I had attended AIU online while serving overseas in the U.S. Military in South America. While I was attending AIU, I was paying for my tuition via military tuition assistance, the GI Bill, and student loans (The school is VERY expensive).
I did earn my associate degree with AIU, but I did not successfully complete my bachelor's degree, mainly due to personal issues and the intensity of my job.
In order to use the GI bill, the student has to apply for the GI bill, have his commander sign the consent form, and send it to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Once the VA gets everything from the student, it is up to the school to send the VA verification of my enrollment, so I can in turn go online to the VA and also acknowledge that I attended during this time frame.
For a period of about approximately eight months, AIU failed to verify my enrollment with the VA, thus I did not get payment from the VA, and could not pay the school. The intent from the beginning was to use my earned benefits as much as possible, and student loans only as a last resort.
While I was attending, instead of verifying my enrollment, the school simply charged me student loans for the tuition despite my repeated inquiries about getting my VA benefits certified by the school.
Only when I was out of the school did AIU send me a bill for 4000 dollars. I called and explained the situation when their auto responder email sent me a warning that my account would be turned over to a collection agency if I failed to pay them. I called, and the guy I talked to assured me it was just a glitch, and their VA rep said the matter would be cleared up in six weeks (I have all the emails as proof).
Well, AIU never did verify my enrollment, and did refer my account to a collection agency. On their initial letter, I disputed the debt and explained what had happen. I would be VERY HAPPY to pay them if they can verify my enrollment, as the amount for that time period should exceed what they claim I owe them, and I can reduce some of my student loans with the excess amount. But they are stubborn, the collection agency came back two months later saying the debt was valid, which their proof was some print outs of computer screens and a copy my signed promissory note. They didn't address my complaint or issue. After that, the collection agency was sending me daily threatening letters.
I sent the collection agency, General Revenue Corporation, a cease and desist letter yesterday. I feel confident that my position in front of a judge would settle this. AIU failed to meet its end of the contract by failing to provide adequate billing and verification that they promised to do.
I would encourage anybody considering enrolling in this university to think again. I recommend a traditional not for profit university. Many regular universities have online programs as well, and I would wager the treatment would be more professional and fair.
Victims of the AIU experience should unite and file a class action suit against the company. I am not a complaining type of person, but I am very angry at how I am being treated. AIU made thousands of dollars off me and it will take years to pay of the student loans; at least if they didn't verify my enrollment, they can forgive or resend the four grand because of their OWN error.
Jeffrey
In SA
U.S.A.
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