2008 Woodie Awards
Students receive incorrect account statements due to computer error
Genesis Hart
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Recently, many students at the Prescott, Daytona, and Extended campuses were mailed an account statement, showing incorrect amounts due to a computer problem. The problem occurred when the cashier's office downloaded a file in order to create the 1098T form. The file was never intended for student review. As a result, students were getting statements that said they had a credit balance on their accounts or that they owed money for their accounts.
However, the statements, which were never sent out, came from the Prescott campus. Therefore tuition, meals plans and housing fees were never included in these statements. All that was shown in the statements was a credit balance. Due to the incorrect statements which many students received the cashiers office was overwhelmed. "We had a lot of phone calls. However, students understood when the issues was explained," said Jean Bruner.
Leah Richwinne of the Prescott campus Accounting Department issued the following statement: "In preparation for making 1098T's available on-line for students and parents to view, files were uploaded to the company that prints and mails our statements. Theses files were intended only to create an account. The company printed and mailed those files in error. Statements reflected activity for only one day, thus not reflecting accurate information. This problem was university wide and not specific to the Prescott Campus."
Despite the error in sending out these false account statements, students often times still have problems with their accounts. "Some kids have been over awarded and their financial aid is adjusted so if they take back one loan another loan may be added compensate. If kids don't register at one time, some will register when they get back to school or the parents will pay what is on the original invoice. Adding more credit hours also affect statements," said Jean Bruner.
Overall, several students did receive incorrect credit letters due to the computer error. However the problem has been fixed since the incident occurred. "Students need to read these statements and look for tuition, mandatory fees, meal plans and housing," Jean Bruner.
However, the statements, which were never sent out, came from the Prescott campus. Therefore tuition, meals plans and housing fees were never included in these statements. All that was shown in the statements was a credit balance. Due to the incorrect statements which many students received the cashiers office was overwhelmed. "We had a lot of phone calls. However, students understood when the issues was explained," said Jean Bruner.
Leah Richwinne of the Prescott campus Accounting Department issued the following statement: "In preparation for making 1098T's available on-line for students and parents to view, files were uploaded to the company that prints and mails our statements. Theses files were intended only to create an account. The company printed and mailed those files in error. Statements reflected activity for only one day, thus not reflecting accurate information. This problem was university wide and not specific to the Prescott Campus."
Despite the error in sending out these false account statements, students often times still have problems with their accounts. "Some kids have been over awarded and their financial aid is adjusted so if they take back one loan another loan may be added compensate. If kids don't register at one time, some will register when they get back to school or the parents will pay what is on the original invoice. Adding more credit hours also affect statements," said Jean Bruner.
Overall, several students did receive incorrect credit letters due to the computer error. However the problem has been fixed since the incident occurred. "Students need to read these statements and look for tuition, mandatory fees, meal plans and housing," Jean Bruner.