Paperless Billing Gone Wrong
By: Editorial Board
Issue date: 6/29/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 6/28/07 at 11:45 PM EST
Last update: 6/28/07 at 11:45 PM EST
Originally published: 6/28/07 at 11:45 PM EST
Last update: 6/28/07 at 11:45 PM EST
With the introduction of paperless billing, we thought that the bursar's office would be more responsive to student needs. Unfortunately, that's not the case. E-mails that we have sent to the bursar have gone longer than 24 hours without a reply. Students continue to have problems with incorrect payment amounts, late fees or other problems, which are blamed on the paperless billing system. There needs to be more transparency in how the accounts are processed at Drexel, whether or not paperless. If we choose to have a paperless system, it should mean that students have easier access to their account information, status of their payments, and other financial aid information. A greater level of promptness is required by the University administration if the billing is paperless. Otherwise, what's the point? Might as well have it the old fashioned way where delays are expected.
Most of the time, students are unaware of when or why they are being charged a late fee. They fail to receive updates that tell them whether or not their payments are due. They are unable to view their account history regularly because the data is old. An e-Bill once a month is not enough. An e-Bill should be sent to the student every time there is any activity in their financial account, whether it's a payment to the University, or a charge imposed by the University.
We hate to say it, but whoever developed this system really dropped the ball. The system is cryptic and hard to use. A paperless billing system should allow the bursars office to greatly reduce its red tape while making the tuition process convenient for students. But, the current system fails and that's why it is our recommendation that the administration replace it with a more convenient and reliable paperless billing system.
Most of the time, students are unaware of when or why they are being charged a late fee. They fail to receive updates that tell them whether or not their payments are due. They are unable to view their account history regularly because the data is old. An e-Bill once a month is not enough. An e-Bill should be sent to the student every time there is any activity in their financial account, whether it's a payment to the University, or a charge imposed by the University.
We hate to say it, but whoever developed this system really dropped the ball. The system is cryptic and hard to use. A paperless billing system should allow the bursars office to greatly reduce its red tape while making the tuition process convenient for students. But, the current system fails and that's why it is our recommendation that the administration replace it with a more convenient and reliable paperless billing system.
