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.
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:


Diane is a well respected Arizona bankruptcy and foreclosure attorney. As a retired law professor, she believes in offering everyone, not just her clients, advice about bankruptcy and Arizona foreclosure laws. Diane is also a mentor to hundreds of Arizona attorneys.
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