I enrolled in University of Phoenix's High Tech Institute in March for their Massage Therapy program. I began classes in the end of May, and in the end of June received a promotion at work. This new job required that I work different hours and it was no longer possible to attend HTI.
I tried to work with them to take a leave of absence until I could see if my work hours could be changed slightly after a few months on the job. They denied that but said that I could withdraw from school for a few months and reenroll if possible. It was promised that they would send back my Federal Stafford Loans, but would not come after me for the money until after September when I was hoping to reenroll.
Two weeks after withdrawing, which I did the first week of July, I was contacted about paying them $2,733.00! They threatened to send me to collections if I did not start paying $110.00 a month immediately. First of all, I had only completed one course and attended one week of my second course. I thought they were crazy, almost $3,000.00 for 5 weeks of school.
Then came the kicker, I found out they also kept my Federal Pell Grant for $2,000.00, meaning they had charged me almost $5,000.00 for five weeks. There explanation was that they charge by program and could have charged me the whole $18,000.00 for those 5 weeks. I was appalled! As of now, they call my cell phone, my work, my father, and my sister at least twice a week trying to get the money. I told them I refused to pay and would contact the Pell Grant Office and a lawyer about it. That's what I am working on now.
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