What Are They Thinking?
Every West Chester University student probably received the same letter in today's mail that I received.
The letter was an explanation of information concerning WCU's new Electronic Billing system and Credit Card Payments for tuition, via the university's web service called "QuikPAY".
Highlights of the letter included the following:
- Beginning with the Fall 2007 semester billing cycle, a convenience fee will be assessed for the use of credit cards used to pay tuition and fees. Credit card payments will only be accepted through the new on-line QuikPAY system.
- QuikPAY will only accept MasterCard, American Express, and Discovery cards. The Bursar's office will no longer accept credit/debit cards through the mail, in person, or over the phone.
- QuikPAY credit card payments will be assessed a convenience fee of 2.75%, which is charged by, Nelnet. This fee shows up on your credit card bill as a separate charge outside of the original tuition payment.
- Visa credit cards will not be permitted for use through QuikPAY because Visa's rules do not allow third party percentage convenience fees.
- Checks and money orders will still be accepted by mail, or in person at the Bursar's office, accompanied by a printed version of the university semester bill, along with student id number. Cash is only accepted in person at the Bursar's office, along with the university semester bill and student id number. E-Check payments will be accepted on-line through QuikPAY without the additional convenience fee charge.
- Printed semester bills will no longer be sent out to students, so students will be responsible to print and pay semester charges at the beginning of each semester.
What I find irritating about WCU's decision to implement this process:
- Third party transaction fees, are they kidding? Like affording tuition isn't hard enough, if I now want the convenience of paying on-line, I'll really have to pay. I'm glad Visa doesn't support third party percentage convenience fees, because I have a Visa card and I like it, and I'm not applying for a MasterCard just so I can pay my college tuition on-line.
- If WCU is phasing out paper tuition bills, and you don't have a MasterCard, American Express or Discovery Card, you STILL have to print out of copy of your semester bill to mail-in or take to the Bursar's office when you pay with check or money order. How is that cutting down on paper usage?
- I suppose the convenience fee helps cover the cost of students that beg out of paying their bills, but why should the rest of the WCU student body be responsible for paying back tuition and unpaid bills?
I'm counting out the $1,483.00 I owe for my summer tuition in $1.00 bills and taking it to the Bursar's office along with a copy of my semester bill printed on a recycled Acme Shopping Bag.
The letter was an explanation of information concerning WCU's new Electronic Billing system and Credit Card Payments for tuition, via the university's web service called "QuikPAY".
Highlights of the letter included the following:
- Beginning with the Fall 2007 semester billing cycle, a convenience fee will be assessed for the use of credit cards used to pay tuition and fees. Credit card payments will only be accepted through the new on-line QuikPAY system.
- QuikPAY will only accept MasterCard, American Express, and Discovery cards. The Bursar's office will no longer accept credit/debit cards through the mail, in person, or over the phone.
- QuikPAY credit card payments will be assessed a convenience fee of 2.75%, which is charged by, Nelnet. This fee shows up on your credit card bill as a separate charge outside of the original tuition payment.
- Visa credit cards will not be permitted for use through QuikPAY because Visa's rules do not allow third party percentage convenience fees.
- Checks and money orders will still be accepted by mail, or in person at the Bursar's office, accompanied by a printed version of the university semester bill, along with student id number. Cash is only accepted in person at the Bursar's office, along with the university semester bill and student id number. E-Check payments will be accepted on-line through QuikPAY without the additional convenience fee charge.
- Printed semester bills will no longer be sent out to students, so students will be responsible to print and pay semester charges at the beginning of each semester.
What I find irritating about WCU's decision to implement this process:
- Third party transaction fees, are they kidding? Like affording tuition isn't hard enough, if I now want the convenience of paying on-line, I'll really have to pay. I'm glad Visa doesn't support third party percentage convenience fees, because I have a Visa card and I like it, and I'm not applying for a MasterCard just so I can pay my college tuition on-line.
- If WCU is phasing out paper tuition bills, and you don't have a MasterCard, American Express or Discovery Card, you STILL have to print out of copy of your semester bill to mail-in or take to the Bursar's office when you pay with check or money order. How is that cutting down on paper usage?
- I suppose the convenience fee helps cover the cost of students that beg out of paying their bills, but why should the rest of the WCU student body be responsible for paying back tuition and unpaid bills?
I'm counting out the $1,483.00 I owe for my summer tuition in $1.00 bills and taking it to the Bursar's office along with a copy of my semester bill printed on a recycled Acme Shopping Bag.