Credit Card Convenience Fee FAQs
*** Effective July 1, 2009 ***
- 1.) Why did UM-Flint decide to move in the direction of charging a fee for the use of my credit card?
- 2.) When will this change become effective?
- 3.) What credit cards does UM-Flint accept?
- 4.) Why doesn't UM-Flint accept visa?
- 5.) Why is the convenience fee 2.75%? How was that percentage established?
- 6.) Is there any way I can avoid paying a convenience fee?
- 7.) Can I make a credit card payment over the phone?
- 8.) Can I pay in person using a credit card?
- 9.) I often receive checks from my credit card company. Can I use the routing number and account number on these checks to make an electronic check (e-check) payment?
- 10.) If I make a credit card payment in error will my convenience fee be refunded?
- 11.) If I use my debit card to pay my student account charges, will I be charged the convenience fee?
- 12.) Will the convenience fee that I am charged be included on my student account breakdown and statement?
- 13.) Are other Universities charging a convenience fee for credit card transactions?
- 14.) If I decide to use the credit card option to make a payment, how will I know how much the service fee will cost?
- 15.) If I pay my tuition and fees with a credit card through PayPath and then later have a credit on my account, how will the refund be paid to me?
- 16.) What other payment options are available to pay my tuition and fee bill?
- 17.) Does UM-Flint offer any type of payment plan?
1.) Why did UM-Flint decide to move in the direction of charging a fee for the use of my credit card?
UM-Flint is committed to providing students and their families a range of options for paying for their educational expenses. The credit card payment method is becoming prohibitively expensive because of the fees to UM-Flint for credit card transaction processing. This expense is paid by the University tuition revenues and therefore reduces the tuition dollars available for academic programs and services for all students. Therefore, a convenience fee on credit card transactions in the amount of 2.75% will be charged by a third party company. This will provide nearly $200,000 in annual savings for the University.
2.) When will this change become effective?
July 1, 2009
3.) What credit cards does UM-Flint accept?
UM-Flint accepts MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Credit card payments can only be made online via SIS or Payment Plan and cannot be made over the phone, by mail or by email.
4.) Why doesn't UM-Flint accept visa?
Visa does not allow you to charge a convenience fee unless you also choose to charge a convenience fee for every payment method (check, cash).
5.) Why is the convenience fee 2.75%? How was that percentage established?
2.75% is the amount established by our third party credit card processor, TouchNet Business Solutions, to cover the credit card transaction fees assessed by credit card companies.
6.) Is there any way I can avoid paying a convenience fee?
You can avoid paying the 2.75% convenience fee by paying online with an e-check, an electronic debit to your checking or savings account (coming in July 2009). You may also mail or deliver a check to the Cashiers/Student Accounts Office with no convenience fee to the address below. Remember to always include your UMID number on the check.
Cashiers/Student Accounts
261 University Pavilion
Flint, MI 48502-1950
7.) Can I make a credit card payment over the phone?
Credit card payments cannot be made over the phone, by mail or by email. This is a security measure to ensure confidentiality of your payment information.
8.) Can I pay in person using a credit card?
No, you cannot pay using a credit card at our Teller windows. However, a computer is located at our counter that you can use to log into SIS and make a credit card payment.
9.) I often receive checks from my credit card company. Can I use the routing number and account number on these checks to make an electronic check (e-check) payment?
No. The credit card companies will not honor checks used electronically. The payment will be returned as "account not found". You may use these checks through the mail or in person only. Send mail payment to the address below. Remember to always include your UMID number on the check.
Cashiers/Student Accounts
261 University Pavilion
Flint, MI 48502-1950
10.) If I make a credit card payment in error will my convenience fee be refunded?
No. The convenience fee is not refundable, even if the payment to which it relates is cancelled, refunded, credited or charged back.
11.) If I use my debit card to pay my student account charges, will I be charged the convenience fee?
Yes. If you use your debit card like a credit card to pay your student account charges, you will be charged the 2.75% convenience fee. For checking or savings account debits, please use the e-check option (coming in July 2009) to avoid paying the convenience fee.
12.) Will the convenience fee that I am charged be included on my student account breakdown and statement?
No. The convenience fee is a fee assessed by a third party company, TouchNet Business Solutions, in addition to the payment for on campus students. The convenience fee will not appear on your student account or on your statement.
13.) Are other Universities charging a convenience fee for credit card transactions?
Yes. Credit card convenience fees are not unique to UM-Flint. Many other schools such as Michigan State, Wayne State, Eastern Michigan, Saginaw Valley, Grand Valley, UM-Dearborn and Central Michigan currently charge convenience fees for credit card transactions.
14.) If I decide to use the credit card option to make a payment, how will I know how much the service fee will cost?
When you process an online credit card payment, you will receive a message that a service fee will be assessed for the convenience of using a credit card. The message will include the amount that will be assessed to your credit card. The service fee will not appear on your university tuition and fee account, but instead will appear on your credit card statement. The convenience fee will be calculated at 2.75% on the amount paid by the credit card.
15.) If I pay my tuition and fees with a credit card through PayPath and then later have a credit on my account, how will the refund be paid to me?
Your credit card will receive the credit for the amount of the credit card payment. If your refund is more, the remainder will be paid in check form.
16.) What other payment options are available to pay my tuition and fee bill?
There remain several other options to pay a bill with no extra cost to you:
- Online by ACH. Enter your own checking or savings account routing and account numbers online through the SIS website (Coming July 1, 2009).
- In person by check, money order or cash at the Cashiers/Student Accounts Office. The hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5 PM, with extended hours available during the first two weeks of the term. We also have a "drop-box" located right outside our office, which is a secure drop site for payments available anytime the building is open.
- By check or money order mailed to Cashiers/Student Accounts 261 University Pavilion, Flint, MI 48502-1950.
17.) Does UM-Flint offer any type of payment plan?
Yes, we offer a 3-Month Payment Plan for the Fall and Winter semesters that will allow you to spread the cost of the semester over 3 months. If you pay on time each month, you will not receive any late charges. You can make payments of cash, check or ACH. You can also make payments using a credit card, however if you choose to use a credit card you will be subject to the convenience fee charged by Touchnet Solutions.