An unknown number of University of Wisconsin students are still waiting on thousands of dollars in checks from the Bursar’s Office though they were mailed in Milwaukee more than two weeks ago, according to the office.
Bursar Cathie Easter said Friday that the checks, dated Aug. 28, have likely been misplaced or delayed in the mail.
“We’ve filed a complaint with the post office, and we’re continuing to work with them,” Easter said. “In the meantime, we’re offering short-term loans to students if the delay in receiving the checks is affecting them.”
The misplaced checks average about $2,500, Easter said, and are refunds for overpayment. For example, if a student takes a loan out for $3,000 but only owes UW $2,000, he or she will be sent a check for $1,000.
Some of the checks have made it to students and have been deposited.
However, Easter said it’s hard to know exactly how many checks have been lost since they have no record of receipt unless students deposit the check or call the office saying they haven’t gotten it yet.
“We can monitor it through our bank; some are starting to come out of the account,” Easter said. “But it’s hard to know since there’s a two- or three- or four- or five-day delay.”
Checks are printed and cut by a private firm in Milwaukee in order to expedite the process, Easter said.
Several students have made a stop pay request, and the Bursar’s Office has begun to grant them. The United States Postal Service asks for 10 days to deliver the items, and now that the time has passed, some of the checks will likely have to be reissued.
UW junior Jordan Rife said he never received his refund check, which was supposedly mailed on Aug. 21.
He put a stop payment request in after going about two weeks with limited spending money.
“They got me an advanced loan on my check for like $500 so I can, like, live for a couple of weeks,” Rife said. “But they’re reissuing the check this week.”
The Bursar’s Office is reluctant to issue a stop payment since it can’t be undone if the check suddenly shows up, Easter said.
Rife has waited for weeks for his check to be reissued.
“They told me I had it, and obviously I didn’t have it,” Rife said. “But they were convinced I had it.”
Easter said her office is in close communication with UW Division of University Housing to make sure no students will be penalized for missing the payment date.
