<p>A parent of a freshman here, currently he is on Leave of Absence after 1 semester at USC.</p>
<p>Paid 800$ for housing as deposit for 2 semesters (400 to be deducted each semester), however despite doing all the required procedures on time housing is refusing to give back the 400$!!</p>
<p>Any remedy? 400$ is a lot of money going down the drain just like that.</p>
<p>Are you sure there isn’t a misunderstanding? For our kids, they didn’t refund the $400 housing deposit because they said they were applying it to the next year until the last term the kids were having USC housing & they they’d give it back minus any cleaning or repair amounts. I’d give housing a call and ask them for clarification–over the phone and in writing. Let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>I don’t know. Usually they only refund the deposit if the student doesn’t cancel. The only people I know who’ve canceled and gotten their full deposit back are students who are graduating early or going on semester abroad. </p>
<p>Have you checked the contract?</p>
<p>i thought I remembered that your son got a student to fill his contract? If that is so perhaps that other student could come with your son to the housing office to explain?</p>
<p>From the Housing Contract my son just signed:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble getting a refund, pixeljig, but it does look like they’re merely enforcing the contract they had with your son. My kids’ colleges have the same sort of arrangements – all kind of warnings, from one kid’s college, prior to confirming his payment, like “Beware: Your housing contract is for the full academic year, both Fall and Spring semesters. Should you cancel your contract prior to the end of the academic year, your housing deposit will not be refunded.” I’m assuming it’s so they can cover their budgets and have a reliable “income” no matter what kids decide to do in their second terms.</p>
<p>I’m thinking you might be out of luck. 
But at least you won’t have to pay the monthly “rent” there! :)</p>