Frequently Asked Questions

Today is: Friday - May 25, 2012

 

What is CASHNet?
What is e-billing and e-payment?
Who does the statement email come from? How can I make sure the email sent to me is not treated as spam?
Why is the university changing to e-billing, as opposed to paper statements?
What are the benefits and advantages of e-billing and e-payment?
Are there exceptions to e-billing? Can I continue to get a paper bill?
I don’t feel comfortable paying my bill online. How do I pay my bill?
Can I make my payment by credit card?
Why isn't Visa accepted?
Why doesn’t WWU directly accept credit card payments for student account fees?
Does the university charge for e-billing and e-check (ACH) payment services?
How can Authorized Users make a payment on my behalf?
How do students authorize additional payers?
Do Authorized Users have to make their payment online?
How do new students set up and access online billing and payment?
Does the university have installment payment plans?
Who do I contact if I have CASHNet questions?
Who do I contact if my CASHNet Student ID# or Password is invalid?
Who do I contact if I have some other type of question?

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What is CASHNet?
CASHNet is a vendor utilized by Western Washington University that enables students to pay student account fees, including tuition, room and board, health insurance, course fees, and other miscellaneous charges, online. Through CASHNet, students and Authorized Users may receive e-bills and make e-payments directly

online. This system eases the payment process by allowing payments to be made at any time, from any location with Internet access.

What is e-billing and e-payment?
Electronic billing (e-billing) is a new service that enables students and Authorized Users to receive bills through email, access bills through an online account, and

make payments directly online (e-payment). As of December 2006, all WWU students receive student account bills electronically. All charges to the student’s account, including tuition, room and board, health insurance, course fees, and other miscellaneous fees will be on the e-bill and will be available for viewing and printing via the Internet.

Who does the statement email come from? How can I make sure the email sent to me is not treated as spam?
The email containing information about your online statement comes from cashnet@wwu.edu. To avoid having this email sent to your junk, spam, or bulk folder, please set up cashnet@wwu.edu as a contact.

Why is the university changing to e-billing, as opposed to paper statements?
Through online billing and payment, WWU hopes to provide more convenient service to students and Authorized Users. In today’s online culture, transactions and

communications are performed daily via email and the Internet. Universities and colleges around the country are now using electronic billing as their primary method of billing. This is one of many strides WWU has made to provide improved service through technology and online resources, including the ability to apply, register for classes, and check grades online.

What are the benefits of e-billing and e-payment?
Benefits include:

• Convenient access to bills and making payments.
• Services available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
• Account access available worldwide via the Internet.
• Services are private and secure. Data is encrypted.
• Convenient access for Authorized Users to view account information and make payment on behalf of the student.
• Access to online payment history.
• Ability to print an e-bill at any time via the Internet.
• Ability to print additional copies of e-bills for employers who offer company reimbursement.

Are there exceptions to e-billing? Can I continue to get a paper bill?
All currently enrolled students will receive electronic bills. Printed bills can be obtained by accessing your account online, through CASHNet, and printing out the e-bill. The e-bill can be accessed and printed at any computer with Internet and printer access. The university will also have several designated computers on campus for students to access their accounts and print bills.

I don’t feel comfortable paying my bill online. How do I pay my bill?
Paying your bill electronically is optional. You can also pay your bill by printing a copy of the bill from your account and mailing it with the payment to the appropriate campus office, or delivering your check or cash in person. Make your check payable to Western Washington University and include your student ID number on the check. You must also include the top barcode section of the billing statement.

Mail to:

Western Washington University
University Cashier, MS 9004
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9004

In Person:

Payments can be made in person at the University Cashier Office, OM 245 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The University Cashier takes the following form of payment:

• Cash
• Check - payable to Western Washington University in US dollars. Please write your WWU Student ID# on your check.
• Debit Card - Visa/MC
• After hours - follow the steps for Check and place envelope in the drop box outside Edens Hall.

Can I make my payment by credit card?
Western Washington University no longer accepts student account payments directly by credit card (tuition, housing, and meal plan fees). However, as a convenience to students and Authorized Users, WWU has contracted with a third party vendor,

CASHNet, which accepts MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit card payments online. A nonrefundable convenience fee of 2.75 percent will be assessed by the vendor to payers making payment by credit card.

Why isn’t Visa accepted?
Visa’s rules do not permit the vendor to charge a standard percentage of transactions as a convenience fee. Visa’s policy only allows vendors to charge a set transaction fee, regardless of how much is charged on the card. It would be difficult for the university to designate an appropriate set fee for tuition, room, and board payments, due to the varying payment amounts and payment plans among individual students. A large number of schools have stopped accepting Visa cards for the same reason.

Please note that Visa cards are still accepted at the University Bookstore and other locations on campus. CASHNet accepts MasterCard, Discover, and American Express for online credit card payments.

Why doesn’t WWU directly accept credit card payments for student account fees?
The merchant fees that WWU pays to accept credit card payments have increased every year and have become prohibitively expensive. The savings will be used to improve university resources and academic services. Students and Authorized Users may pay by credit card through CASHNet.

Does CASHNet charge for e-billing and e-check (ACH) payment services?
No, CASHNet offers these services free of charge.

How can Authorized Users make payment on my behalf?
Students have the option to designate another party to view and pay student bills. This third party will need a one-time authorization, issued by the student via the payment website. The authorized user can then access the third party vendor system directly or through the university website, to view the student’s account information and make payments.

Once the Authorized User has logged into CASHNet, the payer can change his/her login name and password, and set up and store his/her own profile and account information. Thereafter, unless authorization is canceled, the third party will be notified via his/her own email address that the student’s e-bill is available for viewing. The individual can also log into the website to view the student’s account information and make a payment. This authorization only gives access to statements and payment options; Authorized Users will not have access to any other student records.

How do students authorize additional payers?
Students have the option to designate Authorized Users to view and pay student bills, such as parents, spouses, relatives, guardians, or employers. Instructions for setting up Authorized User accounts are explained here.

Do Authorized Users have to make their payment online?
No. The Authorized User can print a copy of the e-bill via the Internet and mail his/her payment (check, cashier’s check, or traveler’s check) along with the remittance portion of the printed e-bill to the appropriate campus office. Make the check payable to Western Washington University and include the student’s ID number on the check. Don't forget to include the top barcode section of the billing statement.

Mail to:

Western Washington University
University Cashier, MS 9004
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9004

How do new students set up and access online billing and payment?
New students who are in the application and acceptance process should contact their admissions counselor with online billing and payment questions.

Does the university have installment payment plans?
No, installment payment plans are not available at this time.

Who do I contact if I have CASHNet questions?
If your question concerns...

• Problems accessing the CASHNet site (other than a message the your Student ID# or Password is invalid);
• Problems getting your payment to be accepted OR;
• Questions about using CASHNet SmartPay

Please contact CASHNet at 800-339-8131 or support@cashnet.com

Who do I contact if my CASHNet Student ID# or Password is invalid?
Contact Student Accounts 360-650-2865 or sbo@wwu.edu

Who do I contact if I have some other type of question?
Contact Student Accounts 360-650-2865 or sbo@wwu.edu

Additional CASHNet Help

Western Washington University now offers electronic billing (e-bills) and payment as the primary means of providing student account statements and payment options to all students; paper statements are no longer printed or mailed for enrolled students. Students receive emails at their university email address, enabling them to review their statement and make payments via the Web.