Past Due Accounts

PAST DUE ACCOUNTS FOR NON-ENROLLED STUDENTS:

 A student’s account will be considered in past due status if the student is not currently enrolled at the University; and the student’s account contains unpaid charges that have been outstanding 30 days or greater after the last day of the term.

Collection Efforts for Past Due Accounts

• A hold will be placed on the student’s account, and all requests for readmission or diplomas will be denied until the student’s account is paid in full. There are no exceptions to releasing holds with students who have an outstanding balance with the university.
• A student may not register for classes for a future term until the account balance is paid in full.  For questions concerning withdrawal and/or registration, the student should contact regis@ecu.edu or CAS@ecu.edu.
• Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 147-86.23 and UNC System Office standards, the University is required to assess interest charges and late payment penalties on past due accounts.
  • Interest will be calculated each month as a percentage of the unpaid account balance (excluding any interest and late fees).
  • The University must calculate interest at the rate established by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
• A non-enrolled student who is no longer enrolled in courses at the university with an outstanding account balance over 30 days is notified by letter that they have an outstanding balance with the University. A second letter is sent when the account balance is 60 days past due.
• The collection process will continue until a payment plan has been executed and the first installment has been paid.   Please contact staff by email at ecucollections@ecu.edu or by phone at (252) 328-6816 for information on establishing a monthly payment plan.  Plans are based on the amount that is owed to the University.
• Upon receipt of the executed payment plan and the first installment, the collection process will be suspended but will resume if the student fails to make the monthly scheduled payments. While on a payment plan, a hold remains on the student account record, which will prevent obtaining diplomas or registering for classes, until the balance has been paid in full.
• If the outstanding balance is not paid within 60 days or satisfactory payment arrangements have not been established, the student will be referred to the NC Attorney General’s Office. Upon review by the NC Attorney General’s Office, outstanding balances not paid after 90 days are forwarded to a North Carolina State approved collection agency as well as reported to the credit bureau; and entered in the NC Department of Revenue database for garnishment of future tax refund money. Notification is sent to individuals when funds are received from the NC Setoff Debt Collection ACT (SODCA) along with the procedure to request a hearing upon contestation.
• In addition, ECU will follow the State Employee Debt Collection Act (SEDCA) under North Carolina General Statute 143-553 (PDF) , which requires that employees whose salaries are paid in whole or in part by state funds must make full restitution of the amount owed to the state as a condition of employment or service.
• Accounts deemed uncollectible after a period of attempt to collect are written off the university’s accounts receivable balance. However, the unpaid balance plus interest and late fees remains a legal obligation of the student. These accounts will continue to be retained with a third-party collection agency and reported to the credit bureau. These accounts will also continue to be reported to the NC Department of Revenue for garnishment of tax refund money. Diplomas and registration hold will remain on the student account until the account is paid in full.

For assistance with Past Due Student Accounts please contact the Student Collections Office as follows: