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What are the reasons the university has decided to go to a third party provider for processing credit card payments?

The university has experienced significant budget challenges with the several years of reductions in state appropriations that support UM-Dearborn’s instructional programs. We have examined our expenditures and made reductions to adjust to our revenue streams. Annually, bank fees associated with credit card payments cost over $300,000. In addition, credit card companies have recently set very strict card association rules that require the university to meet strict compliance standards. Although these are excellent in assuring strong security and controls on credit card transactions, they bring significant amount of labor intensive work to comply with these standards. By using a third party, the university can save annual bank fee expenses of $300,000 and remove the liability of having to maintain credit card records and being subject to overseeing the credit card company compliance issues.

Does the university offer on-line debit card payment options?

At this time the university does not have on-line debit card capabilities. A similar on-line service, ACH, is currently available for on-line payment of tuition and fee accounts. The process of directly charging a checking or savings account applies. The process requires filling out an on-line check and providing bank routing and account number information. This option has been available to students for several years.

We are working on and anticipate a debit card option in the near future.

Will the $300,000 annual cost savings be used to lower tuition?

Annually we are challenged with the increasing costs of operating an institution of higher learning. Our students and alumni come to UM – Dearborn because of the high quality of education we deliver. Our challenge is to constantly search for opportunities to lower cost while maintaining the quality of our instructional mission. In addition, we are also looking for opportunities to expand our instructional programs to address job opportunity needs of southeast Michigan.  For example, $300,000 can go a long way in supporting the costs of starting an instructional program in an area of medical services, a job market that is in high demand in Michigan, as well as nationally.

If I decide to use the credit card option of payment, how will I know how much the service fee will cost?

When you process an on-line 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.

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 and routing numbers on-line. An example and instructions are available at the payment website. https://web-sis.umd.umich.edu
• In person by check, money order, or cash at the Cashiers/Student Accounts office.  The hours are Monday and Thursday from 9AM - 5PM and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9AM - 4 PM, with extended hours available during the first two weeks of the term.
• By check or money order mailed to UM-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd., 1187UC, Dearborn, MI  48128.

There remain several other options to pay a bill with no extra cost to you:

TouchNet is closely connected with our student information system. Therefore, the processing of payments will be seamless. Our current real time processing of payments will continue. As you authorize your credit card payment, your payment will be immediately applied to your account.

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How do I sign up for eRefund to have my financial aid money directly deposited in my bank account?

This service is another means by which the university can lower costs through the use of processing transactions electronically rather than having to send a check for a student refund.

The new eRefund application profile form will be available to students prior to September 1^st.

Once a student submits this form identifying their bank routing number and account number, refunds from financial aid or overpayment of tuition and fee accounts can be processed (direct deposit) to the assigned bank savings or checking account. This is a convenient alternative service of our current check writing/mail process. Students will receive their funds several days sooner.

How does the payment plan work? How do I sign up?

The tuition and fee payment plan is an optional payment planning service that is provided to students or parents who wish to follow a budget of paying their tuition and fee account assessments. This is a web based system. UM-Dearborn staff will be establishing payment plan options for students to select from a drop down menu. The plan automatically recalculates individual payment plan installments based on new account activity. A modest fee will be established to help with administrative costs and for the flexibility students will receive with payment deferment. More information will be coming on this optional payment plan.