Business ProfileforCIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange

Last year in October, I was put in contact by ************************* (******) with CIEE to inquire about their study abroad options. I was interested to study in *****. I was told that a four month program would cost in excess of $17,000.00 US. I simply did not have that amount a money but wanted to keep my options open. I hoped somehow that I would be able to obtain the funds. I was asked to sign electronically a document online. No financial milestones, deadlines, or potential penalty fees were explicitly mentioned to me in my conversation with the CIEE advisor. Time passed and I came to the realization that I would not be able to provide the funds to cover the program. I emailed CIEE on January 1st, 2023 to let them know that I cannot travel to *****. I did not hear from them. Only when I attempted to register for the Spring term at ************************* (******) I was told that there was a penalty fee on my account of roughly $5000 which constituted a penalty fee for not withdrawing my application 15 days prior to the departure date. I appealed the decision and CIEE made a reduction of approximately $900.00. However, the decision still leaves me with more than $4000.00 as a charge. NOTE - ************************* sent a check already back in January on my behalf without even notifying me. I feel that the charge is punitive and unethical given the fact that no financial penalty fees were expressively communicated by CIEE. I was told that the details were included in the document that I signed electronically online. However, I was never made aware by the CIEE advisor that there are financial terms included in the document. My ask if for CIEE to reconsider and send back to ************************* most if not all of the remaining amount that they obtained.