I had been enrolled in Brown Mackie College in March until April. During that time I exited for two months (july-Aug'09), due to health issues. At which time I was given a bill upon return, which I agreed to pay, even though I didn't understand what I was paying for, I just wanted to return to class. Up until April 1st. 2010 I had been paying on this amount. The month of April I had already missed three days of class, which is the limit for removal from class. I signed an exit paper so I would not aquire more expenses. I was given a bill for over $2100 dollars. I asked what for? I was told it was what I owed for classes, books and previous debt to school. At this point I'm very confused as I thought I only owed past bill of a few hundred dollars. I asked why I owed this since they charge for classes a month in advance, I thought. I was told because I owed it, as they sent remaining grant and loans back. I received a ledger in the mail of account.
A friend & I went over it, I felt there was discrepancies, so I contacted school. Accountant? Who just a few months before was the person running the book store. Went over step by step on phone, and my understanding was that she overcharged me by $366. She said I could come in a discuss it, but I have no transportation to get there at this time. I did ask then and several other times for a simplified ledger, as maybe I was reading it wrong. She said thats how they write it. I stated maybe if you just send me a list of what was added and what was subtracted & dates it would be easier. I became curious if there were more mistakes so I looked up my loan info online and added amounts taking into consideration refunds. This amount did not match what was on ledger of what was received. I contacted school, accountant and inquired about getting an unofficial transcipt of my grades, which I was told they do not have to release until I pay. I then asked why my ledger amount and loan information did not match, she rudely said I owe the money, she didn't even want to hear anymore or even listen to what I was asking.
Finally she asked me what was my problem I told her I wanted to understand why my loan info did not match my ledger and I wanted to get this straightened out so I could get back into class and she rudely stated "why?" I thought you were going somewhere else. I asked why she thought that & she said because on my Fasfa it has other colleges listed, I simply stated that I had been checking into my options of possibly a different school, she became very rude & said I must be wrong about my information & when she had time she would check into it and call back. Two days later my financial aid rep calls and says the accountant said I wanted to talk to her. I thought accountant was going to call back. I explain the situation to her. Her and another person checks into this for me and calls back next day. Says I owe over $2400, sorry she can't help further, maybe I should just accept lower offer. I feel like their hands are out for my money, but they sure don't want to help me find out if maybe I don't owe this. I am so disgusted with the results of this situation. I can't return to this school unless I pay what they say I owe, and if I don't make payments soon they will put it on my credit report. But if I go to another school I have to start over and the 9 months of money and time are wasted..
My advise to anyone thinking about Brown Mackie use caution. Know what your getting into and follow up on all your account information!!!
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