NIC: Suggestion from a customer

I’m a big fan of going paperless. I’ve opted to receive my phone and cable bills through email. I also receive my bank statements online. It’s very convenient, but in all cases I chose to receive email notifications as an option.

In my books, I explain to my readers that email is not the first choice to receive any important information; notices from the government or bills come through regular mail. It’s official. Email is not. Email can get lost, and not everyone checks email.

For example, my son rarely checks email, especially his MyNIC account he received when he enrolled in North Idaho College last year. Many his age don’t check email, preferring text messaging, Facebook and Twitter.

So it was with some surprise that I learned how NIC no longer sends out notices of tuition due. I find it especially frustrating, not only because my son doesn’t check his MyNIC email, but also because he doesn’t pay the bills. I do. We weren’t given a chance to “opt in,” we were thrown in.

Because he doesn’t check his email, his tuition payment was missed. I’m sure NIC would like its money. I don’t mind paying the tuition either, because NIC is a great learning institution. But I’d like to either receive a paper bill or be allowed the courtesy of opting in. Or maybe having the tuition notice sent to my email address, not his.

Since the tuition wasn’t paid, my son’s certificate has been withheld and the credits for his summer courses are in doubt. For all the professionalism NIC brings to the community, this situation is very disappointing.

On June 27, I visited the NIC Board meeting to attempt to make public comments regarding this situation. I was informed that I cannot make comments on “non-agenda items,” so I’m addressing the Board and Staff of NIC in this letter: You can do better.

DAN GOOKIN

Coeur d’Alene