Forms of payment vary among campus venues

By Melissa Tav
The Collegian

If you’re low on cash and a debit card is the only way to go, don’t expect some stores on campus to be of service.

The United States Postal Service Express, located in the University Student Union, is one store that does not accept debit cards as a form of payment.

In this case, it is because the computer system used to make transactions is not set up to accept the cards.

The post office, which opened about seven years ago, only allows check or cash as its payment.
However, there is talk that the post office plans to implement a new system which will allow the use of debit cards.

“Currently, it is all speculation at this point,” said Erin Kent, Operations Services Coordinator of the Student Union. “The main post office said there would be a new system in place possibly by the summer, but there is no clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.”

If the new system does replace the older one, it would be a Point of Sales system, which would allow the use of debit and all other forms of credit cards.

“There is a need for it,” said Mehrzad Zarrin, Assistant Director of the University Student Union. “Students carry less cash. They realize the need is there.”

Edith Ramirez, a second-year criminology student, has worked at the post office for about a year.

She said a lot of students come into the post office thinking they can use a debit card, but leave disappointed when they realize they can’t.

“It would be more convenient if debit cards could be used,” Ramirez said. “I see a lot of students wanting to use their debit cards instead of paying with a check or cash.”

The Student Information Center in the Student Union is another service on campus that does not accept debit cards.

The center, which offers various tickets at discount prices, will most likely not benefit from an upgrade because payments made there are already minimal.

“The amount is so small already,” Kent said. “Having students pay with a credit card would be more of a loss than a gain for the students.”

The Central Valley Internet Project store next to the Postal Service Express is another place that only takes a specific form of payment.

Unlike the other stores, they do not allow cash payment. Instead, they only take credit, debit, check or money orders.

For the store, which provides Internet service both on and off campus and computer software equipment, it is just a matter of convenience.

It makes the transferring of money to the main store at Cedar and Barstow avenues a lot easier, said Shannon Taufer, an employee at the store.

“There hasn’t really been a problem because most students have another form of payment,” Taufer said.

In the meantime, if the new system for the post office does go into effect, it is expected that students will find the services on campus more useful.

“Right now everyone is a credit card person,” said Zarrin. “I’m sure business will pick up. It’s better for us. We are committed to our students.”

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