Sunday, October 19, 2008

University sues over "lost" tuition

Nice to know that greed rules the roost in America's education system these days.

The University of Cincinnati has hunted down a woman who the school claims owes them tuition from years ago. Trouble is, she didn't go to school there.

A number of years back, the woman went to UC's registration website to look at classes. But she logged out when she found out it cost less to take the same classes at Cincinnati State instead. She opted not to attend UC.

But according to UC's dream team of legal eagles, visiting the university website counts as enrolling. And now they want the woman to pay tuition from all those years ago. So they've sued her to court!

Tuition would've been $3,158, but they expect her to pay $6,360.97 because of interest and collection fees. Didn't UC's lawyers ever watch 'Judge Judy'? How many times has Judge Judy told plaintiffs, "You don't get interest"? It would be diff if a plaintiff didn't wait years to try to collect.

But that's assuming the woman in this case even owed any tuition - which she doesn't, because she never became a student at UC. UC claims it costs thousands to reserve a seat in class for students when they enroll. But I call bullshit. Besides, she clearly never enrolled.

The most ridiculous charge demanded by UC (other than interest and collection fees) is hundreds of dollars in mandatory student health insurance. Forcing students to buy insurance is a whole separate matter though.

The woman has witnesses: the professors for classes UC claims she signed up for. They may get to testify that she never attended those classes.

It's like outside agitation in reverse!

(And yes, wingnuts have already freeped the comment section of the Cincinnati paper.)

(Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081019/NEWS0107/810190397)

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