Pst 9/11 GI Bill Experiences

[JanusthePhoenix]

I figure as long as I hijacked this thread for ranting already, I'll revive it and do it again...

I've been waiting about 3 weeks for my second reimbursement payment. Today I get a letter in the mail saying that my education benefits have been terminated effective September 8th. (Yes, 3 months before I got my first payment.) There was absolutely no explanation why, and they want me to give back the first payment as well. They go on to tell me that if I have any questions, I should look up my local VA regional office in the phone book and give them a call. They wouldn't even give me their own phone number.

These guys are unbelievable. :mad: I am so pissed off I can't see straight! Guess I have to wake up early eastern time and hopefully get somebody competent on the phone.

Edit: The phone number Excelsior gave me for Buffalo doesn't work. Called the GI Bill hotline (ugh) again. Got put on hold, then got the "all lines are busy, kindly piss off" message. Redialed, then got a different message saying that the call centers are closed Thursdays and Fridays now.

[94steve]

WTF?!?!?!? Wow, they just sent me my LOE about a week or two ago and I'm now enrolled in TESC. Let's hope they don't do me dirty like they did you. I can't beleive they paid you and then terminated your benefits effective a few weeks BEFORE your first payment. Unreal.

[Basket Weaver]

Man, that has got to be a kick in the nads.

I have all of my unused GI Bill benefits, which I can't transfer over to any family member...to include my children because I retired in March of 08 instead of August:mad: . I am happy I knocked my school out during my career versus having to deal with these clowns.

Can you imagine what bedlam is going to ensue once they get theirs hands on health care? Should be interesting.

[JanusthePhoenix]

Okay...so two days after I got the termination letter, I get another letter awarding me about 6 months worth of GI Bill benefits backdated to February. :eek: I can only guess that they had to remove my previous benefits from the system for the backdate to work right, but I don't know for sure. I've been trying to get ahold of the right people at EC to sort this out all week. My money is basically waiting for me to verify my enrollment through WAVE; all I have to do is click the button now.

Here's the problem: the benefits awarded me are a little more than twice what I was claiming! Moreover, the dates listed are way off: I didn't start taking ECE tests until May or so. So here's my question: can anyone share their experience using their GI Bill reimbursement through EC? When you claim reimbursement for ECE tests and such, are you awarded based on the actual amount you paid or based on the credits you received? Can anybody shed some light on WTF is going on?

Edit 18Dec: Finally got through to EC. Turns out ECE's are VA certified as a tuition claim, NOT straight reimbursement like the CLEP or DSST. That means we get tuition based on credit, not on what we actually paid! I made money on my college degree! Boy, am I glad to have this one resolved. Hopefully my little chronicle will help future EC student veterans with their college adventure.