Student Handbook
Student Financial Services Billing and Collections Policy
Student Financial Services is responsible for billing and collecting fees for tuition, housing, meal plans, health insurance, computers, parking violations and any other applicable fees.
Our goal is to work with students and parents to resolve outstanding balances. We understand that students and their families may experience financial difficulties and it is important for those types of issues to be communicated to our office at an early stage. Bentley College offers payment plans to assist with the budgeting of the cost of education. However, those plans are only available to students prior to the due date of their bill.
We URGE students and/or parents to contact our office prior to the due date of the bill to discuss any financial concerns that they may have. The earlier the issue is discussed the more tools we have to assist students in resolving the situation.
Bentley College recognizes that employers may pay college fees on behalf of students/employees. These agreements are made between the student and their employer and are not contractual agreements with the College. We do not bill companies/employers for student tuition unless we receive a purchase order that states the company will pay upon receipt of the Bentley College bill.
Bentley College does not accept foreign checks under $250.
If the balance is not resolved by the due date, a financial hold will be placed on the account. This financial hold will prevent students from registering for classes, changing their course schedule, participating in the housing lottery, senior week activities, the graduation ceremony and from obtaining diplomas and/or transcripts. If applicable, the student may also be required to move out of housing.
Also, accounts with unresolved balances are subject to late payment fees. The first late fee is charged to the student account between 30 and 45 days after the bill due date. Additional late fees may be charged 60 days after the due date.
If a balance remains unpaid the account will be assigned to the Bentley College Collection Department. If an acceptable payment arrangement cannot be reached, the account will be assigned to a collection agency. There are several consequences that accompany that action:
1. The account will be reported in a default/collection agency status to the credit bureau. This may prevent the student from obtaining credit in the future.
2. The student will be assessed collection fees between 33 and 50 percent and possible legal fees in addition to the outstanding balance owed to Bentley College.
3. Any future classes that the student plans on taking at Bentley College must be prepaid (in full) via certified funds.
