Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Virginia

School closed without providing education promised or refund

Signed up for a Microsoft Cert. Course and started class but after only about one fourth of the classes the school closed up. I had payed up front about 9k both for class, books and testing. Board of education said the school was bonded but not enough to refund my money. They said they would try to put me in class somewhere else but it didn't include books or testing vouchers. Also when I signed up I was going full time and now I'm working full time and can't just quit to go back. What are my rights or avenues of getting my money returned or at least three fourths of the money? Does it cause any problems since the scool was bonded and now the board of education is involved?


Asked on 9/12/03, 12:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daniel Hawes Hawes & Associates

Re: School closed without providing education promised or refund

Depends on what you mean, "school closed up". If the school was a corporation and has become defunct, you could get a worthless judgment against it; if it's filed for bankruptcy, you probably won't even get that, though it would be worthwhile to file a proof of claim just in case.

there are circumstances under which you could sue the school or its owners. need more details to figure that one out, because it can get complicated depending on the structure of the ownership entities.

assuming you can figure out whom to sue, you can sue for all your money back. if it was a consumer transaction - i.e., you're not in business as a network consultant etc. - you could sue under the va. consumer protection act and get judgment for up to three times your actual damages. see va code sect's. 59.1-200 & 204.

once you get a judgment against them, you can collect against the bond, and sue the bonding co. to collect if necessary.

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Answered on 9/12/03, 1:53 pm


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