Consumer complaint received 2021-07-21
Company: Johnstown Credit Bureau, Inc.
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Private student loan debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
I was enrolled at XXXX XXXX. I was awarded {$6100.00} in pell towards my tuition of the 1 quarter totaling {$5300.00}. My first distribution of the grant was applied XX/XX/XXXX totaling {$3000.00}. I started XXXX schooling XX/XX/XXXX leaving myself and other students to pay for books, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, and vaccine boosters out of pocket. My grades suffered from constant financial worries. I met with my instructors requesting tutoring. I also requested to have academic accommodations and met with the XXXX administrator/coordinator who refused to provide appropriate accommodations recommend by my XXXX  even after receiving written documentation of proof of learning XXXX and XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX I met with the XXXX admin again regarding my grads. She stated I needed to make a choice between working as XXXX XXXX and attending XXXX school. At this point the school had received my financial aid, but still did not apply the pell grant to my account. This class is consider an " adult learner program ''. I stated I can not quit my job, I already had to cut back on my hours to attend XXXX school full time. I'm only available to work Saturdays, and Sundays. I'm also a XXXX  mother with a mortgage, car payment and trying to pay for XXXX school out of pocket. The admin said there was no possible way for me to get my grades up and asked I turn in my student badge forcing me to withdraw. Asking an adult student to resign from their job is not only extremely troubling, it's incredibly irresponsible. I'm requesting there more transparency for future students/XXXX. We are in a XXXX shortage in the state of PA. Impractical XXXX programs offered in this state is ONE of the many reasons why. On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter from XXXX  fiscal operations stating I had 30 days to pay my balance of XXXX in full to the school. They applied {$3100.00} of pell to my balance of XXXX, even through I received {$6100.00} in pell. At this point in time the pandemic was in full swing, I had lost half my salary to budget cuts leading to the removal my administrative position. I was placed back in the field as a XXXX assistant working as crisis response to the pandemic. The balance owed to XXXX was sent to XXXX  Johnstown Credit Bureau. I received a notice stating I owed them {$3200.00} ; a {$1000.00} increase than what was said was owed to the school. I attempted to dispute and settle the school refused a lessor amount. I offered to pay the original amount of XXXX in full. The bureau took my request to the school board they again refused my offer. Today I paid the total amount of {$3200.00} plus a {$25.00} processing fee. They said if I paid another {$50.00} fee to have this debt removed from credit completely. I asked if they could have the fees waived because I was paying in full. The credit bureau refused. Any guidance regarding this matter is greatly appreciated.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation