CREDIT CARD CONVENIENCE FEE - As of August 1, 2010

IUPUI is committed to providing students and their families a range of options for paying their educational expenses, including e-check, check, cash and credit card. The credit card payment method is becoming prohibitively expensive because of transactions fees charged to the university.  

In order to continue to accept credit cards, payments made with MasterCard, Discover, and American Express on student bursar accounts at IUPUI (Indianapolis) a *2.7% "convenience fee" (service charge) will be assessed by the third party vendor on the payment amount effective August 1, 2010. 

Unfortunately, because of limitations imposed by VISA, we will no longer be able to accept VISA as a payment method for the student bursar account.

Payments may continue to be made via e-checks, checks and cash without a convenience fee.  In addition, IUPUI has a deferment option to assist with payment options for students and their families.

*Note:  the 2.7% rate is subject to change.

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Recap

• This change is for credit card payments on student bursar accounts at the Indianapolis campus only.  Note: Application Fees are not on the student account.


• The credit card payment option will be available ONLY as an online service via QuikPAY. IUPUI will not accept credit card payments for student bursar account payments through the mail, in person, or over the phone.


• Students/payers who choose the credit card option to pay a student bursar account will be charged by the third party vendor, a non-refundable, per transaction service charge of 2.7% of the payment amount. The service charge will appear separately on the credit card holder's credit card statement. Note: the 2.7% rate is subject to change.


• Credit card payments may be made with MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.


• All costs for choosing to pay with a credit card must be assumed by the student/authorized payer. The University does not receive, nor will it underwrite, any portion of the service charge.


• The service charge from QuikPAY is in addition to the interest rate charged by the credit card company.

This is a change for IUPUI and we are working to maximize alternative payment methods for our students in the most efficient manner. This change will allow us to continue to offer payments via credit cards on student accounts to those who choose that method without requiring all students to subsidize this payment method.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What are my payment options at IUPUI ?
   IUPUI is committed to providing students and their families a range of options for paying their educational expenses including e-check, check, cash and credit card.  IUPUI also offers a Student Bursar Account deferment option for the Fall, Spring and Summer terms  
     
2. How do I make an e-check payment?
   E-check payment option is available by going to www.onestart.iu.edu. Then go to Student Center>Finances>View/Pay Bursar Bill>Make a Payment OR on the left navigation bar, go to My Finances>Pay Bursar Bill.  This will take you to QuikPAY where there will be further instructions.
   
3. What is the Deferment Option?
   Students who register prior to the first billing of a semester may qualify for our "Deferment Option." The deferment payment amount will include 100% of any prior term or past due charges, 100% of any optional selections (JagTag, Rec Fee, etc.) and approximately 25% of any currently unpaid credit hour, course related and mandatory fees and current term housing charges. The deferment payment will be calculated and clearly indicated on the first bill of each term.
   
   A "Deferment Service Charge" of $15.00* will be added to the student's next bill.   Denial of the payment plan option may occur if payments are received after the payment due date (the third Tuesday of the month in which the bill is sent).
   
   The second payment will be due as billed, on the second statement of each term. The balance on the account could then be paid in full or may be paid in three additional payments. Again, the deferment payment will be listed on the statement and a $15.00* "Deferment Service Charge" will be added to the student's next bill.
   
   The third payment will be due as billed, on the third statement of a term. The third payment may be paid in full or may be paid in two additional payments. Again, the deferment payment will be listed on the statement and a $15.00* "Deferment Service Charge" will be added to your next bill.
   
   The fourth payment will be due as billed, on the fourth statement of the term.  
   
   A payment received that is equal or greater than the required deferment payment, and less than the total amount due, will be processed as a payment on the payment plan. In this case, the service charge will be applied to the account. Financial aid credits, fee remissions, sponsor authorizations, etc., are already taken into consideration when determining the deferment payments.
   
   *Note:  service charge amount is subject to change.

4. What credit cards does IUPUI accept?
   Effective August 1, 2010: IUPUI (Indianapolis campus only) accepts MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.  Credit card payments can only be made online via QuikPAY and cannot be made over the phone, by mail or in-person.

5. Why doesn't IUPUI accept Visa for payment on a student bursar account?
   Effective August 1, 2010 IUPUI's practice is to charge a pro-rata convenience fee.  Visa only allows a flat fee, but not a pro-rata convenience fee.  Visa's flat fee method would require the same flat fee charge regardless of the dollar amount of the transaction.
   
   Note: Visa will be accepted before August 1, 2010.

6. What is the convenience fee?
   2.7%* is the convenience fee (aka service charge) established by our third party credit card processor to cover the credit card transaction fees for payments on a student bursar account. IUPUI will not receive any part of the service charge.
   
   *Note: Convenience fee (service charge) percentage is subject to change.

7. Why is a fee being charged for the use of my credit card?
   IUPUI is committed to providing students and their families a range of options for paying their educational expenses.  The credit card payment method is becoming prohibitively expensive because of the fees to IUPUI (Indianapolis campus only) for credit card transaction processing.  This expense is paid by University tuition revenues and therefore reduces the tuition dollars available for academic programs and services for all students.  In an effort to contain costs, IUPUI (Indianapolis campus only) has made this decision to implement the convenience fee for using credit cards for paying a student bursar account to students/payers, effective August 1, 2010.

8. Is there any way I can avoid paying a convenience fee?
   You can avoid paying the 2.7%* convenience fee by paying online with an e-check, an electronic debit to your checking or savings account. You may also pay by personal check sent via U.S. Mail and made payable to IUPUI Student Account Services (Bursar) and addressed to:  IUPUI Lockbox, Payment Processing Center, P O Box 7245, Indianapolis, IN  46206-7245.
   
   If you're on campus and want to pay by check, you can drop your payment in the drop box or visit the Student Financial Services Office on the second floor of the Campus Center, Suite 250, M-Thurs 8-6, Fri 9-5 and selected Saturdays (for a listing of Saturday hours, go to http://www.iupui.edu/~finaid/office/). Always remember to include your campus ID number on the check.
   
   *Note: Convenience fee percentage is subject to change.

9. 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.

10. If I use my debit card to pay my student bursar account charges, will I be charged the convenience fee?
    Yes.  If you use your debit card to pay your student bursar account charges, you will be charged the 2.7%* convenience fee.  For checking or savings account debits, please use the e-check option to avoid paying the convenience fee.
    
    *Note: Convenience fee percentage is subject to change.

11. Will the convenience fee that I am charged be included on my student bursar account statement?
    No.  The convenience fee is a fee assessed by a third party company, in addition to the payment on the student bursar account.   The convenience fee will not appear on your student bursar account statement.  You will receive two separate receipts from QuikPAY, one for the student bursar account payment and the other for the convenience fee. 

12. How will this appear on my credit card statement?
    Two separate transactions will appear on your credit card statement, one transaction for the student bursar account payment and one transaction for the convenience fee.  The transaction for the student bursar account payment will appear as "IUPUI Bursar Web Payment" and the transaction for the convenience fee will appear as a separate transaction.

13. Will other areas at IUPUI also be charging the convenience fee?
     At this time, this change only applies to payments made on a student bursar account (Indianapolis campus only). At this time, we are not aware of any other areas with a 2.7% convenience fee.
    
    Note: Application fees are not on the student account.

14. What if I'm getting a refund for tuition and fees, because of a credit balance on my student bursar account and I paid my account with a credit card?
    The University is required to refund any overpayments made by credit card back to the credit card account.  The convenience fee will not be refunded.  

15. What if I make a credit card payment for more than I owe on my student bursar account?
    The third-party payment system will not allow payments for more than the account balance. 

16. Will other IU campuses also be charging a convenience fee for credit card payments?
    At this time only IUPUI (Indianapolis campus only) will be charging a convenience fee for credit card payment on student bursar accounts.  This new policy will not apply to the other IU campuses that currently accept credit cards for student bursar account payments.
    
    Note:  IU Bloomington does not accept credit cards for student bursar account payments.

17. Are other Universities charging a convenience fee for credit card transactions?
    Yes.  Credit card convenience fees are not unique to IUPUI.  Many other schools such as Purdue University, University of Minnesota, Michigan State, and Wayne State currently charge convenience fees for credit card transactions.

18. Do all public Universities in Indiana have a credit card payment option?
    No.  Currently Ball State and IU-Bloomington do not accept any credit cards for payment of tuition and fees.

19. How do I make a credit card payment?
    The credit card payment option is available by going to www.onestart.iu.edu. Then go to Student Center>Finances>View/Pay Bursar Bill>Make a Payment OR on the left navigation bar, go to My Finances>Pay Bursar Bill.  This will take you to QuikPAY where there will be further instructions.

20. How will I know if my payment is approved?
    When credit card payments are approved an online confirmation receipt is issued by the third-party payment processor to the email address you specify.

21. What happens if I make a mistake when I enter my credit card information online?
     If a credit card number or other personal information is entered that is inconsistent with your credit card account, the payment will be rejected immediately. If the payment is rejected, you will be told that your payment has been rejected. You will be able to view all past rejected payments in your transaction history.

22. Can I make a credit card payment over the phone?
    Credit card payments cannot be made over the phone or via mail.  This is a security measure to ensure confidentiality of your payment information.  

23. Can I pay in person using a credit card?
    Credit card payments can be made at any internet-accessible device.  If you're on campus and want to make a credit card payment, you can access the internet at one of the various public computer stations on campus.  If you need assistance, there are also computers available within the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) on the second floor of the Campus Center, Suite 250, M-Thurs 8-6, Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-12 (except holiday weekends). The staff at OSFS will be able to assist you.

24. Often I 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 this type check used electronically.  The payment will be returned as "account not found."   You may use this type of check to pay via U.S. Mail and made payable to IUPUI Bursar and addressed to:
    
    IUPUI  Lockbox
    Payment Processing Center
    P.O. Box 7245
    Indianapolis, IN  46206-7245
    
    If you're on campus and want to pay with this type of check, visit the Office of Student Financial Services on the second floor of the Campus Center, Suite 250. Always remember to include your student ID number on the check.  The convenience fee will not be assessed on this type of payment.

25. Is this convenience fee contradictory to the MasterCard policy stated on their website?
    No, although there is a section, 5.9.2, on the MasterCard website that could be interpreted as contradictory.   Clarification is found in the "program summary" on the MasterCard Worldwide Convenience Fee Program flyer.  It reads:
    
         "MasterCard has put in place a convenience fee program for participating pre-certified government and education entities, or their third-party agents.  Participants in the program will be permitted to assess a convenience fee for MasterCard transactions, whether conducted in person, Internet, phone, mail or kiosk, versus other forms of payment, such as cash, check, Automated Clearing House (ACH), and Personal Identification Number (PIN) based debit, provided that the conditions set out below are satisfied."

26. Is charging a convenience fee legal?
    Yes, it is legal for our third party credit card processor, NelNet, to charge a convenience fee. NelNet has provided a document, Convenience Fee Card Association Compliance, summarizing the compliance considerations for each of the card networks.