What is the Benedictine College Tuition Payment Plan offered through ECSI?
The Benedictine College Tuition Payment Plan (TPP) administered through ECSI is an interest-free approved payment arrangement that allows you to make payments for tuition, room, board, and fees over the course of the academic year (9 or 10 months) or over the course of each term (4 months). You avoid the difficulty of paying large sums all at one time at the start of each term. Benedictine College is pleased to offer the Tuition Payment Plan options as a means to make education manageable in your family’s monthly budget. Please choose the plan that best suits your individual budget needs.

Who is ECSI? What do they do?
Benedictine College has partnered with Education Computer Systems, Inc. (ECSI), an independent service organization, to offer an extended tuition payment solution to families’ requests for such a payment option. ECSI facilitates the efficient administration of the tuition payment plans and assists in payment collections.

How much does it cost? What does the enrollment fee cover?
While the program is interest-free, a non-refundable enrollment fee (see Payment Plan Options) covers the cost of administering the plan over the extended period of time.

What happens if I don’t pay my bill in full before the start of classes or enroll in one of the Tuition Payment Plan Options administered through ECSI in the time allowed for enrollment?
The TPP’s administered through ECSI are the approved payment options. If you have extraordinary circumstances, you should visit with the Business Office Director at 913-360-7410 as soon as possible.

Students who do not pay their accounts in full or enroll in one of the approved Tuition Payment Plans through ECSI will be assessed a $75 per semester finance fee on unpaid account balances remaining at Benedictine College as of September 30 and February 28. This fee will be assessed against account balances even if estimated or pending financial aid is intended to cover the balance. To avoid this fee, you must finalize your entire financial aid package so it can be disbursed against your balance prior to September 30 and February 28. If your aid is not completed by this time, you should enroll in a Tuition Payment Plan and begin making payments until your aid is finalized. Once aid has been credited against your BC student account, it will be transferred to your TPP and your payment plan balance will be adjusted accordingly.

Are there any deadlines I should be aware of?
Yes. The key to successfully using a payment plan and getting through the registration process at Benedictine is to begin your TPP enrollment process in time to meet the deadlines outlined by each individual plan option. By starting early, your tuition bill can be split into the highest number of monthly installments. Note: Your student account statement must be paid in full by the due date (August 1. 2008 for Fall 2008 and January 2, 2009 for Spring 2009) or you must enroll and make your first payment in one of the plans administered through ECSI. If you have not enrolled in the plan of your choice by the beginning payment date, you will have to "catch up" or bring the payments current (making two payments at one time) at the time of enrollment and may even miss the opportunity to enroll in the plan of your choice since each plan has a "closing" date for enrollment.

What if I have a question? What are ECSI's customer service hours?
ECSI customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EASTERN TIME. You can reach them at their toll-free number 866-927-1438, or via the web at www.ecsi.net (Click on the "Are You A Student" tab); e-mail regarding Tuition Payment Plans should be sent to the Tuition Payment Plan Team at ecsi-tpp@ecsi.net.

Whom do I make checks payable to and where do I send my payment?
Checks should be made payable to:

ECSI/Benedictine College TPP and mailed to
181 Montour Run Road
Coraopolis, PA 15108-9408

Please be sure to include the student's name and Student ID number on all correspondence.

Can I make payments using my credit card?
Yes, you can make payments using a credit card (MC, Visa, Discover) but "recurring monthly payments" cannot be set up using a credit card. For automatic recurring monthly payments, you should choose the automatic ACH withdrawal from a checking or savings account.

Can I arrange to automatically debit my checking account to make my payments?
Yes. You can make payments via automatic debit (also called ACH) for no additional charge. To set up your account for this method of payment, please contact a customer service representative or log on to our website at www.ecsi.net. As a convenience, you can arrange to have ECSI notify you by email each time a payment is withdrawn from your account. A new service this year is the ability to have ECSI use an "eCheck" to make a payment to your account; there is a $1.00 fee for this option.

Can I pay on-line?
Yes. You can pay on-line by credit card or automatic debit (ACH).

Can I track my payments on-line?
Yes. A PIN number and user name will be assigned to you when you enroll in the plan. You can view your account any time you like by logging into the ECSI web site: www.ecsi.net. You will also need your Benedictine College school code (U4). The school code and PIN number are provided on your monthly statement.

Can I pay my balance early?
Yes. There is no penalty for paying ahead of schedule. This may be convenient if you anticipate being out of town when a payment is due. When you satisfy your balance, your ECSI contract is complete; your last statement will show a zero balance and your Tuition Payment Plan will be closed.

If I lose my PIN, can I get a replacement PIN?
Yes. If you provide an e-mail address on your application, you can contact ECSI and they will email a new PIN. If an email address is not provided on the application, a replacement PIN can be mailed to the ECSI student billing address. For security purposes, PIN numbers are not provided over the phone.

Can I get an update on my account over the phone?
Yes. Please call an ECSI customer service representative at 412-788-3900 or toll-free 866-927-1438, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight time. Please have your account information ready, including student ID number for prompt service.

What if I miss my payment or miss a payment deadline?
We encourage you not to miss a payment. Although late charges are not assessed, your Tuition Payment Plan may be in jeopardy if you are delinquent by two months’ payments. Benedictine College reserves the right to cancel or terminate any plan once it becomes delinquent and require that any balance due be immediately remitted in full to the College. Further collection efforts may be initiated and the student’s enrollment may be at risk.

What if I miss two monthly payments or fail to make full payment for two months?
If two payments are missed, or not paid in full, then the payment plan may be terminated and the full amount remaining on the student's account is immediately due to Benedictine College. If this should happen, the student's current term registration is placed in jeopardy. You should immediately contact the Benedictine College Business Office Director at 913-360-7410.

What if there are changes in the amount I owe the school?
If the balance owed the school should change (which happens when additional expenses or funding appear on the student's account), you may contact the BC Business Office (913-360-7407)to amend your payment amount. If your balance has increased, you have the right to approve the change in monthly payments or pay the difference at one time and keep your current contract. The choice is yours. The College also reserves the right to transfer any additional student account balances to an established, approved payment plan if not paid in full by the end of the month in which the statement was received indicating an additional balance due the College. It is in the best interest of the student or responsible party to contact the Benedictine College Business Office (913-360-7407 or 7403) whenever they receive a student account statement from the College indicating a balance is due (above the amount already contracted through a Tuition Payment Plan).

What if I withdraw from school and would like to stop making payments?
When you withdraw or wish to cancel your payment plan with the school, you should first notify the Benedictine College Business Office to get instructions on the appropriate way to exit school and clear your account balances. ECSI will not cancel a plan with an outstanding balance without the approval of the College.. If the account is cancelled or terminated, the student is still obligated to fulfill all outstanding financial obligations to Benedictine College. Any refunds of tuition or other expenses are dictated by the College's institutional refund policy, which is published in the College Catalog. Regardless of the date of withdrawal, the Tuition Payment Plan enrollment fee is non-refundable.

What is the best way to reach ECSI?
You can contact ECSI in several ways:

Phone: 412-788-3900 or toll-free at 866-927-1438
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Fax: 866-291-5384
Mail: 181 Montour Run Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108-9408
Web: www.ecsi.net (Click on the "Are You A Student" heading)
E-mail: ecsi-tpp@ecsi.net

What happens after enrollment?
Upon completion of your application, a payment is due along with the enrollment fee. You are not technically enrolled until payment has been received. Following enrollment, monthly statements will be sent the 25th of each month. Payments are due no later than the 10th of each month. Student account balances must either be paid in full or confirmation of enrollment in an approved Tuition Payment Plan must available to complete the registration process.

What if I still have questions?
If, after speaking to an ECSI customer service representative, you have questions about ECSI or Benedictine College, please contact the Benedictine College Business Office at 913-360-7407 or 913-360-7403 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, Monday - Friday. You may also contact the Business Office Director at 913-360-7410. Voice mail is available at all numbers; please leave a brief message-including your student’s name and ID number-and someone from the Business Office will return your call as quickly as possible. Due to heavy volume during registration, please allow for some delay; calls will be returned in the order in which they are received.