Treasurer's Office

STUDENTS: View your eBill and all financial information by signing in to MYCHARLESTON.

AUTHORIZED USERS: View eBill and all financial information by signing in to eBILL.

**We recommend the use of Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox to view the eBills. Please note that Google Chrome will not allow you to view the eBills.**

Spring 2012 Student Billing Scheduling

***CHANGES TO ACCEPTED CREDIT CARDS (VISA)***

Effective July 1, 2010

The following letter has been sent to all currently enrolled students and families:

Dear Students, Families and Friends,

In an ongoing effort to reduce the costs associated with operations at College of Charleston, we are examining all aspects of our business processes to eliminate expenses to both the College and our student/family constituencies.

The bank service fees experienced by the College for credit card processing on student accounts currently exceeds $750,000 per year. By making a change to the credit cards we accept, these fees will be greatly reduced and allow the College to allocate funds where they can better serve our students.

As of July 1, 2010, College of Charleston will not accept VISA-branded debit or credit cards for student account payments. We will continue to accept MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards. The convenience fee for credit card payments made online will change from a flat fee of $45 per transaction to 2.75% of the payment amount. This will provide a more equitable convenience fee that will reduce the costs associated with making smaller credit card payments online.

We will continue to provide the option of paying by e-Check on the web as an alternative to credit card payments. This option requires no additional fees.

The College of Charleston is not the only university in the state that has been forced to re-evaluate accepting VISA. Clemson University, University of South Carolina, Winthrop University, and others have already stopped accepting VISA. Many other colleges and universities across the country have also stopped accepting VISA and have found that the costs saved are substantial.

If you have any questions regarding payment by credit card, please contact treasurer@cofc.edu or view the FAQ at treasurer.cofc.edu

FAQ regarding the elimination of VISA cards

What changes will be made?

Effective July 1, 2010, the College of Charleston will no longer accept VISA branded debit or credit cards for student accounts.

What types of payment will still be accepted?

The College will still accept:

MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit/debit cards. We still accept cash, checks and money orders as well.

Will there still be a convenience fee charged for credit card payments?

Yes. However, this fee will change to a percentage of the payment made rather than a flat fee. If you pay online using an accepted credit card you will have a 2.75% Convenience Fee charge. There are no convenience fees charged if you pay by e-Check or if you use a credit card in person at the Treasurer’s Office.

Will payments be accepted by phone?

We will not be able to accept any payment by phone. Payments can be made in person, on the web or by mail (Please do not send credit card information or cash by mail).

Who can I contact with questions regarding this policy?

Please feel free to call the Treasurer’s Office at 843.953.5572 or email us at treasurer@cofc.edu

Frequently Asked Questions regarding billing

1. How will I receive my bill?
   The e-Bills will be sent to all pre-registered students through the Cmail email account and any Authorized User’s email address established in the e-Bill system. The instructions for adding an Authorized User in the e-Bill system can be found at: treasurer.cofc.edu/eBillInstructions.html.
2. What is the difference between e-Bill and MyCharleston?
   e-Bills are “snapshots” of the student’s account at the time that the e-Bill is created. It functions the same way as a paper bill—that is, it will not reflect any changes or payments made after the issuance of the e-Bill until subsequent e-Bills are created.
   
   MyCharleston is a live system that reflects the balance, payments made and charges incurred in real time.
   
   When you receive an e-Bill, you are given an option to enter MyCharleston. It is suggested that you confirm your payment has been received by checking your MyCharleston, not e-Bill, balance.
3. What if I have a third party paying my balance, such as a State Pre-paid Tuition Plan, Military Assistance, Social Services Assistance, etc.?
Once the e-Bill is received notify the Treasurer’s Office as to the type of assistance you will be receiving and the amount. Verification may be required by faxing an award or eligibility letter to 843.953.5573. Any balance not covered by the third party is due by the date of the bill.

4. How do I enroll in the payment plan?

Once the tuition statement is received you are given an option to enter MyCharleston (students) or Ebill (authorized users). Select the payment plan tab. Follow the prompted steps until you have received confirmation that the payment plan as been set-up properly. The payment plan will divide the remaining balance into payments and add a one time $25 fee. For more information about payment plans, see treasurer.cofc.edu/PaymentPlan.html

THERE ARE NO PAYMENT PLANS FOR THE MAYMESTER AND SUMMER TERMS.

**Please note: Payment plans will recalculate your payment schedule once financial aid monies (loans, scholarships, grants) are applied to the balance due. Please be sure to note the expected payment due on each new eBill. If you register after the first due date, your first payment is due immediately. Additionally, any change in classes, meal plans, housing, etc. will also alter the expected payment for payment plans.

5. Can I pay by credit card or check online?

Yes. Both e-Bill and MyCharleston provide options for paying online with credit/debit cards or checks. College of Charleston accepts Visa(until July 1, 2010), MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards. There is a $45 convenience fee each time a credit or debit card is used online. **Note: we can only accept credit or debit card payments online or in person. Please see information above regarding changes to Convenience Fees as of July 1, 2010.

6. What if I do not pay my bill on time?

It is imperative that all due dates are abided by. Failure to pay the balance due (whether paying the entire balance or the first payment of the payment plan) will lead to cancellation of the student’s schedule. Although a student can re-register if their schedule has been cancelled, there is no guarantee that the same classes will be available. This could delay an anticipated graduation date.

7. What if I have questions about my bills or payments?

The Treasurer’s Office can be reached at 843.953.5572 or by e-mailing us at treasurer@cofc.edu. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.