Higher education often comes with higher fees — sometimes even after you thought you were done paying.

When a graduate who had worked his way through school was asked for extra money just to get his diploma, he decided he’d rather let it sit in a drawer than be nickel and dimed.

That’s when a petty $150 fee turned into an act of malicious compliance that stretched over seven years.

Keep reading for the full story!

The only battle I ever won with a college.

I went to college back in the early 70’s, close to the last era when you could kind of pay your way while going to school.

I lived off campus, rode my bike to school, worked at the College/Hospital loading dock part time during school and full time the rest of the year.

I avoided additional fees like parking permits, and it was before big student activity fees.

But when it came time to pick up his diploma, he was hit with an unexpected fee.

Upon completion of my degree, I received a letter from “Harvard of the Cuyahoga” that asked for $150 as a “Matriculation Fee.”

As I was not attending graduation, I called and asked why.

I was informed it was for my diploma.

He found this pretty rich considering the thousands he had already paid the school.

I had spent over two years of my life at this particular school, finishing my degree, and had paid them (1970 figures, don’t laugh) about $14,000 to date.

I had kind of assumed the diploma was included.

My diploma was included in high school and I didn’t pay them a thing.

So, I asked if I would still be able to get transcripts if I did not pay the fee, and they said yes.

I thanked them for their time.

Cool, I got on with life, still in the same city.

But years later, the school seemed to change its tone.

About seven years later, I get a call from the Dean’s Office and the nice lady explains they have had my diploma sitting in a drawer and could they please messenger it over to me?

They would REALLY like to get rid of it.

I think that is the ONLY battle I ever won with a college.

This greed was just unbelievable!

When you fight back against the powers that be, sometimes you win!

Some people just refuse to be nickel and dimed.

Cruel words often come back to bite.

Determined people will find any way to resist injustice!

Sometimes it really is the principle of the thing.

If they wanted $150 for a piece of paper, he was happy to let it collect dust!

If you liked that post, check out this story about a guy who was forced to sleep on the couch at his wife’s family’s house, so he went to a hotel instead.