Great Falls College understands that not every bill will be paid in full or on time. The college anticipates that a portion of accounts receivable will not be collected each term. Business services and student accounts monitors these amounts. A finance hold is put on all accounts that are past due until the account is paid in full or arrangements are made with student accounts/business services. This hold may restrict registration for future semesters. The college offers payment plans to students who have a past due balance.

The college makes multiple attempts to collect on past due balances. After a student has been given the required 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day notice, the college reserves the right to turn over the past due balance to either the Montana Department of Revenue offset program or an outside collection agency. The college reserves the right to pass on any fees or commissions in collecting past due balances. Balances from other departments, such as the Weaver Library, may be added to tuition and fees owed. When the balance is paid-in-full, the finance hold for that balance will be lifted. If the student has other holds, it is the responsibility of the student to address those with the appropriate department.

When business services has deemed an account uncollectible, the account is written off. This means that the balance is removed as receivable on the student’s account. It is deemed uncollectible if the account has been turned over to more than one outside form of collection efforts with no success, meaning no money has been collected. The college has up to 8 years from when an account is due to actively pursue collection. After 8 years the college will not actively pursue the account, but the balance is still owed to the college. A finance hold is placed on the student’s account which prevents certain activities such registering for future classes. Unless it is otherwise documented for extenuating circumstances or negotiation, even though the balance is written off as uncollectible in the account, it is still due to the college and will remain due until paid off.

Refunds on overpayment, or credit balances, on students’ accounts are processed by the Student Accounts office. Disbursement dates for financial aid are posted on the Great Falls College website. Other refunds are processed weekly. Great Falls College uses QuikPAY as a secure third party to disburse all student refunds. Students may elect to receive direct deposit/ACH or a paper check. We encourage students to sign up for direct deposit/ACH because they will receive the refund faster than a mailed check. If a student does not receive their check, student accounts can assist them. If the student requests a stop payment on the check, we require the student to sign up for direct deposit before reissuing payment. If the student does not wish to sign up for direct deposit, then student accounts will not issue stop payment on the check and the student will have to wait until the check stale dates 90 days after issue to have another check processed.