eCommerce Services FAQs

E-Mail Notification

Each University of Hawai’i student is assigned an email address when admitted. Your email address is in username@hawaii.edu format. Email sent to your UH email account is considered an official channel of communication by the University. All email for payments, refunds and payment plans will be sent to this email address so you are responsible for checking it regularly. You may check your UH email through MyUH or directly at http://gmail.hawaii.edu.

PAYMENT FAQs

  1. How can I pay on-line?
  2. What is an eCheck?
  3. What is an Authorized User?
  4. How can my parent or guardian pay for my tuition?
  5. What happens if I bounce an eCheck?
  6. Can I use checks that I get from my credit card company to make an eCheck payment?
  7. Can I make a credit card payment over the phone or by fax?
  8. How do I set up and save a payment method?
  9. The credit card I used last semester does not appear in the Payment Method drop down box. Why not?
  10. I’m trying to use my credit card to make a payment. It does not appear in the Payment Method drop down box, but I when I try to add it as a new credit card, I get an error message saying that the account is already on file. How can I use this credit card to pay for my charges?
  11. How do I update the expiration date for an existing credit card?
  12. I enrolled in both Summer and Fall courses, but only want to pay for the Summer charges at this time. How do I do this?
  13. I’m trying to pay for my tuition using my debit/credit card, however I’m receiving an error code. A window pops up that says, “Unable to process your payment at this time. Error code -1777”. What should I do?

 

PAYMENT PLAN FAQS

General Information

Students must be registered for the current semester to sign up for the payment plan. This payment plan is not available to students whose account has been referred to the collection agency.

The cost to sign up for a payment plan is a non-refundable, per semester charge of $30. Your charges will be broken down into equal installments over the duration of the payment plan. Installment payments are automatically scheduled when you sign up for the plan and will be deducted from your designated account on the scheduled payment dates.

If you are a continuing student and have past due charges on your account from a previous semester (up to $200) and sign up for a payment plan in the current semester, those charges will be included in the total amount of your payment plan. When you make a payment, the payment will be applied towards your past due charges first.

If plan installments are not made by the due dates, a $30 non-refundable late fee may be assessed to your student account for each missed payment.

When you sign up for a payment plan, you are obligated to pay all installments when due. If you fail to make a payment, your account will be considered delinquent and you will not be allowed to register for subsequent semesters, obtain transcripts or receive other university services until your balance is cleared. Your account may also be referred to a collection agency.

Cashiering staff at any university campus business office can assist and provide you with student account and payment plan information.

  1. How do I sign up for a payment plan?
  2. Can anyone sign up for the payment plan?
  3. My parents pay my tuition. Can they sign up for a payment plan?
  4. How many payments can I make?
  5. How does the payment plan work?
  6. When are my installments due?
  7. What is the minimum balance to sign up for a payment plan?
  8. What is the cost to sign up for the payment plan?
  9. What are the payment methods for the payment plan?
  10. If I choose the payment plan for fall semester do I have to sign up again for the spring semester?
  11. Will I be charged a fee for every installment payment that I make?
  12. What is the amount of each payment and will the amount change?
  13. I set up my payment plan and viewed my installments and now the amount has changed. Why?
  14. What will happen if I close the debit/credit card or bank account or I don’t have money in the bank account to cover the payment?
  15. I received a failed payment notification email. What should I do?
  16. Can I sign up for the payment plan and mail in my payment?
  17. Can I change my method of payment (use a different debit/credit card or change the bank account)?
  18. I enrolled in the payment plan and set up a payment method using my VISA card. How do I change my payment method?
  19. Must I wait until an installment is due to pay it? Can I pay in parts when I get a paycheck each week?
  20. I pay by cash. How can I pay on my Payment Plan?
  21. If I am a financial aid student, should I sign up for the installment payment plan?
  22. Can my payment dates be changed?
  23. Can I cancel my payment plan?

eRefund FAQs

  1. What is an eRefund?
  2. How do I sign up for an eRefund?
  3. What are the advantages of choosing eRefunds?
  4. How will I know funds have been deposited into my account?
  5. Do I have to sign up for eRefunds every semester? Every year?
  6. What do I do if I change bank accounts?
  7. What will happen if I forget to change my bank account or entered the wrong bank account information?
  8. What if I want to cancel my eRefund?
  9. I paid my tuition with a credit card and now I dropped a class and should be getting a refund. I signed up for eRefund. How will I receive my refund?

 

PAYMENT FAQs

  1. Q: How can I pay on-line?
    A:
    You may pay on-line using a debit or credit card or using an eCheck.

    Debit Card Payment
    – You may use a debit card to pay on-line only if it has an Accel, NYCE, Pulse or Star logo. If you are using a debit card to pay on-line, please select “Credit or ATM Debit Card” as the payment method.Note: Do not select Electronic Check and enter your debit card number. Your debit card number is not your bank account number.

    Credit Card Payment
    – You may use a VISA, MasterCard or any credit card accepted by the Discover Network such as Discover, Diners, and JCB card to pay on-line. In-person credit card payments ARE NOT accepted at campus business offices.

    eCheck Payment – You may use an eCheck to pay on-line by providing either checking account or savings account information.

  2. Q: What is an eCheck?
    A: An eCheck is an electronic order to your bank to pay the amount specified from funds in either your checking or savings account. This is also referred to as a web check or an ACH payment.

    To process an eCheck, you must enter your bank information into the student eCommerce system. The bank information needed is your bank’s 9-digit bank routing number and either your checking or savings account number.Your checking or savings bank account number can be any number of digits. It is important that you enter ALL the numbers shown between the symbols. We strongly recommend you call your financial institution to verify your bank account number if you are unsure about the exact number.Payments rejected by your bank for any reason are subject to a $25 non-waivable returned check fee. You will have the option to save your bank account information in the system for future payments or re-enter it each time you want to make a payment.

    Do not use home equity line of credit checks or checks issued by your credit card company for eCheck payments.

  3. Q: What is an Authorized User?
    A: An Authorized User is a person, like a parent or guardian, who you authorize to make payments on your behalf. DO NOT GRANT ACCESS TO EMPLOYERS, SPONSORS, OR 3rd PARTY PAYERS USING THIS ON-LINE METHOD. If you want to give access to your account information to an employer, sponsor or 3rd party payer, please contact your home campus business office.

    To add an Authorized User, click on the “Authorized Users” tab and click on the “Add an Authorized User” button. Enter that person’s email address in the block provided and indicate if the Authorized User can view your payment history and account activity. Then click on “Continue”. After submitting this information, you will need to sign an electronic agreement (by clicking “I Agree”) authorizing the access of the person. The Authorized User will then receive two emails, one with the eCommerce system link and a username and one with a password. They can make payments anytime by logging on to the system with their email address and password. Authorized Users make payments the same way that students make them–by entering account information into our secure site. That information can be stored for future use or re-entered for each payment. No one else can view a payee’s confidential account information. The Authorized User will not be able to view your bank account information, nor will you be able to view theirs. Each Authorized User is assigned a separate login and password for security and privacy.In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), your student financial records may not be shared without your written consent. Adding an Authorized User is your written consent that an individual may view your student account information and make payments on your behalf. Authorized Users DO NOT have access to your stored payment methods, academic records or other personal information.

  4. Q: How can my parent or guardian pay for my tuition?
    A: Add your parent or guardian as an Authorized User. See answer to “What is an Authorized User” above.
  5. Q: What happens if I bounce an eCheck?
    A: eChecks, like paper checks, are subject to a non-waivable $25 returned check fee.
  6. Q: Can I use checks that I get from my credit card company to make an eCheck payment?
    A: Financial institutions typically will not honor “credit card” checks used electronically. The payment will be returned and your student account will be charged a returned check fee of $25. You may however, use these checks to pay through the mail or in-person. Always write your UH number on the bottom left corner of the check.
  7. Q: Can I make a credit card payment over the phone or by fax?
    A: Campus cashiers cannot accept credit card payments over the counter, over the phone, by mail or by fax. If you want to pay with a credit card, please do so on-line through the eCommerce system.
  8. Q: How do I set up and save a payment method?
    A: To create a new payment method, log on to MyUH. Search for then click on the “Pay Tuition and Fees” task.Click on the “My Account” tab, and then click on “Payment Methods.” Add new payment method type by selecting a payment type. Click on “Go”. Enter the appropriate credit card or bank account information and save.

    – If you are saving a debit/credit card you will get the following confirmation message. Your card information has been saved.”– If you are saving bank account information, read the agreement. Click on the “I Agree” button, and then hit the “Continue” button. You will get the following confirmation message.Your new ACH payment method has been saved.”

  9. Q: The credit card I used last semester does not appear in the Payment Method drop down box. Why not?
    A: The card on file may be expired. To update the expiration date on any existing cards, select the “My Account” tab, and then click on “Payment Methods”.Locate the card you wish to update, and click on the “Edit” button to change the expiration date, then click on “Save”.
  10. Q: I’m trying to use my credit card to make a payment. It does not appear in the Payment Method drop down box, but when I try to add it as a new credit card; I get an error message saying that the account is already on file. How can I use this credit card to pay for my charges?
    A: The credit card account does not appear as a valid payment method because the information on file indicates that the credit card is expired. You must update the expiration date on file before you can re-use this form of payment.
  11. Q: How do I update the expiration date for an existing credit card?
    A: To update the expiration date on any existing cards, log on to MyUH. Search for then click on the “Pay Tuition and Fees” task.Click on the “My Account” tab, and then click on “Payment Methods”. Locate the card you wish to update, and click on the “Edit” button to change the expiration date, then click on “Save”. This credit card will now appear as a valid payment method.
  12. Q: I enrolled in both Summer and Fall courses, but only want to pay for the Summer charges at this time. How do I do this?
    A: Log on to MyUH. Search for then click on the “Pay Tuition and Fees” task. Click on the “Account Payment” tab. Select the term you wish to pay for – the amount due for the specified term will now appear. Click on “Continue “. Select your payment method, and complete the payment process.
  13. Q: I’m trying to pay for my tuition using my debit/credit card, however I’m receiving an error code. A window pops up that says “Unable to process your payment at this time. Error code -1777”. What should I do?
    A: Any error code that begins with a -16 or -17, such as -1777 or -1763, is a message from your card issuer saying the transaction was declined. Please contact the card issuer (a Customer Service number is usually located on the back of your card) for an explanation.

 

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PAYMENT PLAN FAQS

  1. Q: How do I sign up for a payment plan?
    A: You can sign up by logging in to MyUH. Search for then click on the “Enroll in Payment Plan” task.
  2. Q: Can anyone sign up for the payment plan?
    A: You may sign up for the payment plan on your student account. This payment plan is not available to students who are not enrolled for the current term or have been referred to a collection agency for past due balances. For assistance with past due accounts not sent to collections, please contact System’s Bursar’s Office.
  3. Q: My parents pay my tuition. Can they sign up for a payment plan?
    A:Yes, if you authorize your parent or some other third party or guardian as an Authorized User on your account, they may sign up for a payment plan. A student’s account may only have one payment plan per semester, if your parent or other Authorized User signs up for a payment plan then you will not be able to do so.
  4. Q: How many payments can I make?
    A:Based on the date that you enroll in the payment plan, you will make between 2 to 5 scheduled payments. You may make additional payments at any time. If you make an additional payment, a new calculation of the account will take place to update to equal payments for the remainder of account balance.
  5. Q: How does the payment plan work?
    A:When you sign up for a payment plan, your balance is divided into 5, 4, 3, or 2 equal monthly payments based on the enrollment date. The sooner you enroll in the payment plan the more installments there are available. Your first installment plus the payment plan fee is due when you set up your payment plan. The monthly installments are automatically scheduled and will be deducted from your assigned account on the due date. You do not need to schedule payment plan installments or make a payment on the payment plan date. Payments made prior to payment plan due dates will decrease the remaining payment amounts due.

    You are expected to pay all installments when due and you will not be dis-enrolled from your classes for missed payments. Your account will be considered delinquent and you may be dis-enrolled from installment plan. If full payment is not received by the end of all scheduled payments, a hold will be placed on your student account and sanctions as defined in Hawaii Administrative Rules, §20-10 will be imposed.

  6. Q: When are my installments due?
    A: Your first installment, plus the payment plan fee, is due when you set up your payment plan. Monthly installment due dates are shown on your agreement for each semester when you sign up for the plan. The monthly installment payments are automatically scheduled and will be deducted from your assigned account on the due date. You do not need to schedule payment plan installments or make a payment on the payment plan date. Payments made prior to payment plan due dates will decrease the next payment amount due.
  7. Q: What is the minimum balance to sign up for a payment plan?
    A: There is no minimum balance due to enroll in the installment plan.
  8. Q: What is the cost to sign up for the payment plan?
    A:You will be charged a non-refundable enrollment fee of $30.00 when you sign up for a payment plan.
  9. Q: What are the payment methods for the payment plan?
    A: When signing up for the payment plan, you must select a payment method: either debit card/credit card or automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account. The enrollment plan fee will be charged and paid immediately using the payment method you selected. Do not use home equity line of credit checks or checks from your credit card company.Note: If you are paying with a debit card, choose the debit card/credit card payment options. Do not select pay by bank account and enter your debit card number. Your debit card number is not your bank account number.
  10. Q: If I choose the payment plan for fall semester do I have to sign up again for the spring semester.
    A: Yes, if you want to use the payment plan for another semester you must sign up again. The $30.00 payment plan fee is charged for each semester you use the program.
  11. Q: Will I be charged a fee for every installment payment that I make?
    A: No, the enrollment fee is only charged once, when you enroll in the payment plan.
  12. Q: What is the amount of each payment and will the amount change?
    A:When you enroll in the payment plan, you can see the number of installments, the amount of each installment payment, and when the funds will be charged to your debit/credit card or deducted from your bank account based on your current balance. If any charges are added or payments are made to your student account, the amount of your installment payment will be recalculated every night.
  13. Q: I set up my payment plan and viewed my installments and now the amount has changed. Why?
    A: The payment plan will recalculate any scheduled remaining payments depending on any new charges or credits applied to the account so that at the final payment all charges will be paid. Thus, the original plan amount displayed may not be the current plan amount if a class is subsequently added or dropped or other charges or credits are applied to your account. You will receive an email each time your plan amounts change. New charges applied are divided equally among the remaining unpaid installments.

    Note: Once you make a payment, your student account will be updated immediately but your payment plan amounts may not be. Payment plan adjustments will be reflected the next day. These adjustments are run daily at 9:00 am HST.

  14. Q: What happens if I close the debit/credit card or bank account or I don’t have money in the bank account to cover the payment?
    A: The plan only makes one attempt on the specified date. If the payment:

    -By Debit/credit card is not received, you may be assessed a non-refundable late payment fee of $30. The charge to your debit/credit card will be attempted daily until a successful payment is recorded. (See Example 4 below)
    -By ACH/eCheck is not received, you may be assessed a non-refundable late payment fee of $30 and you will also be assessed a returned check fee of $25. (See Example 3 below)

  15. Q: I received a failed payment notification email. What should I do?
    A: You must update your payment profile with the new debit/credit card or bank account information. See above on how to update your payment profile information. A failed debit/credit card payment will be re-attempted daily therefore a correction to the debit/credit card is essential.

    If a failed payment is from a bank account, you must make the correction to your bank information in your saved payment profile and re-submit the payment.

  16. Q: Can I sign up for the payment plan and mail in my payment?
    A: When you sign up for payment plan, you will be required to provide either your debit/credit card or bank information and payments will be automatically charged to your debit/credit card or deducted from your bank account on the payment deadlines. If you mail-in additional payment(s), the payment(s) will reduce your next installment payment.
  17. Q: Can I change my method of payment (use a different debit/credit card or change the bank account)?
    A: Click on the “My Account” tab and then the “Payment Methods” tab. On this page, you can change or add payment methods.
  18. Q: I enrolled in the payment plan and set up a payment method using my VISA card. How do I change my payment method?
    A:To change the installment payments to a different payment method (new debit/credit card or eCheck bank account), you must create a new payment method and link the remaining scheduled installment payments to the new payment method BEFORE deleting the old one or select another payment method if you have multiple payment methods created.If you do not have multiple payment methods created, you must create a new payment method prior to continuing:Log on to MyUH. Search for then click on the “Enroll in Payment Plan” task. Your payment plan will be displayed with the Enrollment Date, Setup Fee, Down Payment, Payment Method and Payoff Amount. Your existing payment method will appear next to Payment Method.

    Click on the blue link “Change” next to the Payment Method.Choose your new saved payment method and click on “Go”.You will get the following confirmation message on the screen when your payment method has been changed for the remaining installments. “Thank you, your changes have been saved successfully.”

    Now that the new payment method is attached to the remaining installment payments, you may delete the old payment method.

  19. Q: Must I wait until an installment is due to pay it? Can I pay in parts when I get a paycheck each week?
    A: If you wish to make partial payments, you can pay in person with cash or a check at the business office of any University of Hawai’i campus. If you wish to make credit card payments online, you must pay off your account in full.
  20. Q: If I want to pay by cash, how can I pay on my payment plan?
    A: When you sign up for payment plan you will be required to provide either your debit/credit card or bank information and payments will be automatically charged to your debit/credit card or deducted from your bank account on the payment deadlines. You can make additional cash payments in-person at any campus business office. A cash payment will reduce your next installment payment.
  21. Q: If I am a financial aid student, should I sign up for the installment plan?
    A: No tuition payment action is required if you receive a financial aid award offer prior to the tuition payment deadline. If your financial aid is not enough to cover your entire balance, you are able to sign up for an installment plan.

    Do not enroll in the payment plan if your financial aid will be awarded prior to the applicable tuition payment deadline and if you believe your financial aid will be adequate to pay your tuition/fee charges.

  22. Q: Can my payment dates be changed?
    A: No, you cannot change scheduled payment dates.
  23. Q: Can I cancel my payment plan?
    A: No, you cannot cancel your payment plan once you sign up.

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Examples of how the Payment Plan works

Example 1: Your charges change because you add or drop a class.

  1. You register and set up a 5-month plan on July 13. Your total charges are $5,000. The $30 payment plan fee and the first installment of $1,000 are due when you set up your plan. The balance will be divided into 4 remaining installments of $1,000 due on August 1, September 1, October 1, and November 1.
  2. You add a class on August 18. Your tuition increased by $300.
  3. Your 3 remaining installments are recalculated to be $1100 each instead of $1,000.
  4. You drop a class on August 22. Your tuition is decreased by $240.
  5. Your 3 remaining installments are recalculated to be $1020 each instead of $1100.

Result: Any increase or decrease in charges will be pro-rated among the remaining installments. The remaining installment payment amounts will include the amount of the added class or be reduced by the amount of the dropped class.

Example 2: A payment (cash, check or financial aid) greater than the next installment payment due is received.

  1. You register and set up a 4-month plan on August 13. Your total charges are $4,000. The $30 payment plan fee and the first installment of $1,000 are due when you set up your plan. The balance will be divided into 3 remaining installments of $1,000 each.
  2. The University receives a $1,200 payment for you before the next installment is due on September 1st.
  3. Your 2nd installment will be reduced $600. Your 3rd installment will be $600 and your 4th installment will be $600.

Result: Any payment will be credited in full to your account and will reduce your next installment payment. Payments pay off installments in order of due date.

Example 3: You miss a payment because your eCheck payment could not be processed by the bank.

  1. You register and set up a 5-month payment plan on July 13. Your total charges are $5,000. The $30 payment plan fee and the first installment of $1,000 are due when you set up your plan. The balance will be divided into 4 remaining installments of $1,000 each due August 1, September 1, October 1, and November 1.
  2. You miss paying the 2nd installment on August 1 because your eCheck payment was returned to the University with a message “Unable to locate account” or “Invalid Account”.
  3. Your August 1 payment will be reversed on your student account and a $25 returned check fee will be posted to your account.
  4. You will receive a “Notice of Dishonored Check” from the University Cashier’s Office requiring you to make payment within 15 days.
  5. You may be assessed a $30 late fee and the September 1 and October 1 payments will be adjusted.
  6. You must double check and change your bank account information on your payment profile or all remaining installment payments will also be returned by the bank and you will be assessed $25 for each returned payment.

Result: If you miss payment due to a failed eCheck payment, you must change your bank account information and update your payment plan account before the next installment due date or you will be charged a $25 non-waivable returned check fee and may also be charged a $30 late fee. Your account is considered to be delinquent and a financial hold will be placed on your account.

Example 4: You miss a payment because your on-line debit/credit card payment could not be processed by the bank.

  1. You register and set up a 5-month payment plan on July 13. Your total charges are $5,000. The $30 payment plan fee and the first installment of $1,000 are due when you set up your plan. The balance will be divided into 4 remaining installments of $1,000 each due on August 1, September 1, October 1, and November 1.
  2. You miss paying the 2nd installment on August 1 because your debit/credit payment was denied by your issuing bank. You will receive an email that says:

“This is an automated message to inform you that your scheduled payment has failed to complete successfully.
The reason for the failure is listed below. We will keep this scheduled payment in the system and try to process it again in about 24 hours. Please review the payment methods you have set up.”

  1. The system will keep trying to process your debit/credit card payment until it is successful and you will receive an email with the message above until it is successful. If full payment is not received by the end of all scheduled payments, a hold will be placed on your student account and sanctions as defined in Hawaii Administrative Rules, §201 will be imposed.

Result: If you miss a payment due to a failed debit/credit card, you must call your issuing bank to find out why the charge is being denied. Change your payment profile if necessary.

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eRefund FAQs

  1. Q: What is an eRefund?
    A: eRefund is an electronic way of transferring funds from one U.S. bank account to another. For example, funds will move from the University’s account to your personal checking or savings account. Once a refund is posted to your student account, the eRefund should be deposited into your U.S. bank account within 5 business days. We are able to transfer funds to U.S. bank accounts only.
  2. Q: How do I sign up for an eRefund?
    A: To sign up for eRefunds, log on to MyUH and click the links as follows:Search for and then click on the “Enroll in Direct Deposit eRefunds (Students Only)” task.Click on “Set Up Account”.Designate an existing bank account or set up a new bank account.

    Enter your bank routing, bank account and billing information. Double check your bank account and routing numbers.

  3. Q: What are the advantages of choosing eRefund?
    A: Typically, you will receive your funds more quickly than you would by mail. You don’t have to wait for the mail to come or worry about your check being lost or stolen.
  4. Q: How will I know funds have been deposited into my account?
    A: When funds have been transferred to the bank, you will receive an email similar to this:
  5. Q: Do I have to sign up for eRefunds every semester? Every year?
    A: No, you do not have to sign up every semester. However, you must review your payment profile on the Student Account Homepage at least once per term to ensure your information is current. Your bank account information is retained and your refund will always be electronically deposited into the account unless:
    – you cancel your eRefund by unchecking the refund box in your payment profile or
    – you fail to go to the Student Account Homepage at least once per term.
  6. Q: What do I do if I change bank accounts?
    A:
    Go to the payment method tab. Click on the “Edit” button next to the bank account you wish to change. Edit or Remove the Direct Deposit Bank Account as appropriate. You may only designate one bank account to receive eRefunds.
  7. Q: What will happen if I forget to change my bank account or entered the wrong bank account information?
    A: Your refund will be delayed because the eRefund transaction sent to the bank will be rejected and funds returned to the University. The refund will then be reprocessed and a paper check will be mailed to your current mailing address on file in the student information system.
  8. Q: What if I want to cancel my eRefund?
    A:
    Go to the payment profile tab. Click on the “Edit” button next to the bank account you wish to change. Click on the “Remove” button next to the account you wish to cancel. Until you designate another bank account to receive an eRefund, your refund will be processed as a paper check and mailed to your current mailing address on file in the student information system.
  9. Q: I paid my tuition with a credit card and now I dropped a class and should be getting a refund. I signed up for eRefund. How will I receive my refund?
    A: eRefunds are only available to students who have made payment for the term by cash or check and have signed up for an eRefund.If you made a payment with a credit card and are due a refund, your refund will be processed by the business office at your home campus after the end of the 50% refund period. Credit card refunds posted within 90 days of the original credit card payment will be posted to the same credit card. If multiple credit card payments were posted within this 90-day period, the first credit card used for payment will be refunded.

The University reserves the right to change or delete, supplement, or otherwise amend at any time and without prior notice the information, requirements and policies contained in this document.