University is taking me to collections

In 1997 , I had just divorced, had a baby and was forced to go and live with my mother. My ex was not paying support and I was on welfare. Needless to say I was feeling really crappy about my situation. I was encouraged to take some classes at the local University, but because I was on welfare I could not get funding (OSAP)and my little part-time job was basically just covering child-care and groceries. I signed up for these classes hoping that eventually my situation would improve, it did not, but I loved the classes and meeting all of these new people so I just kept going to the classes anyway. I never paid for them, but as well I never recieved any marks for them either. A couple of weeks ago I get a letter from the university stating that if I do not pay them for services ($3500) that they will take me to collections. What do I do? Do I have any options? Please offer me some suggestions because I do not know what to do here and quite frankly it scares me.

Violet

Let's see so U basically stole an education & still are to dumb to help yourself, U make me sick, crying about u need help....If i robbed a bank U think anyone would help me?? What U did should be punishable by servering time in jail...the bottom line is you stole, U knew U didn't have the money to pay & U did it anyway

No... Dirtydebtor is bitter that they never got accepted into university. So they went out and overpaid for a mail-order diploma and was dumb enough to think everyone would believe their degree is from "Havvard U", its spelled Harvard you idiot.

In this world there are the haves and have not, bitter people like Dirtydebtor will always be a have not!

There seems to be a bit of a misconception developing here.  Violet stated that she wasn't being marked/graded and all she did was sit in on the classes because she enjoyed being there.  Can the university really charge her tuition?  Tuition for what?  She wasn't an official student, not recognized by the grading etc...  At most they might be able to charge an attendance fee, for sitting in on the classes, or at worse charge her with trespassing. 

i realize this thread is older, however it may still be something worth discussing... 

the university is likely treating violet as an auditor.  people are allowed to sit in on the classes etc but are generally required to pay to keep the seat warm.  i know seniors are offered the opportunity to sit in at reduced rates, and i know each school has its own policy regarding auditing.  makes little sense, i know, but the school will take the stand that she is benefitting from the knowledge despite having no marks etc.

however, the important thing to consider is that this was in 97, over 6 years ago.  one would think there is a statute about this somewhere...johnny, wouldn't the school have been obligated to pursue this matter with due dilligence ?  if the school had actually charged her 'tuition' for auditing in 97, would this debt not be classed as stats barred ??

violet would be well advised to research her university's policy on auditing classes, research the statutes for collecting tuition fees in her province and if she's still in hot water perhaps consult privately with johnny about how to best handle the situation.

Sorry, one other thing.  Violet was seeking a safe and nourishing environment for herself to recover her equilibrium.  I can relate to this.  I was assaulted by my daughter's father in my final trimester, deserted and then dumped from my job when my daughter was about 5 months old.  I pretty much clawed my way back to sanity but not without a price --it cost me $40,000 in SLs.   A more humane society would have accommodated her in some way, to help her out of her traumatic situation, rather than her having to "audit" the courses. 

When I used the argument that I had paid for my education and it should follow that the college follow its own rules I was laughed at by the school administrators and ignored by Queen's Park.  As far as they were concerned, my investment counted for nothing compared to the real cost.  Interestingly enough, you feel you will be paying for Violet's education yet according to the administrator's thinking you are not even coming close to paying for your own.  Why do you take responsibility for Violet's situation?  It seems to me you may enjoy holding her in contempt.

Then sorry for the inquisition Blue.

Myself, I am unemployed right now with EI running out soon.  I am searching for answers as to why me, why am I unemployed since I did invest in an education, come with a can-do attitude and generally blow-away my competition.   I came to the conclusion that my values are too antiquated for the current business mileu (read: values not work habits).  That and as you may have guessed, I have some emotional baggage and don't mix well with the current status quo.

Again, sorry.