College says I owe them money after 2 years!

<p>During the spring term of 2009, I attempted to enroll through Michigan's Virtual Learning Center which is a collaboration of all the community colleges in Michigan. I chose a course and waited to hear back from the providing college, Wayne Community College. When I heard nothing, I picked another course with a different college to obtain my credits. </p>

<p>From my memory, I never received ANY confirmation what so ever from Wayne that I was actually enrolled in the course. I don't remember getting a bill or any indication that I was registered! Yesterday, May 19th, 2011, I received a statement dated March 13th, 2011, saying I had an outstanding balance with the college and needed to pay it or else it would be turned into collections from this 2009 term. </p>

<p>There was no contact information listed, not even the balance owed or where to send a check to! This particular community college has 5 campuses so I picked one and asked to speak the cashier's office. They obviously have no clue about the Michigan Virtual Learning Center and I was told I enrolled in a class, never dropped, but still responsible for the tuition which is $450. Super frustrating!</p>

<p>I'm currently waiting for a supervisor to call me back regarding this. I'm terrified that I'm not going to get any sympathy with this matter and wondering what options I have. </p>

<p>Does anyone have a similar experience to this and ended up with a good outcome?</p>

<p>First write them a letter (don’t sign it) and request written proof that the debt is valid. They are required to do so.</p>

<p>Spend some time on the FTC site [FTC</a> Office of the Secretary - Fair Credit Reporting Act Links](<a href=“http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm]FTC”>http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm). There are laws protecting you the consumer.</p>

<p>Contact your state attorney general for help <a href=“Find my AG - National Association of Attorneys General”>Find my AG - National Association of Attorneys General;

<p>Good luck <em>hugs</em></p>

<p>You will need to contact WCCCD to talk to them. The contact person for MVLC is listed under “Wayne” at this link: [Michigan</a> Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative](<a href="Home - M2C-Vlc)'. Speak with Myra Hawkins directly to find out the details of your admission, enrollment, and account.</p>

<p>Yes, I’ve attempted to speak with WCCCD and they are not familiar with the MCCVLC.org set up. I also tried to send an email to the contact information you provided (thanks, by the way!) and it was kicked back to me saying it was no longer active. I had already sent another email to the other contact listing on mccvlc.org for WCCCD and am waiting to hear something. </p>

<p>My memory is starting to come back and I even think mccvlc.org had an add/drop from schedule option back in 2009 which I’m fairly certain I did. The FAQ’s state you must email within 72 hours if you don’t hear back from the providing college…whether I did that or not, I have no idea! </p>

<p>I just find it quite odd this is the first I’m hearing about this in 2 years!! Do I let this go to collections and try to settle for less? I hate the idea of doing that, but I am fairly certain this will turn into a ‘he said/she said’ thing and I have no documentation proving I contacted them to drop this course.</p>

<p>unless you deleted the email you sent for the add/drop, it might still be there. have you had a chance to search your sent folder for it yet?</p>

<p>hopefully the second email you sent will get a response.</p>

<p>Already checked my sent messages!! No luck. I may have sent it from my previous employer’s work email since I initially was registered under that address. Obviously I no longer have access to that account anymore.</p>

<p>Crazy how stuff can come back on you like this!!</p>

<p>I wish I knew where to direct you, but no one I know works with MCCVLC. It is a consortium agreement, though, which means you would have been admitted to one school & received your financial aid through that school. Were you admitted to WCCCD? </p>

<p>I would strongly suggest that you pay a visit to the main office ([WCCCD</a> - Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.wcccd.edu/dept/FinancialAid_contact.htm]WCCCD”>WCCCD - Financial Aid Contact Info)). If you don’t have any success in the financial aid office, visit the student services office & ask for help. If WCCCD is going to be part of this consortium of schools, as it appears they are, they need to have SOMEONE who knows what is going on. The key is to find that person & enlist their help in figuring out what has happened</p>

<p>I see in the directory that Ms. Hawkins is Associate Vice Chancellor Student Services now (<a href=“http://www.wcccd.edu/news/staff_directory.php?last_name=&first_name=&sort=H&page=2[/url]”>http://www.wcccd.edu/news/staff_directory.php?last_name=&first_name=&sort=H&page=2&lt;/a&gt;). Maybe she can still help you.</p>

<p>It might take some persistence, but you will eventually find someone who can help you. You can ask to speak to a manager if you don’t get any satisfaction.</p>

<p>Try to contact a lawyer about this ASAP.</p>

<p>I don’t think a lawyer is necessary at this point. Finding the right person to talk to IS.</p>

<p>Thanks! I am still not hearing anything back from anyone. I did send an email to Myra Hawkins and have heard nothing. Will try to call tomorrow (day off). Unfortunately, this college is located 3 hrs away from me so a visit is not manageable anytime soon. Obviously they have some issues with their record keeping since the statement I received was dated March 13th, but postmarked from May.</p>

<p>Still no follow up with this issue! I have sent numerous emails and made tons of phone calls!! The only information I have gotten is that I was assigned an “E” in this course I supposedly enrolled in. Funny how it’s not on my mccvlc.org course listings or my assigned home college. No one at this college seems to what to help me!! I don’t dare drive 3 hours to get there only to be treated in the same fashion.</p>

<p>If it was me, I’d drive there and find out what they have to say in person. The hassle will only get bigger if they actually turn it in to collections. It might also be worth your time to check in with Legal Aid and make sure you have a strong case. A simple letter from a lawyer might go a long way in getting them to go away.</p>

<p>Frankly, I am not sure going there will help. Do you attend a CC now? If so, I would suggest finding someone there who might be willing to help you figure all of this out. </p>

<p>What is your “home” school?</p>