T.I.S. fights for Bursar billing

If a student wants to charge books to a bursar account, the IU Bookstore is still the only option. Negotiations between IU and competing textbook store T.I.S. Bookstore to offer the student payment option in stores have been unsuccessful. \nBursar billing allows students to charge their books, course packets and other school supplies to their bursar account and then pay for them at a later date over the course of the semester. \nT.I.S. would also like to offer this service to students. Greg Lloyd, general manager for T.I.S., said. Since bursar billing began two years ago, T.I.S. has tried to negotiate with the university to offer this service as well.\n"Originally, we wanted to be included, or if they aren't going to let us do it then we wanted them to stop," Lloyd said. "It is unfair competition, and it doesn't give the students an alternative for where to shop."\nWilliam Stephan, IU vice president of university relations and corporate partnerships, said the university was concerned that allowing one off-campus business to use bursar billing would lead to others requesting the same arrangement.\n"It's an issue we have discussed with T.I.S. for the last year," he said. "It's complicated because it opens the door for other private businesses to open the door as well. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with it. We value the relationship with T.I.S.; that is why we have tried to work through this with T.I.S. and explore other options."\nT.I.S. does offer a system known as credit link. Allowing parents to give T.I.S. their credit card number so students can charge their books, course packets and any other items parents authorize for students to charge. That way the parents do not have to be present for the purchase of books, Lloyd explained. \nFor students like junior Joel Briggs, bursar billing is helpful because he is paying his college bills without assistance from his parents. He has used bursar billing to purchase his books since his freshman year. Briggs said he doesn't believe bursar billing should be stopped, but he can understand why T.I.S. would want it to be stopped if other stores can't be included in it.\n"If they stopped bursar billing it would mean that I couldn't afford my books," Briggs said. "I can at least buy them and not have to pay for them for a while if I go through the bursar. But I can understand T.I.S.'s reasoning, if they are losing money."\nWhen the system started, bursar billing was only available to students who reserved their books ahead of time, said Paul Hazel, director of the IU Bookstores. Now, the service is offered to students whenever they choose to purchase their books, up until the first Friday of classes. \n"It would be an inconvenience for all students, especially those who have financial aid, if students were no longer allowed to use bursar billing," Hazel said. \nSenior Tyson Chastain, IU Student Association president, can see the competitive disadvantage T.I.S. faces against the IU Bookstore because of this system. But, Chastain said if the university also allowed T.I.S. to offer this service, it would be hard to see where it would stop. \n"It's a great idea for T.I.S. for convenience," Chastain said. "But where would it stop? The university might have to let other local stores offer bursar billing for school items. The important thing is for students to contact IUSA. The university needs to know what students want and that is what IUSA is for."\nAs of now, the IU bookstore still offers bursar billing. Students can contact Chastain and other members of IUSA at 855-4872 or at iusa@indiana.edu. Chastain said his biggest worry, however, is that bursar billing will be stopped without any notification. \n"I hope they don't stop bursar billing," Chastain said. "Students need that. Hopefully it turns into something students can benefit from."\n-- Contact staff writer Maggie Bozich at mbozich@indiana.edu.