Hello-
I graduated college 15 years ago and long since paid off all of my college loans. Recently my wife realized that we did not have a copy of my degree, so she called the Private College I attended. They informed her that I owed tuition (not loans) and would not receive my degree until I paid the remaining tuition. I understand from doing some preliminary research that this debt is not collectible in court since the Statue of Limitations expired and so long as I do not admit the debt or make payments or otherwise toll the SOL, I cannot be forced to pay this debt. I should elaborate, the college never sent a statement or made any effort to collect such tuition and this is the first I have heard of this debt. My question is threefold:
1- Did the SOL officially pass? If so, when?
2- Can the College keep my degree and never send it to me, even if the SOL has lapsed? If not, how do I get the degree?
3- What other legal recourse does the college have to attempt to get me to pay this "debt"... can they send it to collections? Hit my credit report?... if so, what can I do to prevent having to pay this old debt and not have it adversley effect my credit?
I graduated college 15 years ago and long since paid off all of my college loans. Recently my wife realized that we did not have a copy of my degree, so she called the Private College I attended. They informed her that I owed tuition (not loans) and would not receive my degree until I paid the remaining tuition. I understand from doing some preliminary research that this debt is not collectible in court since the Statue of Limitations expired and so long as I do not admit the debt or make payments or otherwise toll the SOL, I cannot be forced to pay this debt. I should elaborate, the college never sent a statement or made any effort to collect such tuition and this is the first I have heard of this debt. My question is threefold:
1- Did the SOL officially pass? If so, when?
2- Can the College keep my degree and never send it to me, even if the SOL has lapsed? If not, how do I get the degree?
3- What other legal recourse does the college have to attempt to get me to pay this "debt"... can they send it to collections? Hit my credit report?... if so, what can I do to prevent having to pay this old debt and not have it adversley effect my credit?
