Ontario career college says I owe $3,504.99 after attending only 3 days — is this legal?
Title: Ontario career college says I owe $3,504.99 after attending only 3 days — is this legal?
I’m looking for advice from anyone familiar with Ontario private career colleges, the Private Career Colleges Act, or Ontario student refund laws.
I enrolled in a skilled trades program at a private career college in Ontario. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw after attending only 3 days. Due to health conditions.
The school sent me a statement showing:
$3,000 — “Tools, Shop and classroom material, PPE, Administrative fee, etc.”
$500 — Books
$504.99 — 3 days at $168.33/day
Total: $4,004.99
I had already paid $500
They say I still owe $3,504.99
This is literally what’s in the invoice!
Here is where I’m confused.
I was given only one book, yet they’re charging me $500 for it . I also don’t understand exactly what the $3,000 charge consists of because the statement combines tools, materials, PPE and administrative fees into one amount. I offered to return all the tools after the three days but they refused saying that is used.
I withdrew very early in the program — after only three days and well before the halfway point. I did this officially and they accepted my withdrawal.
I’ve been reading Ontario’s career-college refund rules, particularly O. Reg. 415/06, and I’m trying to understand whether the school calculated my balance correctly.
My questions are:
1Can a private career college charge a $3,000 compulsory fee like this after a student withdraws after only 3 days?
Does the college have to show exactly what the $3,000 consists of?
Is charging $500 for books reasonable if I received only one book?
How should the college calculate the fee for only 3 days of attendance?
Does Ontario law require a specific refund calculation when a student withdraws before the midpoint of the program?
What documents should I request from the school to verify that these fees were legally charged?
Is there an Ontario government office, student advocate, lawyer, or organization I should contact about this?
I’m not looking for someone to simply tell me not to pay. I want to understand what the law actually says and whether the school’s calculation is correct.
I can provide a redacted copy of the statement showing the $3,504.99 balance if that would help.
Please! If anyone here has experience with Ontario private career colleges or has dealt with a similar withdrawal/refund dispute, I’d really appreciate your advice.