finest of Universities, which is why I transferred.</p>
<p>For example, I have never heard of what you are referring to with regards to financial aid professionals "auditing" other folks and whatnot. It does not mean that I do not believe it, it is just that I have never heard of that.</p>
<p>
[quote]
or example, I have never heard of what you are referring to with regards to financial aid professionals "auditing" other folks and whatnot. It does not mean that I do not believe it, it is just that I have never heard of that.
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</p>
<p>not sure if I know what you mean or it this pertains to us. </p>
<p>I recently had the occasion to visit our state engineering school, and I am impressed in the quality facility, equipment, and dedication that the school and the student have. We are fortunate to have a bright kid and to have invested well at the time of his birth. Bright people with a vision will overcome every obstacle to achieve their goal. The school is irrevelant-top tier means nothing to us other than we are able to afford the cost.</p>
<p>I was referring to your own posting, itstoomuch</p>
<p>"I don't know what school you go to but DS school audited us 4 years running and we didn't apply for FA other than Unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans, and maintenance on an institutional grant because of his stats. The Fafsa also corrected a $2.00 error (in the government's favor) in the 1040 which the Fafsa notified us but the IRS did not."</p>
<p>Maybe you were referring to the Income Verification?</p>
<p>There are schools that require a release from parents to get the tax returns and other financial info from the original sources. That takes care of sending bogus returns to the college. </p>
<p>There are a number of people who do cheat and do get away with it. This occurs in any number of situations not just college financial aid. The consequences can be severe if caught, however. More importantly, it's another milestone in life to build your integrity.</p>
<p>"There are schools that require a release from parents to get the tax returns and other financial info from the original sources. That takes care of sending bogus returns to the college."</p>
<p>See, that is what I totally believe in and I hope that it becomes the norm everywhere. I still do not understand the "auditing" itstoomuch was referring to, but that might be a regional thing? </p>
<p>I truly have a feeling that when certain things finally take effect with the automatic FAFSA and the IRS match, that a lot of all us honest folks are going to come out on top for sure.</p>
<p>Merlin, what I don't understand is how you got into such a mess to have to hire a lawyer what you could have done for free.</p>
<p>But aside from that: We already knew that FAFSA cross checks with the IRS. Why would the school want to audit us to "verify" what we already declare on the 1040, especially when we are only requesting Unsubsidized status and where we are paying interest on 1st dollar borrowed from the gitgo? Maybe its because we have successfully planned for our son's future rather than try to alter W2's and 1099's. </p>
<p>As I said before, you don't need to cheat if you know how the system works.</p>
<p>itstoomuch I made another post in another thread about hiring a lawyer for my credit cards and whatnot, not with student loans or anything. I was speaking of taking the bull by the horns with my personal, non University related debt and working out fair minded payment arrangements and totally not filing for bankruptcy. So, I am not trying to be mean, but you have to maybe keep your opinions on different threads in the different threads. I know for sure I spoke of taking the bull by the horns with my debt in a totally different thread. If you make remarks on other threads in the wrong thread, you wind up looking a bit incoherent.</p>
<p>Therefore, I do not understand your direct postings towards me at all. I really don't. Maybe you misinterpreted something on another thread and think that I am some sort of big stinking cheater? I do not know.</p>
<p>I would also like for you to know that I am 32 years old. So, it is swell to me that you were able to pay for your child's schooling. If I did not have to spend years raising my younger brothers when my mother was very ill with cancer (my parents are divorced and my dad did nothing), then I would probably already have children and be socking money away for the future University schooling also. And sure, when I was working two jobs and trying very hard to do well by younger brothers (who all went to fine Universities right out of high school), I sometimes used my credit cards for groceries and that kind of stuff bit me in the rear with my credit and as soon as I found the trade I am in now, I hired a trained professional to help me pay off all of my outstanding (non University related) debt. I feel no shame in that at all.</p>
<p>I am assuming that maybe you will be able to cease from making direct posts towards me where you imply that I am a big stinking cheater. Even though this is nothing but a message board I just do not even like someone "virtually" making me out to be a cheater of any sort. Furthermore, if I were a cheater with the FAFSA, I would sure as shucks not solely be earning a 1K pell grant for my schooling and nothing else at all. I have to start looking for a crummy extra job next week just to be able to pay for a fair amount of my Spring tuition in cash. And, then I have to work that second job all summer and fall for the fall and spring tuition of next gosh darned year. </p>
<p>So, itstoomuch, please stop making direct posts and whatnot towards me-because you are really starting to disturb me. If you want to, you can PM me. But please stop what you are doing to me. I am sorry that you are maybe a little confused.</p>
<p>I'd call it an audit because we did not have Need and was not applying for need aid. We were applying for Unsubsidized Staffords and nondeferred PLUS to take advantage of below market money. Thankyou, Greenspan. </p>
<p>I'd imagine if we were asking for Need money based on our FAFSA, then perhaps a person can call it a verification. </p>
<p>I apologize if my wording of the personal pronoun (you) offended. It was meant to be generic. I discovered too late in the FAFSA process to make adjustments in our financial situation. I felt pretty dumb at the time because I happen to be in the financial field, and I as uninformed. </p>
<p>A person does not need to cheat if a person knows how the system works. Better?</p>
<p>itstoomuch: as long as you cease from making any postings personally directed towards me, then I really do not care what you post about nor the non linear manner in which you do it.
I am just going to ignore whatever you are and whatever it is you think you are actually comprehending because your illogical command of using a message board properly is odd and you still disturb me when you blatantly post anything directly towards me.
Since you haven't set up your profile to receive PM's I have to post the fact that I will be ignoring you here.</p>
<p><because you="" can="" have="" anything="" want="" for="" monthly="" payments.="" just="" because="" a="" person="" is="" driving="" bmw="" doesn't="" mean="" that="" they="" own="" the="" car.="" i="" knew="" someone="" who="" was="" and="" living="" in="" project="" with="" no="" furniture.="" could="" be="" leasing="" writing="" expense="" of="" lease="" off="" as="" cost="" doing="" business="" especially="" if="" their="" job="" requires="" travel.=""></because></p>
<p>That doesn't cut it. A BMW? </p>
<p>I think the gist of this thread is that, for those of us who struggle just to make a house payment on a modest home and an inexpensive car, it's very difficult to feel sympathetic for people who have luxury items like BMW's. Sorry, but they could always downsize. Often they just don't want to. It's all about priorities.</p>
<p>Sure, I know they have their struggles too, but it's just not the same. Bottom line is that people who own expensive homes and cars simply have more options than those who are already subsisting at the lower rungs. When you drive a 10-year-old car and live in a $50k house, there just isn't anywhere else to go other than the street and the bus, whereas someone living in a million-$ home and driving a BMW has many steps down to go before they are really in serious need. Financial aid was intended to equalize the chances of going to college for those who otherwise couldn't. I think people living in expensive houses and driving luxury cars and then cheating the system are despicable. They should trade their BMW in for a 'normal' car before applying for financial aid. OK, now I will probably be accused of being self-righteous. Someone once told me that middle-class struggling families DO have just as many options as wealthy people - they could always become homeless! Yeah, right. </p>
<p>I contend that there is a certain amount of common sense here. It's reasonable to have a moderately nice home and a dependable car. If people want to live beyond their means in order to drive luxury cars, that is their perogative. But they have some nerve, applying for financial aid and depriving others who really need it.</p>
<p>I would call the institution and present what you know. If they look into them and they are ok then it is fine If not and they cheated the system they deserve to pay. If you see injustice or think something is not right let someone check them out.</p>
<p>I think that you are missing the point as the school nor FA cares about consumer debt. If some one drives a BMW, it's on them. However, they can't go to a college to say I can't afford to pay X amount of money to a college because I am making car payment.</p>
<p>Since you are quoting a statement that I made, I think that you are blowing the whole thing out of context, because you can't tell how much money a person makes simply based on the car that one drives. Not everyone who drives a luxury car owns that car (it could be a lease, a rental you don't know unless you are on the inside or they told you first hand ). You can't say for sure what is going on behind someone else's closed doors. The OP is made statements that s/he does not have the facts to back up and that is one of the main themes running through the thread. what's that saying, don't believe everything you see and only half of what you hear because you never know the spin.</p>
<p>The woman admitted to transferring funds to untraceable accounts out of the country If that is not cheating the system I don't know what is. A good detective could easily trace what she is doing If it's illegal she should pay for college If she can afford to pay she should. They do look at the income and the assets. While they may very well have a low income if they are hiding assets they are not being placed in the mix in order to make a determination about aid. Parent assets are considered as well as the child's. Check her out WHat is wrong with that? Why so defensive if she has nothing to hide. We should all turn these people in who are cheating the system. Yes you can put assets in your name rather than your kids as a legal way to gain more aid but what she is doing by transferring funds to untraceable accounts. It just sounds fishy to me. What year at Brown is her child?</p>
<p>Lord God in heaven. </p>
<p>This thread has an almost drunken trajectory. </p>
<p>I see the point of Sybbie very much, because it is true that you never know the 'spin' of certain economic situations at all. </p>
<p>The mother of this young adult could just be BS-ing in order to circumvent being up the wazoo in debt. None of us know the actual, in depth, legitimate financial background of the family of OP's pal at all.</p>
<p>We can all assume things and make blanket conjectures towards what we are all able to selectively infer from this thread. But, the point is that none of us know the whole entire blessed story we only know what OP said.</p>
<p>Therefore, this thread has been split into two groups, almost. </p>
<p>I mean, if anyone really totally bears friggin' witness to fraud. Then they should just call the fin aid people with the information or even the head of the Financial Aid Department of the University. </p>
<p>But, if you do not bear witness to it, if you just hear of it and haven't any credible evidence...then I do not know what to tell you. </p>
<p>I am not a lawyer, police office, nor one of the feds. And I doubt none of you folks are either. Go with what you feel would be your personal duty as a Citizen of this Country and then move on.</p>