Visa will no longer allow the University to charge a two-percent processing fee effective May 1, forcing the Cashier’s Office to discontinue the acceptance of Visa, according to Bruce Forinash, director of the University Cashier’s Office.

Student Body Treasurer David Foxx said he knew of the change in policy, but knew many students were not aware of it.

“Students weren’t given a lot of time to prepare for this,” Foxx, a junior in political science, said. “[The UCO] didn’t really take the time to see how this would affect students,”

Aaron Denton, a sophomore in First Year College, said he uses a Visa card to conduct transactions with the Cashier’s Office and echoed Foxx’s worries about students preparedness.

“That’s a pretty ridiculous policy,” Denton said. “It’s going to put people in a bad position. It’s like [the UCO] is asking us to take one for the team.”

The University is not in a position to absorb the extra costs of continuing to accept Visa, and UNC-Chapel Hill stopped accepting Visa several months ago, according to Forinash.

“It will be a inconvenience, for sure,” Forinash said. “Hopefully, most folks who have a Visa would have a MasterCard as well.”

The University Cashier’s Web site said it will now accept MasterCard and, as of April 4, American Express, but encourages the use of e-check, a secure no-cost withdrawal from a checking or savings account, which is available through Pack Tracks.

Forinash also recommended using e-check to pay eBILLs. Approximately 8,000 students used e-check this semester, according to the UCO Web site.

Denton said he had no idea e-checks even existed and lamented the loss of Visa card access.

“It is freaking corporate America screwing the little man,” Denton said.

Foxx agreed.

“This really sucks,” he said. “Most students have a ton of financial need, and it is hard to pay for college, and the harder it is — if you can’t use a debit card, it will further hamper [students] in paying for school.”

According to Forinash, the UCO will negotiate with other credit card companies, so the Cashier’s Office can provide students with the option to use them as well.

“We’re looking at Discover, and if the state can approve that, we hope to be using that in the near future as well,” Forinash said.