University of Phoenix to Pay $50 M and Stop Collection on $141 M in Student Loans

In a large victory for consumers, The University of Phoenix agreed to pay $50 million in cash and cancel $141 million in debt owed to the school by students harmed by their deceptive ads. Phoenix’s ads touted job opportunities and relationships with top tech companies.

Federal Trade Commission, Plaintiff, v. The University of Phoenix, Inc., an Arizona corporation; and Apollo Education Group, Inc., an Arizona corporation; Defendants.

To cease collection on $141 million in student loans

This judgment consists of:
1. Payment of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) to the Commission.
a) Defendants are ordered to pay to the Commission Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000).
b) Such payment must be made within 7 days of entry of this Order by electronic fund transfer in accordance with instructions previously provided by a representative of the Commission.
2. Ceased collection of a minimum of One Hundred Forty Million Nine Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Eight-Hundred and Six Dollars ($140,966,806) in Covered Consumer Debt as follows:
a) Defendants, Defendants’ officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, and all other Persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of this Order, whether acting directly or indirectly, are permanently enjoined from attempting to collect, collecting, or assigning any right to collect any Covered Consumer Debt. Defendants shall not refer, sell, assign, or otherwise transfer any Covered Consumer Debt.
b) Within 10 business days after entry of this Order, Defendants shall cease collecting on all Covered Consumer Debt and notify any collection agency or other third party collecting Covered Consumer Debt to cease such collection efforts. Within 60 business days after entry of this Order, Defendants shall:

(1) recall, purchase, or otherwise obtain any Covered Consumer Debt that Defendants have referred, sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred to any collection agency or other third party, and

(2) clear all Covered Consumer Debt from Defendants’ financial systems.
c) For any Covered Consumer Debt that has been reported to a Consumer Reporting Agency (“CRA”), Defendants shall, within 10 business days of clearing all Covered Consumer Debt as required by subsection A.2.b request that each CRA delete the Covered Consumer Debt from the consumer’s credit reporting file.
d) To the extent Defendants receive any payments for Covered Consumer Debt after September 30, 2019, Defendants shall, within 30 days of receipt or entry of this Order, refund any such payments.
e) Defendants shall, within 10 business days after entry of this Order, provide a signed declaration to the FTC attesting that they have ceased collection of Covered Consumer Debt as required by this Section III.A.2.

Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgment

MUSINGS FROM DIANE:

Those who are willing to commit the time and effort to get an education need to be applauded, not ripped off.  I did not start my upper education until I was married and had a wonderful daughter.  That meant sacrificing to pay tuition and costs, plus it meant my job options were limited (needed time to take care of family and study).  My beautiful and very smart daughter spent her early grade school years studying with me at the same table.  I was lucky enough not to need loans in order to pay for under-grad, because I was working two jobs.  Law school was another story.  Working outside school was not permitted and I now know why (no time if you are going to graduate).  Therefore, student loans were the only option.  Had my law school been one that failed to live up to its promises (like the University of Phoenix) , I would have been stuck the significant student loans and no degree to show for my time and effort.  The next two decades would have been spent paying off a debt for something I never received.  This is what The University of Phoenix, and many other “for profit” schools, knowingly do to their students.  Shame on them!!