Financial Holds
Elizabeth City State University expects that all students meet their financial obligations prior to the start of each semester. In some cases, students may become past due during the semester for various reasons (i.e. adjusted financial aid, missing payments on payment plans, additional charges incurred, etc.)
If students have a balance on their account by the close of business on official registration, their class schedules will be cancelled due to nonpayment.
In an effort to collect on past due debt, the University will make attempts to contact students via email, collection letters or by phone based on the information provided by students to the University. The collection notices will advise students of an outstanding balance and the steps to take to avoid further collection efforts. In some instances the balances can be cleared by simply completing promissory notes and accepting the terms and conditions of your financial aid, signing scholarship checks provided by third party agencies issued to both the student and the University or making payment from personal funds.
Regardless of the nature of the balance, a hold is placed on the past due student account until the entire past due balance is paid in full.
If a hold is placed on the account students will not be able to:
- Register for future semesters
- Access grades online
- Receive Transcripts
- Receive Diplomas
Failure to make satisfactory arrangements may be subject to further collection efforts which may include:
- Accounts may be submitted to the NC Attorney General's Office for collection
- Accounts may be placed with a collection agency and reported to national credit bureaus
- Accounts may be submitted as part of the Set Off Debt Collection Act (SODCA) to withhold NC state taxes until the balance is paid in full
- Accounts may be submitted as part of the State Employee's Debt Collection Act (SEDCA) if the student is employed by the State of North Carolina
Please respond promptly to any past due notices and make arrangements with the Collections Office to satisfy any financial obligations.
Past Due Accounts
- The student is not currently enrolled at the University
- and the student’s account contains unpaid charges that have been outstanding 30 days or greater after the last day of the term or last day of attendance.
A hold will be placed on the student’s account, and all requests for readmission, transcripts or diplomas will be denied until the student’s account is paid. In addition, a student may not register for classes for a future term until the student’s account balance is paid.
Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 147-86.23 and UNC-General Administration standards, the University is required to assess interest charges and late payment penalties on past due accounts. Interest will be calculated each month as a percentage of the unpaid account balance (excluding any interest and late fees). Currently, the interest rate used by the University for calculating interest charges is 6% annually, which is the rate established by the North Carolina Department of Revenue. Prior to the assessment of interest charges, the student will be notified of his/her unpaid account balance, which may include making contact with the student via letter, email, or phone call to urge the student to contact the Student Accounts office to arrange payment of the outstanding account balance.
Once a student’s unpaid account balance is greater than 30 days past due (or if no payment plan arrangements have been made), a one-time late payment penalty will be assessed on the student’s account in the amount of 10% of the unpaid account balance (excluding any interest). Additionally, the account will be subject to referral to the Attorney General's Office for collection assistance. Further collection activity on these accounts will be at the direction of the Attorney General's office.
Once an account has been assigned to a collection agency, the former student will need to contact the collection agency directly to arrange payment. Not receiving a bill or notice will not be accepted as a valid excuse for not paying an account.
The Setoff Debt Collection Act (NCGS Chapter 105A) is designed to facilitate collection of debts owed by an individual to an agency of the State. Debtors to Elizabeth City State University (which is a state agency) with debts of $50.00 or greater and in arrears of ninety days or more must be reported to the N.C. Department of Revenue for potential set off against their N.C. individual income tax refunds. The Department of Revenue will place a hold on State income tax returns due debtors whose names have been submitted. The Department of Revenue will notify the taxpayer that the University has a claim against the income tax refund. The Department of Revenue will forward to the University a check in the amount of the debt owed less a collection fee. The debtor must contact the Collections Office for additional information. Student records will remain on hold until the financial obligation is satisfied.
The act gives the alleged debtor the right to a hearing to contest the validity of the debt. The alleged debtor has 30 days from the date of notification of the University’s claim to file a written request for a validity hearing. The debtor waives their right to a validity hearing if they fail to request a hearing within 30 days.
Accounting Technician
150A Marion D. Thorpe Administration Building
pfgodfrey@ecsu.edu
Assistant Bursar
150B Marion D. Thorpe Administration Building
lgregory@ecsu.edu
Bursar
150C Marion D. Thorpe Administration Building
trwilliams@ecsu.edu