College won’t release a transcript for outstanding tuition or loans

Sometimes schools they will withhold a transcript for outstanding tuition or loans as a way to collect debts.

This is because, unfortunately, some schools sometimes care more about payment than they care about whether their students can use their education to get a job and make a living.

If your school refuses to give you a transcript until you pay your tuition or student loans, you might have tried everything you can think of.

So what should you do?

• You can use a bankruptcy to force the school to give you the transcript without paying off the loans.

How does filing for bankruptcy help?

This is only fair, since you need the transcript to get a degree and find a job to pay off the tuition and loans.

• A Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy can stop this tactic because when you file for bankruptcy protection, the automatic stay protects you

The automatic stay is a court injunction that protects the debtor from any acts to collect debts.

Why does bankruptcy help?

Minnesota courts have ruled that refusal to release a transcript to a student because of debt is an act to collect a debt.

Thus, at least while you are in the bankruptcy, you can force the school to release your transcript.

This is true even though the bankruptcy generally will not discharge student loans or tuition debts.

Disclaimer

We strongly recommend that you talk to an experienced Minnesota bankruptcy lawyer about how to do this to be sure you get a transcript.

Not all schools have similar policies, and this is a changing area of the law in some states, so your results may vary.

Conclusion

If you need help, then why not contact us at 612.824.4357 and tell us how we can help you get your transcript for outstanding tuition or loans.

Photo credit: © Bram Janssens | Dreamstime.com