By Jonathan Stankiewicz
Oct. 1 is coming, consider yourselves warned.
Starting this Saturday, the way students will be paying for things will be drastically changed.
All credit card payments will be accepted online only and will be processed through the online QuickPAy ebill/payment service provided on CCSU’s Web Banner system. No mailed, faxed or in-person credit card transaction will be accepted. Debit cards will also be accepted online and will be processed as a credit card transaction subject to the same 2.5% convenience fee.
It should be of note that the convenience fee is only added when a credit card is chosen as the method of payment and added only at the time a payment is made.
“Other schools in the CSU System requested it as a way of targeting the cost involved in accepting credit cards to those using this method of payment, rather than the whole student body absorbing the cost with increased tuition and fees,” said Bursar Betsy Fan Fangiullo.
Fangiullo wants students to understand that paying by eCheck/ACH from a checking or savings account carries no fees so if they were previously using a branded debit card, they should instead enter the routing information for their bank account.
“If they were previously using a branded debit card from a checking account, they may instead enter their bank routing information so they are not assessed the fee,” added Fangiullo.
To help combat the new 2.5% increase students can take advantage of Central’s current payment plan for next semester, though there isn’t any room to expand the five installments per term.
But in CCSU President Jack Miller’s report card in “Objective 2.11: Increase the total amount of financial aid awarded,” Financial Aid and Student Affairs greatly surpassed the $52.7 million in aid given out in the 2005-06 academic year. For the 2010-11 academic year they were able to award $88 million to students, greatly surpassing their goal of $65 million.
Today many people have Visa cards and the Bursar’s office and Fangiullo understand that. Due to compliance with PCI regulations CCSU can no longer accept them.
“Visa regulations do not allow for flexibility in the assessing of a convenience fee and require that when accepting Visa and charging a convenience fee, an institution must charge the fee on all methods of payment, not just to credit cards, as well as a requirement that the fee be a flat or fixed amount, rather than the percentage as approved by the Board of Trustees,” Fangiullo said.
Or we can just say “Visa regulations do not allow a convenience fee charge unless the fee is also charged for every payment method (check, cash),” says the Bursar’s website about Visa acceptance being discontinued. “Due to these restrictions CCSU will not be able to accept Visa credit card as a method of payment.”
Fangiullo is adamant that this new fee “is not a way to push more people to pay online.”
“Paying online continues to be the most secure, accurate, accessible and convenient method of payment,” Fangiullo said. “The QuikPAY eBill/ePayment service has been certified compliant with credit card security regulations, ensuring continued security for students and authorized payors’ financial data.”
The entire CSU system has been affected and the Bursar’s offices have worked together accordingly.
“The four Bursars have worked closely with each other throughout this implementation,” Fangiullo said. “We have done the research on other schools that have made similar transitions and have received positive feedback from all.”
Fangiullo said that she and the Bursar’s office will continue to ensure a smooth transition for students.
“As the forms of currency/payments evolve, I understand the need to make changes but also understand that these changes may be difficult for some of our students,” said Fangiullo.
