Spring Break
Bulldog Bucks change not for the better
ABRIAUNA WELCH
Issue date: 7/2/09 Section: Opinions
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You either skimmed over the details of the message or, like me, didn't bother reading it at all. Unfortunately, I later discovered this was a big mistake.
Like many of you, I am taking classes this summer. Being the hardworking student I am, I decided I would run to the Bulldog Bucks office, put $5 on my card, print out my powerpoints for that day and be on my way.
Sounds simple right? Wrong.
I went to the Bulldog Bucks office and received a BIG surprise. They no longer accept deposits at the office. Students must now deposit Bulldog Bucks at the Student Accounts office.
That's right: at Student Accounts, all the way downtown. When I heard the news I was shocked but I thought, "No big deal. I'll just walk there after my first class and have the notes in time for my second class."
I got out of my first class early and figured it would be a quick process. Wrong again.
After walking in the heat to the Student Accounts office, I waited in line. When I got to the counter the teller quickly explained to me that in order to deposit money onto my card I had to fill out a bulldog bucks request form online.
The computer was in the office so I thought, "Okay, I'll just fill out this form, give the teller my check, and be on my way." Wrong again.
When I pulled up the site I discovered I could not deposit less than $10. That's right, $10.
Not the $5 I had planned on depositing.
Not loose change that may have been floating around somewhere in my wallet, but $5 more than I was prepared to spend.
I decided that instead of going through all of this unnecessary trouble I could easily just walk down to the library and deposit the money in the Bulldog Bucks machine.
I reversed the transaction, because it's possible as long as you haven't paid any actual funds yet, and left.
After walking back through the heat to the library I discovered the machine was being cleaned.
I waited somewhat patiently - I only had 15 minutes before my class would be starting - and then proceeded to use the machine only to be given another surprise.
I slid my card, but the machine kept saying it couldn't find my account information. I thought maybe something had gone wrong so I tried again with the same result. I approached the repairman and told him the machine wasn't reading my card.
He then explained to me the only way to deposit money on my Bulldog Bucks card is at the Student Accounts office. The machines only accept VTS cards.
What's a VTS card, you ask? It's a card that is supposed to be used by visitors or anyone who may have forgotten their UGA card.
It's available for sale at Tate Print and Copy for $1 and is used to print, purchase items from the vending machines and make copies - everything that we do with our Bulldog Bucks cards.
That would be fine if it weren't for the fact that people like me who may want to deposit money onto their cards at the machines can no longer do so.
We either have to walk down to Student Accounts, buy this new card or go without.
It makes me wonder why we even have a Bulldog Bucks office anymore. What's the point? In the end I still didn't get the money on my card, still didn't get the notes I needed and ended up being late for class. Talk about a waste of time. As the old saying goes, "Don't fix something if it isn't already broken."
- Abriauna Welch a senior from Snellville majoring in fashion merchandizing and magazines.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 10
Katie
posted 7/02/09 @ 10:03 AM EST
I AGREE!! I can understand the ease with which adding money online is.. but don't take away the machines at the same time! Add the new features but leave the old ones that worked. (Continued…)
Phillip
posted 7/02/09 @ 11:47 AM EST
Hey, killer idea for next time? Stroll down to Print & Copy Services in Tate and just pay cash (or debit). Then quit complaining about having to run ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN to print your PowerPoint. (Continued…)
BWDawg
posted 7/09/09 @ 8:30 AM EST
You can make deposits online without ever leaving your computer... next time try checking the website before walking all over campus.
James
posted 7/18/09 @ 2:38 PM EST
1: BWDawg is right- you can do it all on-line. Almost nobody is dense enough to think you have to walk to student accounts to put money on your card.
2: VTS cards are available for purchase at any of the VTS machines not in the Tate print and copy center- that's right, you could've bought one in the library. (Continued…)
Not a fan...
posted 7/19/09 @ 12:00 PM EST
This Opinions piece demonstrates how foolish the transition has been to the new system. First of all, why were no student organizations in on implementing (or not) these changes? Why weren't these changes publicized in the R&B, in emails, and signs hung by the old Bulldog Bucks machines in the SPRING outlining how things would be different in the summer/fall? I doubt very seriously the author will be the only one traipsing around campus and not knowing what to do when classes start next month!
Also, the issue is that your options now include:
- going to Student Accounts "all the way downtown" to add a minimum of $10 to your BB card (inconvenient!);
- going online and adding a minimum of $10, PLUS a 2. (Continued…)
Laura
posted 7/19/09 @ 8:48 PM EST
The worst thing about the new process is that it didn't make anything easier. If you recall, it was possible to put money on bulldog bucks online without this student account system. (Continued…)
Stacie
posted 7/20/09 @ 2:34 PM EST
My biggest concern about this is how much it is filling up the already busy student accounts office. During the beginning of the semester, it is already hard enough to get through student accounts, and all this did was reroute a bunch of unnecessary traffic to the student accounts office. (Continued…)
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