Payment Options at Winthrop University

New payment options went into effect November 13, 2006.  Please read the following information carefully

Electronic Checks

Winthrop University will begin accepting electronic checks as a method of payment. This will allow you to pay by check via the web and receive immediate credit for your payment. E-check payments may be made at the fee payment site on the Cashiers webpage at Paying Over The Internet or at WINGSPAN. There will be no charge for this service. Please note that the Cashiers Office will also continue to accept check payments by mail or in person as well as cash payments in person.

Credit Card Web Only Payments and Transaction Fees

In our continuing effort to keep costs contained, we must change the way we accept credit card payments for student account charges. The cost to the University to provide credit card service exceeds $200,000 annually and costs continue to rise. By changing the way we accept credit cards, these funds can be redirected to our primary role of instruction.

Winthrop University will continue to accept credit card payments for tuition, room, board and other fees through the Cashier’s online secured payment gateway at Paying Over The Internet or at WINGSPAN. However, for your added security, credit card information will no longer be accepted at the Cashier’s teller windows, via telephone or mail. In addition, all credit card transactions will be assessed a 2.5% transaction fee.

Visa cards will no longer be accepted. Because VISA requires a flat rate for transaction fees for any credit cards accepted, Visa cards can no longer be accepted. However, American Express cards will now be accepted, along with MasterCard and Discover.

In summary, effective November 13, 2006, Winthrop offers the following payment options:

·        E-check/ACH payments with no transaction fees at  Paying Over The Internet

·       American Express, MasterCard, Discover credit card payments only via the Web with a 2.5% transaction fee at   Paying Over The Internet

·        Check and Money Order payments via U S mail or in person at the Cashiers Office, 22 Tillman Hall

·        Cash payments in person at the Cashiers Office

Winthrop is working hard to keep costs down while maintaining the high quality of our academic programs. Changing the way we accept credit card payments allows us to significantly reduce costs while providing a variety of payment options to meet individual needs. In addition, by implementing these changes, security will be enhanced because no written information regarding credit card or bank information will be handled or filed. Even Winthrop personnel will not have access to credit card numbers.

Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding the changes in payment options that went into effect November 13, 2006.

What will change?

Effective November 13, 2006, the University implemented changes regarding payment options for tuition and fees. These are the primary changes that result from the new policy:

• Students and parents will be able to make payments directly from any checking or savings account by using the new web payment option (Electronic Funds Transfer) with no additional charges, simply by entering the bank/financial institution routing and account number information at the time of online payment.
• The Cashier’s office will no longer accept credit card payments for tuition and fees at the teller windows, by mail or by telephone. Credit card payments may be made through the Cashier’s online secured payment gateway at Paying Over The Internet or at WINGSPAN. A convenience fee of 2.5% of the total payment amount will be charged to the student’s account when choosing the Credit Card payment option. This convenience fee will be added to the charge amount.
• Visa branded credit cards will no longer be accepted for payments made for tuition and mandatory fees.
• American Express cards have been added to Discover and MasterCard as credit card payment options made through the Cashier web site.

Why were these changes made?

While credit card payments offer a convenient manner for students and parents to pay tuition and fees, the cost to the University for providing this convenience has grown to more than $200,000 annually. Given the tightened budget situation, the University has decided to require those who want the convenience of paying with a credit card to cover a portion of the University's cost of providing the service. This change will benefit the University and all of its students by enabling the University to allocate the savings to instructional purposes.

How was the 2.5% rate determined?

The credit card companies allow the University to recover the direct costs incurred to provide internet payment capabilities. The rate is based on an estimate of those direct costs. At this percentage rate, the University will continue to pay for a portion of the cost of accepting credit cards.

Why eliminate Visa branded debit and credit cards?

The University was unable to negotiate an acceptable method of assessing an appropriate convenience charge to tuition and fee payments. Unlike the other brands of cards, Visa will not allow the University to assess a convenience charge that varies with the amount of the tuition and fee bill.

Are other colleges and universities making similar changes?

Many colleges and universities both within and outside of South Carolina have already made similar changes to their practices of accepting credit cards. Winthrop University has attempted over the past year to negotiate changes in its arrangements with its credit card providers to avoid having to make these policy changes. However, like other institutions, those negotiations have had limited success.

What should I do if all I have is a Visa card?

In addition to accepting American Express, MasterCard and Discover credit cards over the internet subject to a convenience fee, students and parents will be able to make payments directly from any checking or savings account by using the new web payment option - electronic checks, simply by entering the bank/financial institution routing and account number information at the time of online payment. The University will also continue to accept check payments by mail and payments made by cash and check at the Cashier’s Office teller windows. To obtain information about government or alternative loans -- all with much lower interest rates than typically found on credit cards -- students and families can link to the Financial Aid Office. If you do prefer to pay by credit card, you may apply for a MasterCard, Discover Card or American Express card at the company’s website.

Can I phone in my credit card information or mail it to you?

Credit card information will not be accepted through the mail or by telephone. All credit card transactions must be handled through the Cashier’s website or through WINGSPAN. By implementing these changes, security will be enhanced because no written information regarding credit card or bank information will be handled or filed. Even Winthrop University personnel will not have access to credit card numbers.

How will the monies that are collected from this fee be used?

The monies collected will be used to defray a portion of the cost of providing convenient electronic payment options for those who wish to pay via credit card. This change will benefit the University and all of its students by allowing the University to allocate those savings to instructional purposes.

Are there payment options other than the internet? I am a parent and do not have access to a computer or don’t want to send my credit card or banking information over the internet. How do I pay?

Winthrop will continue to accept cash and check payments at the teller windows in the Cashier’s Office as well as check payments received in the mail. In addition, you may want to consider setting up a checking account for your student in your area – you could then deposit funds into the student’s checking account and have the student make payments by check at the teller windows in Cashier’s.

Who can I talk to about these changes?

Questions may be directed to the Cashier’s Office at 803-323-2167 or the Controller’s Office at 803-323-2165.