Legal Matters - Does anybody know...

[Erica]

I'm most likely about to have some legal issues and I'm not clear on who has the upper hand in this case. I was completely mislead and signed a contract for a 2-year school program w/o reading all of the fine print. I took one semester and was extremely dissatisfied with the program. Now I am aware that a contract is a legally binding statement and they're probably going to say that it was my fault for not reading it entirely before signing it. However, when I had my orientation prior to signing, I specifically asked the admissions head if I had the ability to leave if I was not happy with the program and he said that it wouldn't be a problem (my parents asked him the same question at a separate time and he said the same thing). They're sending me a bill for withdrawl because they are saying that when I signed up for the program, I was signing up for the entire 2 years and if I don't pay, they're going to send collections after me. I'm thinking that this could turn into a "he-said/she-said" problem, and the fact that they have my signature on that contract gives me a disadvantage...but is it fair that he did not indicate at all that I was signing up for the entire 2 years, and said that I would be able to leave after any semester? I remember that prior to signing the contract, my parking meter ran out and I had to run down to put more change in. Once I came back up, he had the contract ready for me and got me to sign it at the reception desk, instead of getting me to go back into the office and giving me time to read it. I just assumed that everything was done and I was pretty much ready to go.

Anyways, any input/advice would help from anybody that is knowledgable about the courts and the law. I'm hoping I won't have to take it that far but I am completely unwilling to give them any more money. They run that shithole like a business, it's horrible!

[mapleleaf4ever]

Originally Posted by Erica

I'm most likely about to have some legal issues and I'm not clear on who has the upper hand in this case. I was completely mislead and signed a contract for a 2-year school program w/o reading all of the fine print. I took one semester and was extremely dissatisfied with the program. Now I am aware that a contract is a legally binding statement and they're probably going to say that it was my fault for not reading it entirely before signing it.

I'd say that your thinking is correct. Alllllllllllllways read the fine print.

[miss.myra]

how many signatures are on the contract?

[Moon]

wow i can't stand it when they get at you with that contract bs.

i dunno how to resolve this issue of yours... i once signed up for a program at the arts institute but decided to withdraw 5 minutes later. then they tell me i have to pay a $100 withdrawl fee. i was like uh what this was just 5 minutes ago. and that fat bitch was like but you signed the contract! its the contract

i was like uh right you can go fuck yourself. i ain't paying shit.

Totally retarded, why try to suck money out of a poor, starving student?

Why should you have to compensate them? its not as if they've suffered any real financal loss. They just lost out on some potential revenue that tehy didnt deserve anyways.

The world would really suck if all businesses operated this way: “Pay in advance and just trust us that you'll get your moneys worth.”

Are they charging you for the full amount? I would definatly talk to a lawyer or someone who really understands contract law about this if they are. they're probably just using scare tactics... what school is this?

[dabbler]

there is such a thing as "signing in good faith" but that's really only going to come up in court. i would recommed asking your parents if they know a lawyer. one phone call to one, and assuming there is a way out, one phone call to the school FROM the lawyer, will put an end to it.

[clevich]

how much is this payment? it might not be worth getting into legalities and hiring a lawyer... they can come out pretty pricey.

[dabbler]

that's why i recommended asking for a family friend. if there's a way out, one phone call to the school will make them give up. and it won't cost a thing.

[mugsy]

what kind of program is it that you have to sign a contract for?
i was in a two year program - it was exclusive, i was selected outta about 500 other people. there was no contract, i could leave when i wanted to.
were you allowed to drop courses within the program?
if this was the way they dealt with you, this shit has probably happened to other students. ask around, take it to the local papers, get the media in on it. thats what i would do. the whole fact that you HAVE to stay with them for two years is obsurd.

[MissBehavior]

Originally Posted by mugsy

the whole fact that you HAVE to stay with them for two years is obsurd.

My guess is that the contract gives them guaranteed revenue for the 2 years you are attending the institution...If you opt out, they still make money off of you. It's the same thing as finding an apartment and have the stipulation in your lease that if you break lease, you'll owe them rent until they find someone else to rent the place too.

[krisamata]

lemme guess...a private school?!?!?



i signed up to go to trebas institute a few years back...signed the contract...mostly because i was garaunteed a small class, and excellent teachers, and the school was going to be going thru some major renovations.



5 weeks into the class...the school shut down, and because my sig was on the contract...it stated on there that if someone has been there for 5 weeks then they can take 30% ...so i was out thousands of dollars...and it wasnt even my choice to leave.


talk about being mislead...but unfortunately there was almost nothing i could do ...


try going to ppsec...the private post seconday educators of canada i think it is...try your case there first...cuase they try and stick up for students that are fucked over like this, and may be able to help you out before you seek legal help.



good luck

[Erica]

thanks for the advice guys!

k-pryde, this was at AI too. american private institution = run like a business. the amount of money that they charge is RIDICULOUS for the education you receive.

myra, i believe that there were two signatures on the contract, mine and the witness, which was the admin of admissions.

they said that they could send collections after me, so i filed a complaint with the admin. saying that it was ridiculous to come after me for MORE money after i had paid $5000 for one semester...one that was a joke!! it's not just that i don't want to pay the withdrawl fee, it's moreso the fact that i specifically asked them if i had the freedom to withdraw at any point and they didn't mention anything about a fee to me. i'm not sure exactly how much it is, but it's a significant amount b/c it's a percentage of the cost of the rest of the program...7 out of 8 semesters. with $5000/semester, i'm imagining that the amount is enough to screw me over.

regardless, if i need to get a lawyer to call them and threaten a lawsuit, i have the ability to do that w/o charge. hopefully then they'll drop it cause it wouldn't be worth it to me to take it to court due to lawyer fees. geez, gladly i decided to leave after a semester and am applying to a program at a public institution where you actually have to put together a portfolio to get in. would hate to give those a$$holes even more money than i already have!

[Akeel]

^
why didnt you call me about this?

as dabbler said, get a lawyer to call them - and also threaten to go public with what they are doing - a school like that is afraid of any negative publicity and once they find out you are serious, you'll find them a lot more flexible.