My daughter attended U of Maryland. In her second year, fall semester she began having depression issues, which she told us about over winter break. She did attempt to go back for her spring semester, but only lasted 2 days and never went to a class. She officially withdrew and came home to seek further treatment. Her loans were reversed and returned to the lenders. Shortly thereafter we received a bill for just over $4,000. She contacted the school and they told her to apply for a retroactive withdrawal, which would make it seem as though she never attended or registered for the spring semester and therefore nullifying the $4,000 bill. She gathered all the documents supporting her case. She had proof of therapy and doctor visits at the school as well as continuing mental health care at home that is still going on at this point. Everything was submitted and we received word that they were examining everything and would be in touch. We continued to receive bills. She now feels that she can continue in school and wants to attend Temple University in the spring. She wants to register and transfer her 36 credits she earned at Maryland to Temple however Maryland won't release her transcripts until they are paid the $4,000. We live in Pennsylvania, so I suggested that she drive to Maryland and talk face to face to someone and get her transcripts. She did this today. They said that they credited back her room and board but not the tuition, which seems odd, because she did actually stay 2 nights and ate their food, but never attended a class.
The options they gave her are as follows:
1) pay the 4,000
2) take a loan for 4,000
3) pay 500 for 8 months and they will release her transcripts after the first payment. They also said if she doesn't make the 2nd payment (or any subsequent payment) they will turn it over to a collection agency at once.
She is working and was planning on paying Temple monthly, however there's no way to pay Maryland 500 a month plus Temple tuition.
I don't understand the point of a retroactive withdrawal. She has everything to support it. It's being treated as a normal withdrawal.
Would a letter from a lawyer have any effect on the situation?
↧
