Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Canada

Tuition Charges

My son went to college in Montreal Canada during the 2004-2005 year. When he came home in the summer of 2005 he intended to go back in the fall however several things happened that made that difficult, his apartment fell through, his stepfather (who is a father to him) became seriously ill etc... He went on the website to withrdraw and there was a problem with the site, so he sent a letter. Unfortunately that apparently was not enough. However, we did not receive any bill so thought nothing of it. He did not go bact there to school and then in May of '06 received a bill, a collection notice and incomplete grades all on the heels of one another. He has tried repeatedly to explain the situation to no avail. The collection agency is threatening litigation. He does not have the $7K they want, he is working his way through college, and again did not attend the semester of fall 2005 they they are charging him for. What are his legal options?

Thank you


Asked on 11/25/06, 1:53 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Dmitry Lev The Lev Law Firm

Re: Tuition Charges

I don't know the specific policy of the Montreal school that you are dealing with, but most colleges have a withdrawal deadline by which a student is entitled to 100% refund (this is usually into 1-2 weeks of the semester), another deadline where the student is entitled to 50% of the tuition (about the first month), and a final deadline after which the student is entitled to no refund and the entire semester's tuition is due (about mid-way through the semester). If, as you say, you son sent the withdrawal notice during the summer to withdraw for an upcoming fall semester, the university should have honored that. Also, a Canadian school may not go through the effort and expense of suing someone for $7,000. On the other hand, your son may have difficulties obtaining transcripts from that school in the future.

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Answered on 11/27/06, 1:05 am


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