Seriously, Screw New Mexico

SkyHog

SkyHog

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Everything Offends Me
edit: CNM = Central New Mexico Community College, UNM = University of New Mexico. Two totally separate schools that should have nothing to do with each other.

Today, I went online to check my upcoming schedule at CNM, only to find out that I had been dropped from all of my classes a few weeks ago without any notice at all.

So I call CNM to see what's happening and they tell me that since I was a former UNM student, I have to have an official transcript sent over to them. I've never had to do that before, and I've been full time for a while now, so I was slightly irritated to say the least. Had they at least told me earlier than 2 weeks before the beginning of the semester....whatever.

Anyways, the problem is that when I moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ a few years back, I had already registered for classes at UNM and forgotten about it. I was cut my normal student loan check and when I received it, I immediately called the UNM bursar to ask what I should do with it. They told me to cash it and that UNM could not accept the money back at that point.

And I did. I put the money back into my student loan account so that I could save paying interest on that chunk of money, since I didn't need it.

A few months later, I received a bill from UNM for approximately $3600, which was the amount of the student loan check. When I called them, they told me that I was supposed to have sent back the check, and since I didn't, I now had to pay UNM the money. I explained the situation and was told that I had no other recourse.

Fast forward to today....imagine my surprise when I call UNM to get the official transcript sent over to CNM, and I find out that they cannot send an official transcript until I pay them the money. Again, I explained the story, and they still maintained that while it sucked to have that happen, there is no other choice but to pay the money.

I'm 1.5 semesters away from graduating. Now I can't go to school.

What the ****.
 
Always, always, always get something in writing. Otherwise it's your word against some idiot administrator. E-mails work fine.
 
Worst case you have to come up with $3600 which isn't an impossible obstacle.
 
Wait, UNM wants you to pay for classes you didnt even take?
 
EdFred said:
Wait, UNM wants you to pay for classes you didnt even take?
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I missed the drop deadline. Also, I had been taking a slight bit extra for housing expenses, as I went part time a Comcast to concentrate on school.

The problem is that they told me they couldn't accept it back, and then told me I should have sent it back after I had already dumped it into NMSL
 
SkyHog said:
I missed the drop deadline. Also, I had been taking a slight bit extra for housing expenses, as I went part time a Comcast to concentrate on school.

The problem is that they told me they couldn't accept it back, and then told me I should have sent it back after I had already dumped it into NMSL
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Can you get your bank records? Do you have checks written to the other school for the $3,600? If so, send a letter to the financial department, the registrar, and the provost (he/she will be more involved than the school President in the day-to-day admin). Send copies of those financial records (with the account numbers blacked out if you want, to drill in the point), and say, "as you can see, I held on to the money past your deadlines, as I was instructed to do by your own NTAC's; and then I spent it on other education."

That you didn't go out and spend it right away is to your credit, and those financial records will also back up your side of the story.

But - as was pointed out above - next time get it in writing. Any time you're dealing with money, especially significant sums, always do something in writing. You can resolve the situation over the phone, but always send a letter or e-mail afterwards saying, "as we discussed earlier today, here is my understanding...please correct me if I am wrong."
 
Obi Heed Kenobi said:
Can you get your bank records? Do you have checks written to the other school for the $3,600? If so, send a letter to the financial department, the registrar, and the provost (he/she will be more involved than the school President in the day-to-day admin). Send copies of those financial records (with the account numbers blacked out if you want, to drill in the point), and say, "as you can see, I held on to the money past your deadlines, as I was instructed to do by your own NTAC's; and then I spent it on other education."

That you didn't go out and spend it right away is to your credit, and those financial records will also back up your side of the story.

But - as was pointed out above - next time get it in writing. Any time you're dealing with money, especially significant sums, always do something in writing. You can resolve the situation over the phone, but always send a letter or e-mail afterwards saying, "as we discussed earlier today, here is my understanding...please correct me if I am wrong."
Click to expand...

Ahh, but it wasn't to another school. See, I took it and put it back towards the Student Loan total. It was $3600, applied to a total student loan amount of approximately $15K at the time. Then, apparently, New Mexico Student Loans pulled the money back from UNM, which dropped the total loan amount by $3600, and left UNM wanting the money from me too.

So, from UNM's perspective, I took money for school, dropped out, and then paid it towards student loan debt from other semesters....i.e. paid a loan with loan money and then defaulted on the loan.

But I only did it on their advice. Dammit.
 
SkyHog said:
A few months later, I received a bill from UNM for approximately $3600, which was the amount of the student loan check. When I called them, they told me that I was supposed to have sent back the check, and since I didn't, I now had to pay UNM the money. I explained the situation and was told that I had no other recourse.

Fast forward to today....imagine my surprise when I call UNM to get the official transcript sent over to CNM, and I find out that they cannot send an official transcript until I pay them the money.
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Um why the surprise on your part again?

It sucks that you have to pay for something you did not use, but it sounds liek you did drop after the drop date. That class space could have been sold to someone else had you been able to give them the advance warning that they wanted. Since you committed and then left you owe them the money. Am I missing something?
 
smigaldi said:
Um why the surprise on your part again?

It sucks that you have to pay for something you did not use, but it sounds liek you did drop after the drop date. That class space could have been sold to someone else had you been able to give them the advance warning that they wanted. Since you committed and then left you owe them the money. Am I missing something?
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Tuition was approximately $2000 IIRC. $3600 was the amount I have to pay because they flat out told me that they could not take the money back, before demanding that I give it back.

Blegh.
 
Don't blame New Mexico. It is standard practice for colleges and universities not to allow students to register without copies of transcripts from previous schools attended. This prevents students from lying about past records in an effort to gain admittance. It is also standard practice for colleges and universities not to send transcripts when debts are outstanding. This prevents students from walking away on their debts. While one can sympathize with your predicament brought on by bad information, you must understand the schools' perspective on transcripts and debts.

In any event, it sounds like UNM loaned you $3600 to use at their school, and one cannot fault them for wanting it back if you're not using it for that purpose. If it's still sitting in an account, why not just send it back? Or did you put that money to another purpose (i.e., paying off another loan) and thus no longer have it? Either way, it sounds like UNM loaned you money, and you really must pay UNM back.
 
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Ron Levy said:
Don't blame New Mexico. It is standard practice for colleges and universities not to allow students to register without copies of transcripts from previous schools attended. This prevents students from lying about past records in an effort to gain admittance. It is also standard practice for colleges and universities not to send transcripts when debts are outstanding. This prevents students from walking away on their debts. While one can sympathize with your predicament brought on by bad information, you must understand the schools' perspective on transcripts and debts.

In any event, it sounds like UNM loaned you $3600 to use at their school, and one cannot fault them for wanting it back if you're not using it for that purpose. If it's still sitting in an account, why not just send it back? Or did you put that money to another purpose (i.e., paying off another loan) and thus no longer have it? Either way, it sounds like UNM loaned you money, and you really must pay UNM back.
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No, I agree. I took the money and paid it back to the original lender (New Mexico Student Loans), on advice from UNM, because they said they could not take it back.

The transcript thing is frustrating because CNM has not balked on it once until now, right before I graduate. Blegh.
 
Bureaucracies - they're the same the world over!
 
Ron Levy said:
Don't blame New Mexico. It is standard practice for colleges and universities not to allow students to register without copies of transcripts from previous schools attended..
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Umm No it is not.

I just started back in school going back to get another Masters degree. While I did disclose my previous schools in my application I only submitted a transcript from one of them. It was the one that showed my school where I got my bachelors and established the minimum GPA for the program I am in. The school I am going to now to get this masters is not a fly by night place either. It is U of Illinois and the program I got into is the #1 on for its type in the US according to US News.

I would have to say what Nick is seeing with his transcript issue is more of an LoA type of arrangement or perhaps that his new school is in a system with UNM and the exchange info.
 
We need to see transcripts or some other form of official records for transfer students. It is pretty basic common sense, many of our courses (all the ones I teach) have prerequisites. Those students who lack the necessary prerequisites (a few leak through) do horribly, because they don't know what they need to in order to understand what I am teaching.

This becomes hugely problematic in part-time students moving from institution to institution. How was one supposed to know what classess were attended at the other.

Odds are the two have far more to do with each other than Nick realizes. Universities are set up in part to receive students from community colleges. To some extent our basic curricula have to mesh.
 
Do I understand it right?

Loan program gives 3600 to UNM
UNM gives 3600 to you.
You give 3600 to loan program.
Loan program takes back 3600 from UNM
UNM is out 7200
UNM want 3600 back from you.

What am I missing? Where is the problem?
 
steingar said:
We need to see transcripts or some other form of official records for transfer students. It is pretty basic common sense, many of our courses (all the ones I teach) have prerequisites. Those students who lack the necessary prerequisites (a few leak through) do horribly, because they don't know what they need to in order to understand what I am teaching.

This becomes hugely problematic in part-time students moving from institution to institution. How was one supposed to know what classess were attended at the other.

Odds are the two have far more to do with each other than Nick realizes. Universities are set up in part to receive students from community colleges. To some extent our basic curricula have to mesh.
Click to expand...

I would agree, but in this case, none of the classes I took at UNM are prereqs for any classes at CNM (in fact, any classes I need that have prereqs have been taken at CNM instead).

ejensen said:
Do I understand it right?

Loan program gives 3600 to UNM
UNM gives 3600 to you.
You give 3600 to loan program.
Loan program takes back 3600 from UNM
UNM is out 7200
UNM want 3600 back from you.

What am I missing? Where is the problem?
Click to expand...

To run it as a total:
Code: 
UNM's balance:
UNM gets 3600 from NMSL      == $3600
UNM gives 3600 to Nick          == $0
NMSL takes 3600 from UNM     == $-3600

Nick's Balance:
UNM Gives Nick 3600              == $3600
Nick gives NMSL 3600             == $0

NMSL's Balance:
NMSL gives UNM 3600            == $-3600
NMSL receives 3600 from Nick == $0
NMSL receives 3600 from UNM == $3600

So - NMSL is up, Nick is even and UNM is down. That said, none of this would be an issue if UNM hadn't told me that they could not take the money back and I hadn't put the money back into the original source of funds in the first place.

I tried to do it right. UNM screwed me by giving me wrong info. NMSL screwed me and UNM by taking the money back from UNM. CNM screwed me by suddenly requiring an official transcript from UNM, despite none of the classes I need at CNM having any pre or co-requisites from UNM.
 
Is is possible they made a mistake and didn't know NMSL would take the money back? So if they took it back you'd be left owning money you didn't get.

Didn't your loan balance get reduced by $3600 twice? NMSL didn't just keep it. They applied it to your account?
 
ejensen said:
Is is possible they made a mistake and didn't know NMSL would take the money back? So if they took it back you'd be left owning money you didn't get.
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Apparently, according to the UNM Bursar, I should have sent the check back to UNM, and she doesn't know why I would have been told anything else. Now, you're right, it could have been an honest mistake by UNM, but unfortunately, I'm stuck holding the ball for their honest mistake.

And CNM colluding with them doesn't help.

Didn't your loan balance get reduced by $3600 twice? NMSL didn't just keep it. They applied it to your account?
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My loan balance was reduced by $3600 total, as the money I paid to them took down my loan balance and the 2nd $3600 was never applied to my account since UNM reported me as a non-attending student. That's why UNM sent the $3600 back to them.
 
SkyHog said:
Apparently, according to the UNM Bursar, I should have sent the check back to UNM, and she doesn't know why I would have been told anything else. Now, you're right, it could have been an honest mistake by UNM, but unfortunately, I'm stuck holding the ball for their honest mistake.

And CNM colluding with them doesn't help.



My loan balance was reduced by $3600 total, as the money I paid to them took down my loan balance and the 2nd $3600 was never applied to my account since UNM reported me as a non-attending student. That's why UNM sent the $3600 back to them.
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OK, now it seems the student loan program should pay the UNM. No one should profit from the mistake. But I imagine that is a fight too. Good luck.

Transcript thing is pretty standard for undergraduates. My nephew graduated from UNM after bouncing back and forth (maybe CNM). Lost a few credits when the went over the transcripts.

And colleges never forget you owe them a penny, parking tickets, library fines, fees. I had to pay off my parking tickets before they'd give me my diploma.
 
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