Hello Everyone,

I am very interested into hearing feedback or suggestions and any help/assistance you can give regarding a situation that transpired in 2004 and sadly continues to haunt me 10 years later with PRIVATE Student loans.

I was discharged from the Marine Corps in 2001, and moved back home to my tribe in WI.  Eventually being hired for a FT job and attending school at a local community college for a few years.  I started to recieve mailings from Brown College in MN and gave them a call.  Immediately the college’s enrollment recruiter was constantly calling and emailing me and giving me ideals of attaining a 4 year Bachelor’s degree and asked how much I made and gave me false hope of making more $$$ upon graduating from their school.  I explained to him that I could not afford the tuition and being young, single, he mentioned how “everyone” eventually takes out student loans to complete a degree, and that my entire duration if enrolled would be covered by Student loans

The biggest misconception I made was believing my tuition and fees would be covered, NOT EVEN HALFWAY through my second year I was told I did not qualify for any more student loans and I eventually dropped out, moved back home to Wisconsin.

Some people ask with being a Veteran, why didn’t I use my GI Bill, which I did qualify and utilize but it was for a $1000 a month which paid for my housing, car loan, and utility bills.

I am now close to 65-70000$ in Student loan debt (Interest/fees).

Is there such a thing called misrepresentation and false advertising by university’s, it’s as if they preyed on my status as a young veteran not knowing what I unfortunately know now.

Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope and pray someone can give me some insight into this Nightmare that is all to real.

Mr. Hawk,

You should speak with a consumer attorney. There are laws that protect consumers from false statements and misrepresentation in advertising. Minnesota has one, Statute 325F.67: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=325F.67. I don’t know whether it applies to private universities.

Usually, complaints must be filed within a certain period of time. And it looks like it’s been 10 or so years since this occurred. However, you should be able to get a free consultation somewhere to discuss your situation with consumer lawyer. Hope that helps.

Mr. Hawk,
  Thank you for your inquiry and sorry to hear about your situation.  Also, Semper Fi!  This is James Jarvis, Heather’s Communications Director and a retired Marine myself.  Unfortunately, you are not alone as many for-profit colleges and universities prey on young veterans and others while having very poor graduation rates (http://askheatherjarvis.com/blog/sen.-harkin-report-to-blast-for-profit-colleges).

As to your private student loans, you are often at the mercy of private lenders as private loans do not offer the same borrower protections as their federal counterparts.  There are a few things that you can do.  The Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation, signed into law in July 2010, created a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).  The CFPB officially opened on July 21, 2011.  The agency has authority over most private student lenders.  The CFPB has a complaint system for borrowers experiencing problems with private student loans, where you can submit a complaint:    https://help.consumerfinance.gov/app/studentloan/ask. 

You can also contact the Student Loan Ombudsman at the CFPB to raise visibility on your case: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/ombudsman/.

Here are a couple of resources that may be of use to you:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/military-student-loan-benefits.pdf
http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/start-here/private-student-loans/.

Finally, if you cannot receive relief via the CFPB and want to find a consumer attorney in your area, Heather is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, and this is a good place to look for an attorney.  There are also organizations in every state and most communities which provide free legal help to people whose incomes fall below certain amounts.  To learn more about free legal assistance possibilities, go here: http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/resources/referral-resource/legal-resources/.

Sorry for the long e-mail, but hopefully there’s some information in here that you can use.

S/f,

James D. Jarvis
Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)
Communications Director
Heather Jarvis, Student Loan Expert LLC