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WMU is not charging a fee for credit or debit card use. That fee is being charged by a third-party credit card processor, TouchNet through PAYPATH. The entire amount of the fee will go to TouchNet to process the credit card transaction, and WMU will not see any revenue from the transaction. The University 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 WMU for credit card transaction processing. This expense in the past was paid by University tuition revenues and therefore reduced the tuition dollars available for academic programs and services for all students. Therefore, TouchNet was contracted to handle credit and debit card transactions, and that company charges a convenience fee in the amount of 2.75 percent of the student’s total bill or $3, whichever is larger. This will provide significant annual savings for the University.
The third party credit card processor, Touchnet, accepts MasterCard, American Express and Discover network. Credit and debit card payments can only be made online. Visa is not accepted.
The third-party credit card processor contracted by WMU, TouchNet, charges a pro-rata convenience fee of 2.75 percent of the student's total bill or $3, whichever is larger. 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. The current pro-rata method allows TouchNet to recover its cost of doing business while those customers who choose to pay with a credit card share this expense at an equal rate. Visa’s method of charging a convenience fee would disadvantage many credit card customers.
No, the vendor processing online payments will process a debit card as a credit card and a fee will be assessed. You will be charged the 2.75 percent convenience fee. You can pay with your checking or savings account to avoid the convenience fee.
Yes. Credit card convenience fees are not unique to WMU. Many other schools such as Michigan State, Wayne State, Eastern Michigan, Saginaw Valley and Grand Valley currently charge convenience fees for credit card transactions.
2.75 percent is the amount established by our third-party credit card processor, TouchNet, to cover the credit card transaction fees assessed by credit card companies. It is similar to that charged by other such vendors at other universities.
You can avoid paying the 2.75 percent convenience fee by making an online electronic payment from checking or savings. You may also pay in person at Bronco Express using a check or cash, or by mailing a check. WMU also offers an installment plan, which for a $30 enrollment fee, spreads payments over a certain number of installments. You must enroll in the payment plan with a checking or savings account payment method to avoid the convenience fee.
Credit or debit card payments cannot be made over the phone or via mail. This is a security measure to ensure confidentiality of your payment information.
Credit or debit card payments cannot be made in person, but checks or cash are accepted at Bronco Express.
You may use such checks in person or by mail for paying on your student account, but you may not use them online for electronic transfers. The credit card companies will not honor checks used electronically. The payment will be returned as “account not found". Mailed payments to the address below. Always include your Western ID number on the check. Send payments to:
WMU Cashiering Office, 1903 West Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5282
No. The convenience fee is not refundable, even if the payment to which it relates is cancelled, refunded, credited or charged back.
No. The convenience fee is a fee assessed by a third-party company, TouchNet, in addition to the payment for on-campus students. The convenience fee will not appear on your student account or on your statement. You will receive a receipt, showing the amount applied to your student account and the convenience fee.
Two separate transactions will appear on your statement--one transaction for the student account payment and one transaction for the convenience fee.