Weber State University
1023 University Circle
Ogden, Utah 84408-1023
Phone (801)626-7004 Toll Free 1(800)433-6844

Miller Administration Rm 112


How to Assign an Account to Loan Services for Billing or Collection.


BILLING
LS Assignment Utility Help Downloan Latest Version
Installing Utility
Creating New Assignment
Editing Existing Assignment
Transfering Assignment to Loan Servicing
Documentation
Holds/Departmental charges
Manual Assignments
Manual Assignments Assignment Summary
Software vs. Manual
General Information
General Assignment Info. Before the First Assignment
Charges
STAARS
Misc.




LS Assignment Utility


TOPDownload Current Version of LS Assignment Utility



The LS Assignment Utility is distributed free of charge by Weber State Loan Servicing Department to assist other University Departments in assigning accounts for billing and/or collection. This software will allow you to create an assignment file and summary report which can be forwarded directly to Loan Servicing via E-Mail or floppy disk. You can also maintain a backup history of all your assignments and edit or remove any account you previously assigned to Loan Servicing.

Version 2.1.0 is now available. (To see if you need to upgrade, you can check your current version number by clicking "About" from the Help menu of your current LS Assignment Utility.) Version 2 is a significant upgrade from version 1.5. You may now finally edit previously saved referrals. Various data checks have also been added to help reduce referral errors.

TOPInstalling LS Assignment Utlity


To install the LS Assignment Utility, click on the above link and download the file (LSASSIGN202_INSTALL.EXE) to your computer. Save the file to a temporary directory of your choice. Once the file has been downoaded, you may install the program from the "Start - Run" menu or from your Windows Explorer by double-clicking the file. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation process. NOTE: If you have previously installed an earlier version of the LS Assignment Utility, you should "uninstall" it BEFORE installing the new version. To uninstall previous versions, click Add/Remove Programs from your Control Panel in Windows 95/98 or NT. Select LS Assignment Utility and click remove. You will not lose preiously saved assignments.

Once the installation process has completed, a menu folder named LS Assign will appear on your Program menu. Double click this icon to launch the program.

TOPCreating a New Assignment


Creating a new Assignment with the LS Assignment Utility is easy and straight-forward. Begin by launching the LS Assignment Utility from your Programs menu. To enter a new assignment file, select "New" from the File menu, or press "New" on the toolbar. Either of these options will open the assignment frames and allow you to enter a new Assignment Record.

Some definitions may help at this point.

Assignment Record:
    An Assignment Record consists an individual debt or account, and contains the debtor's name, address, debt amount, and other supplemental information.


Assignment File:
    An Assignment File is the actual file containing all the Assignment Records (accounts) referred to Loan Servicing on a given day. An Assignment File may contain one or more Assignment Records.


Referral File:
    This file is a companion file to the Assignment file. It is created at the same time you save your Assignment file and should be transferred with the Assignment file to Loan Servicing.


Once the program has started and you have selected "New " your screen should look like this:

LS Assign Main Screen


You will note that there are three tabs with information that can be filled on each account.

    1) Borrower Information: This information is mandatory and must be filled in for the record to be accepted. In the event you do not have a current address, enter the last known address.
    2) Supplemental Information: This information in this frame is optional and relates mostly to employment and reference data. Although this information is optional, the more information provided the better the chances of a quick and sucessful recovery.
    3) Documents Provided: Complete this frame if you are providing copies of Promissory Notes, Billing Statements, Correspondance etc... Once again, the more information provided, the better the chance of recovery.


Once you have completed each of the three frames, press the "Save Record" button at the bottom of the form. This will save the record data and clear the frames so you may enter another record.

Repeat this process until you have entered all of the accounts you wish to assign to Loan Servicing, remenbering to press "Save Record" after each account is entered. As you enter each record, you will notice that the program displays a count of the Assignment Records contained in the Assignment File in the upper right corner of the form.

If you make a mistake in entering a record, you may press the "Abort Changes" button which will clear the frames and allow you to re-enter the record. Pressing "Abort Changes" will NOT delete records which have already been saved.

Once you have entered all the accounts you wish to assign to Loan Servicing, you MUST save the Assignment File. This can be done by pressing the Save icon on the toolbar, or by selecting Save from the File menu. (You will also be given the opportunity to save the file when you exit the program.) REMEMBER - Saving the Assignment File is NOT the same as saving an Assignment Record. If you exit the program without saving the Assignment File, you may lose some or all of your Assignment Records. At the time you save the Assignment File, you will also be given the opportunity to copy the Assignment File to a floppy disk. For more information on this, see "Transfering Assignment to Loan Servicing."

TOPEditing an Existing Assignment


No matter how careful you are in entering your accounts for assignment, there will certainly be times you need to edit an existing Assignment File. Before you edit an Assignment File, make sure you haven't already transferred the file to Loan Servicing. If you have already made this transfer , contact Loan Servicing directly so we can assist you in updating the account.

Edit an Assignment File by selecting "Open" from the File menu and then selecting the referral file you wish to edit from the dialog box.

Open Dialog Box


Once the file has been sucessfully opened, you can add, edit or delete Assignment Records within this file.

To add another Assignment Record, enter the record exactly as you would when entering a new assignment.

To delete an Assignment Record which was previously saved, select "Delete Single Record" from the Delete menu. This option will open a small dialog box where you can select a single entry to delete.

To edit an Assignment Record which was preiously saved, select "Edit Record" from the Edit Menu. This option will open a small dialog box where you can select the record you with to edit. WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE EDIT PROCESS, BE SURE TO SAVE THE RECORD AGAIN OR YOU MAY LOSE THE ENTIRE RECORD.

TOPTransfer an Assignment to Loan Servicing


Before you transfer your Assignment File to Loan Servicing, you will probally want to review each record for accuracy. The best way to do this is to select the "View Details" button on the toolbar. (You can also print the detail report by selecting "Print" from the File menu.) The detail report will list all the input data on each record in the Assignment File.

View Detail Report


    This is a handy report to print and keep on file so you can track the referrals made to Loan Servicing.

    Once an Assignment File has been created, saved and reviewed for accuracy, you must transfer this file to Loan Servicing. The transfer can be made one of 2 ways.

      1) Floppy Disk - You can copy an Assignment File (with its supporting Reference File) to a floppy disk and mail or deliver it directly to Loan Servicing at mail code 1023. You can copy an Assignment File using the "Copy to Floppy" menu item located on the File menu. If you wish, you can also copy the files directly from the \assignments\ directory to floppy using DOS or the Windows Explorer. In either event, just make sure you copy both the Assignment File (.asg) AND its supporting Referral File (.ref). You will notice the Assignment and Reference files are named according to the date on which they were originally created.

      2) E-Mail - The Assignment (and Referral) Files may also be E-Mailed directly to Loan Servicing. If you choose this option, please make sure you also forward any supporting documentation by campus mail ASAP.

    This completes the Assignment process. Loan Servicing will sent you confirmation that your referral has been received and that the accounts have been placed for billing and/or collection.

    TOPDocumentation


    With your assignment, please provide Loan Servicing with copies of all relevant documentation you may have on file for each borrower. This documentation could include, Promissory Notes, Applications, Billing Statements, Correcpondance, Payment Histories, etc...

    TOPHolds and Departmental Charges


    Upon your assignment of an account to Loan Servicing, you must immediately remove any and all holds or departmental charges from the STAARS system. This will allow the borrower to make payments throught the University cashering system and be credited directly to your account with Loan Servicing. Additionally, Loan Servicing will place a hold on the student records to assure that the borrower does not register or receive academic transcripts without payment or approval.



    Manual Assignments


    TOPAssignment Summary


    You do not need to use the "LS Assignment Utility" to make a referral to Loan Servicing. In fact, if you intend on making only a single referral, or very infrequent assignments, a manual assignment may work well for your department.

    In order to make a manual assignment, you must provide the following information:

    • Type of debt
    • Borrower's full name and Social Security Number
    • Amount of debt
    • Date of default
    • Borrower's last known address
    • Additional Info. ie. Phone #, References, POE, etc.
    • Copies of all relevant documentation

    Forward this information directly to Loan Servicing at mail code 1023. We will immediately review the assignment and input the account for collection. Remember, the more information you can provide, the better the chances of a quick recovery.

    You must also remember to remove all Departmental Charges and Holds.

    TOPSoftware vs. Manual Assignment


    Advantages of Software Assignment:

    • Speeds up assignment time
    • Lessens the chance of data input error
    • Aids in tracking assignments
    • Allows you to make adjustments to the account after placement
    • Helps develop a consistant assignment procedure.

    Advantages of Manual Assignment:

    • For "one-time" or infrequent assignments
    • For offices without Windows 95 or 98 based systems
    • For unique assignments.

    In general, Loan Servicing recommends you use the LS Assignment Utility if possible. The Utility generates an output file that can be read directly by our billing and servicing software thereby reducing worktime and the chances for error or delay.



    General Assignment Information


    TOPBefore the First Assignment


    Before you make you first assignment to Loan Servicing, it is important to contact our office and discuss that type of account(s) that will be assigned. In order for Loan Servicing to properly manage your accounts, we will need to know some basics about the accounts and your department. For example, some of the questions you should be prepare to answer are:

    • Is there a promissory note or other agreement signed by the borrower?
    • What is the interest rate (if any) on the account?
    • Have you asessed any collection or late fees?
    • Are there payment or installment terms or is the entire balance due immediately?
    • Do you want Loan Servicing to consider litigation to recover the debt?
    • What FRS account do you wish the recovered funds to be credited to?
    • Length of time you wish Loan Servicing to work your account

    Answering these questions will help Loan Servicing set up your accounts quickly and efficiently. As always, if you have any questions on how Loan Servicing can help you manage your accounts, please contact us at 626-7004.

    TOPCharges


    In general, Loan Servicing charges 10% of the assigned balance for billing and collection. (This may be slightly more or less depending on the type and number of the accounts referred.) Any costs associated with litigation or legal fees will be added to the BORROWER'S account and paid by that borrower. In the event recovery is unsuccessful, Loan Services will absorb all costs associated with the litigation.

    TOPSTAARS


    If your department places Holds or Departmental Charges on STAARS, they must be removed prior to assignment with Loan Services. Refer to Holds for more information on this topic.

    TOPMiscellenous Information


    Loan Services will provide you with monthly activity reports on each of the accounts in active billing. If you have specific needs for reporting, we can provide custom reporting upon request.

    For information on assigning accounts or help with the "LS Assign" software, contact Michael Richter at x7204.




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    Since 1998-Nov-06

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