I attended an orientation program for a Teaching Cert. program in Canada for an American college. I paid a deposit which stated the terms incl. tuition was due by xx date unless I withdrew. A few issues came up which ended up making it impossible for me to attend. My student loan approval was about half of what I initially expected, so financially it would be impossible to start that semester. Also, my old medical records (required for crossing the border) had been lost by my previous doctor apparently in a computer crash a few years prior. Why I wasn't told about that is another story. Re. the financial situation, I also had to prove to US immigration that I had the funding up front for my costs- which at this point I wouldn't have. I contacted the school admissions via email and letter advising that A) I would have to start at a later entry date or, if this wasn't allowed/possible B) withdraw (as per the agreement.) I asked what I needed to do to withdraw. No reply. Eventually, having no Visa credentials, medical records, or required funds, and having never even SET FOOT in the school, I assumed I was considered withdrawn. Mistake #1!!! Months later, the school started contacting me for my 'past due tuition'. I spoke to several people about the situation. Naturally, they were in finance, not admissions, and couldn't help, but would get someone to contact me from admissions. None ever did. It all stopped for about a year, then I suddenly was inundated with calls from a collector, asking for the full tuition amount, plus interest and fees equalling about 50% of the original amount!!! He's called neighbours of mine, people with the same last name, etc. I explained everything; his standard reply- "You signed the agreement, you owe the money." I said I would've withdrawn as required if I knew HOW TO DO SO! He basically said ignorance is no excuse etc. This has been ongoing about 4 years now. Does anyone know if there is a statute of limitations, or if a US company even has legal grounds against me in Canada? Or if things went to court, would it have to be in the jurisdiction I signed the form in? My point is, first, the school was dirty and sneaky for not providing me with the information needed to get out of the agreement in the first place. But this collector is a world class a-hole. I'm thinking if I haven't been taken to court by now, they have no grounds to so. But I'm scared that if this isn't the case, I'm in a huge mess!