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Processing Overdue Student Accounts and Financial Holds
The following provides an overview, including the timeline, of IECC's process for determining when a student account is overdue, the actions taken, implications, and remedies.
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Initial student billing begins at the time of enrollment via email to the student’s iecc.edu account. Emailed statements are sent monthly until mid-term if paid in full; or through the end of term if a balance exists. If the account is not paid in full by midterm, late fee charges are assessed and reflected on the next statement.
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For those student accounts not paid by mid-term, a one-time late fee of 5% will be assessed by the campus business office on the unpaid balance of tuition and fees (considering any pending financial aid award).
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At the time a late fee is assessed to the student account, a Financial Hold will be placed preventing changes to current schedule, registration in future terms, and graduation. For students enrolled in future terms at the time any hold is placed under this procedure, the registration will remain until the first day of the future term. The student is notified of this action.
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At the end of the term, students are notified of any outstanding balances and provided information on reconciling the debt and the consequences of nonpayment. The student is provided the opportunity to engage in a past-due payment plan with the District’s third-party provider.
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If, at the new term, an enrolled student with a registration hold has an account balance of $50 or more, the student will be dropped for non-payment. Likewise, any returning student with a registration hold and an account balance of $50 or more will be prohibited from registering. Exception: Students with previous term balances of $50 - $500 are provided the opportunity to engage in a past-due payment plan with the District’s third-party provider. Balances less than $50 will remain outstanding on the student's account. The student is notified of the outstanding balance and provided information on reconciling the debt and the consequences of nonpayment.
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When an account balance of $50 or more is not paid in full 30 days following the end of a semester and a past-due payment plan does not exist for the student, such account will be forwarded to the Business Officer in charge of collections by the 15th day following the end of such semester. The next action taken will depend upon the account balance: 1) account balances of $50 - $149 are sent to the State of Illinois Debt Recovery Program; or 2) account balances of $150 or more are submitted to a collection agency. (See Debt Appeal Program below.) The student is notified of this action.
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Collection fees on overdue accounts are the responsibility of the student. Collection fees are communicated to the student through the Financial Responsibility Form completed at time of registration.
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A student cannot receive their diploma and registration activities are prohibited until all overdue accounts ($50 or more) are paid in full or a past-due payment plan is in place as described above. Once the overdue account has been satisfactorily addressed, the Financial Hold will be removed.
Debt Appeal Program
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When a student is notified of their account being turned over to a collection agency, they will also receive an official notice of their debt appeal rights and a Debt Appeal Form in the event the student would like to file a formal appeal of the debt.
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Upon receipt of the Debt Appeal Form and any supporting documentation from the student, the Debt Appeals Committee will forward to the campus Business Officer for investigation. The investigation will be thorough and all documentation will be returned to the Debt Appeals Committee within (5) business days.
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The Debt Appeals Committee shall be comprised of these District officials: Chief Financial Officer, Director of Financial Operations, and Associate Dean of Admissions & Records.
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The Debt Appeals Committee will review all information from the student and from the campus Business Officer. If a face-to-face hearing is requested, it may be granted. A formal determination will be made as soon as practical, but no more than 30 days after all information has been gathered. A final determination will be mailed to the student.
Questions or concerns regarding these process or an overdue account may be addressed to your campus's business office.
To register a complaint at IECC related to these processes, contact:
Ryan Hawkins, Chief Financial Officer
233 E. Chestnut Street
Olney, IL 62450
Phone 618.393.2982
To register a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's Office, visit: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Consumer-Protection/Student-Loan-Debt-Assistance/index