DCWP Settles Claims with Berkeley College

In 2018, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) sued Berkeley Educational Services of New York, Inc. (Berkeley), alleging the school committed deceptive practices related to its admissions, financial aid, and debt collection procedures.

In 2022, DCWP has settled its claims with Berkeley. As part of the settlement, Berkeley agreed to:

• Stop collecting on any student debt owed to Berkeley that was incurred before January 1, 2019 (“Debt Relief”).*
• Instruct its third-party debt collectors to request that the credit reporting agencies remove all consumer trade lines concerning student debt incurred at Berkeley prior to January 1, 2019.
• Stop withholding official transcripts of students based on any unpaid tuition or fees incurred prior to January 1, 2019.

*This does not include federal loans, which are owed to the government, or private loans, which are owed to a bank.

If you are covered, you no longer need to make any payments to Berkeley related to that debt. You are covered by the Debt Relief portion of the Settlement Agreement if you:

• Were a Berkeley student prior to January 1, 2019, and
• Owe tuition or fees to Berkeley because of your attendance during that period.

Please note: If you sue Berkeley and seek money you paid or owe the school, the debt relief provisions of the agreement will not apply and Berkeley may pursue any tuition or fees owed to it.

If you were a student at Berkeley prior to January 1, 2019, and someone is attempting to collect on debt you owe directly to Berkeley, or to file a complaint about illegal or misleading conduct by any school, contact DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or by calling 311.

Free Student Loan Help

If you have federal or private student loan debt, we can help. Visit nyc.gov/StudentLoans to read tips and get free financial counseling.

Page updated 05/2024