Need Advice on What to Do - HELP!

In 2002 I went to college in New York. Started in September 2002 and by October 9, 2002 I had dropped out due to a family emergency in California. When I went to one of the Advisors to explain my decision he accepted it and I made sure to ask about tuition, etc. He informed me that I would not be held responsible for the few weeks that I had been there for. So I filled out my Class Withdrawl Form and I was on my way back to California.

Now I recently looked at my Credit Report and whatdo I see? The College is trying to collect the sum of 11K through a collection agency called ConServe. So I disputed this online through Experian, but of course nothing came of it and it is still on my Credit Report. I am pretty sure that this debt is governed by a SoL law, especially since it isn't a student loan from the Govt., but a debt owed to the school.

But regardless, I feel it shouldn't be on there because I was told I would be responsible, and to top it all off the Withdrawl Form, which I have a copy of, says nothing about being responsible for the tuition. So I am wondering if anyone has any tips on what I could do, etc. I have never heard from this collection agency and it states that the first date of delinquency was 09/2002...while I was still in school...

The original amout was a loan from Bank of America. The loan was cancelled through Bank of America and therefore the college never got any money.

The loan was not Federal, etc.

I have never gotten ANYTHING from the college except for the Withdrawl Form that is signed by the advisor I spoke with who stated that I would not be responsible. I never signed anything stating that I would be responsible if I withdrew, etc for the tuition. However, it does state on the Withdrawl Form: "I understand that my financial aid for this or future semesters may be affected by my withdrawl from these courses." I never had financial aid.

I never contacted the college because I had no idea this was going on until I checked my credit report. And I have never gotten any letters, calls, etc. from the college, nor did I ever get a bill, etc.

This is what the entry looks like in my credit report:

Date Reported: 10/2005
Date Assigned: 08/2003
Creditor Classification:
Creditor Name: MARYMOUNT MANHATTAN COLL TUIT
Accounts Number: 83XXXX
Account Owner: Individual Account
Original Amount Owned: $11,642
Date of 1 st Delinquency: 09/2002
Balance Date: 10/2005
Balance Owned: $11,642
Last Payment Date: n/a
Status Date: 10/2005
Status: D - Unpaid
Comments: N/A



Thank you for your attention!