I was recently enrolled in Kaplan's On-Line University. I completed my first semester with a high 90's average on both of my classes. I started my second semester which was a lot more work compared to the first semester. Irregardless, I was determined and prepared. 2 1/2 weeks into the second semester, my fiance had a stroke. She was in the hospital for almost a full week and off from work for about a month. I was taking care of my daughter (13) and my fiance as she was bed ridden for about 3 weeks. I contacted the school and had asked them if I could take a leave of absence from the current semester as there was no way possible I would be able to set aside the minimum of 20 hours a week to study. I needed a lot more than 20 hours a week for this semester. When I called to ask for the leave, they informed me that I could not take the time off because I was already past the deadline of the first week. I said there had to be something they could do since it was an act of God and not something I could control as to needing the time off. Of course one doesn't plan on a devastating stroke to happen to a family. Unfortunately, they said there was no way I could take this time off. The only suggestion they gave me was to drop 1 class and go from 2 classes to 1. Again, I repeated to them that I had my daughter and fiance to take care of. That I needed to focus 100% on her getting better, as well as being a parent to my daughter and helping her finish out her school year with all of her exams, etc. They said to me that the only other option was to process a full withdrawal from school. This upset me very much as I did not want to do this. Unfortunately, based on the options they provided me, I had no choice but to process a full withdrawal. This is where the even worse part starts... They told me that I would be charged a $100 withdrawal fee, and was also responsible for paying for half of my second semester. I challenged the $100 fee, but they said there was nothing they could do. They told me they would be sending out a final bill in the mail. That if I had any questions about the amount owed, that I needed to wait for the final bill, call them, and anything that needed to be adjusted would be adjusted. I owed them some money from my first semester, so I knew I was responsible for that. Well, a week later they deducted $1000.00 from our bank account. This wasn't supposed to happen at ALL since I was waiting for my final bill, and I did not have the money for school since I did not file for my VA tuition assistance for the month since I was withdrawing from school. Not to mention, I knew there was almost $2000.00 extra on my bill that I felt needed to be adjusted because that was for the second semester, the semester that I had withdrawn from due to a life threatening stroke of my fiance. This deduction from the school crippled our account as we were not expecting that to happen. I contacted the school once I received my final bill. This was about 3 weeks after they took out the $1000.00. Since I knew I owed them money from the first semester, I did not debate them taking out the money, even though that wasn't supposed to happen because I was told that all billing and payment arrangements would be addressed once I received my final bill. Thank God for my fiance's mother helping us out financially during this time. Well, here is where it gets even worse...The University is telling me that I owe them $2, 300.00 for the second semester alone!! They said that because I did not withdraw by the 1st week deadline, that I was responsible for paying this amount. Obviously, we had no control over my fiance having a stroke, so this isn't something that we had prepared for, or else I would still be in school right now! They said they understood about the medical emergency, but unfortunately I still owed the money.. HOW IN THE WORLD IS THIS RIGHT?? I totally understand if I just withdrew from school because I didn't want to study and just gave up, but this was something I had absolutely NO CONTROL over.., Even after my original conversation with the school trying to simply ask for a leave of absence for the second semester so I could take care of my girls (that they DENIED due to being past the deadline), and ultimately having to do a full withdrawal because of my fiances condition, they told me I WAS STILL RESPONSIBLE... PLEASE HELP!!! Does anyone have any advise as to what I can do to fight this?? They tell me that I am responsible and told me there was nothing I could do about it. Even if I supplied hospital records, they still tell me I owe them.., I can't see how this is right and just. It looks like I may have to go to the better business bureau. If anyone has any advice or pointers, please send me a message or reply to this post. Thanks ahead of time for any advice you all may have. Thank you and God Bless You.