Attorney General to investigate ACI closure

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Attorney General's office launched an investigation into the abrupt closing the American Career Institute.

The State Office of Consumer Affairs says a total of 1,400 students from the five campuses around the state were affected by the school's closure.  The for-profit occupational school cited financial reasons for the closure.

If students paid for coursework they did not receive, Consumer Affairs advises the following:

If you have a student loan: Contact the lender immediately to inform them of the school’s closure and that you wish to request  a “non-interest bearing administrative forbearance” of the loan until such time that the claim with the school is settled.

If you paid by check: If your check has not already been cashed by the school, contact your bank to stop payment on the check. If the check has been cashed, obtain a copy of it.

If you paid by credit card: Contact your credit card company immediately.

If you are attending school under the Massachusetts Unemployment Law: Contact the Division of Unemployment Assistance at 617-626-5375 to notify them of the situation.

If you are attending school with financing from your local career center: Contact the career center and apprise them of the closure.

Students of ACI are also advised to call the AG's Public Inquiry and Assistance Center's (PIAC) Consumer Hotline for further assistance at (617) 727-8400. The hotline is staffed weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with trained information specialists who can help. Students can also file an e-complaint with the AG's Office if they feel they have been financially harmed by the school's closure.