Help me stop Florida International University from charging me for a semester I did not attend! 

Here's the letter I provided to FIU after I was contacted about a debt I should not owe.

[October 7, 2011

Attention: Accounting Coordinator

Florida International University

11200 SW 8th St. PC120

Miami, FL 33199

I was recently contacted by a collection agency regarding a balance of $6773.62 and I am disputing it because you are charging me for semesters that I did not attend. In fact, I withdrew from the university because I was no longer able to afford tuition and Financial Aid was not able to cover the cost of my enrollment. 

Since I was unable to withdraw using PantherSoft due to system maintenance, I had to seek the assistance of an advisor. I was assured that I would be withdrawn with no penalties since I withdrew within the allotted time frame, forfeiting  whatever funds that were going to be put toward tuition. If I would have known that this advisor was not going to follow through and update the system accordingly, I would have made sure to have them sign a legal document because this feels like a scam to get me to pay for semesters that I did not attend. I withdrew from the university.

I remember clearly because after realizing I was no longer able to afford FIU, I eventually transferred all of my credits to Miami-Dade College in order to obtain my Associate’s Degree from them. 

Again, I’m disputing this balance and will not pay it at all because someone in your department did not do their job when your technology failed me to withdraw on my own.

 

Thank you.

P.S. To think I was actually trying to re-enroll into this university. Clearly, your staff is unorganized and you’re trying to pin someone’s mistake via their accounting practices on an ex-student. You should be ashamed; I wouldn’t be surprised if that money was pocketed on your end. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.]]]

Now I received a letter from "Todd, Bremer & Lawson, Inc." requesting an additional $2023.29 on top of the $6773.62 for a total of $8796.91!!

I’m already over $10,000 in student debt with only an Associate’s Degree to show for it, & now FIU is trying to squeeze, $6773.62, in addition to $2023.29 in fees… This is a disgrace because that’s the whole point of withdrawing before the No penalty date: To avoid such fees. I can’t even afford my rent!

Since PantherSoft (their technology) was down due to system maintenance on the last day to withdraw without penalty, I had to go the Advisor's office to manually be withdrawn. Over two years later, when I attempted to re-enroll, that's when they started trying to charge me for that semester. There is an obvious glitch in their system, & they want to make me pay for it. That's the whole point of withdrawing by the date without Penalty! To avoid such fees.