My company has recently changed their Education Policy for employees that are currently seeking degrees. I was enrolled in a degree program that the company was paying for prior to the change. After Jan 1st of 2010 the company requested workers to reimburse that corporation for any education expenses incurred if the employee leaves within 24 months. I took about 3 or 4 classes after Jan 1st totaling $6800 in education expenses and I am now preparing to change jobs outside the company. The company has an e-signature from me saying that I would repay the tuition but a different revision to the contract was then pushed out to all employees 9 months later stating the terms of the repayment (7 days paid in full else debt forwarded to a bill collection agency). These terms I have not agreed to and I have not submitted an e-signature to and i have not enrolled in any classes after the revision was pushed out. Judging by the corporate policies I believe I will end up receiving a letter from the company requesting payment in 7 days which I have no way of paying. Had these terms been named up front I would have never went back to school.

There is a loophole to the repayment though... If I click the box marked as I am retiring from the company I will not have to pay the tuition back. It is part of the company's policy. I know people can retire then later go back to work. I am unsure though if there is a required downtime and age that I am allowed to do this. Also I am 28 years old so i know my accrued pension would be wiped out (this is acceptable though because the present value of the $6800 outweighs the future value of the pension). My real question is can I legally claim retirement from my company and go to work at another in order to avoid paying this back. I would not plan on filing for federal benefits if I were to do this.

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