UNISA STUDENT FINANCE HEAD OFFICE IS A BROKEN DEPARTMENT

If I could give a 0, I really would. It brings me such sadness to think that a South African institute of higher learning conducts itself in the manner that UNISA does. UNISA I have come to realize, has great academics, and poor student administrators. Emails go unanswered, nobody takes accountability or ownership, calls to departments are unanswered and a culture of apathy is rampant. UNISA takes for granted that South Africans will always need distance education at lower costs. This is true. UNISA should be mindful that more and more private higher education institutes are now able to do what UNISA should be doing at a reasonable level of costs. Who would a student then opt to go for? My experience has been shocking to say the least. The Cape Town office seems to care for students. Other provinces - not at all. I have had a ongoing financial issue with UNISA. I had from 2016 asked for fee statements. In July 2019 I finally got a response. I had been handed over to a company- a debt agency! I asked how when UNISA had not responded to any emails about my fees? I was told I was just suppose to know I owed fees. I was told UNISA only contacts students through their my-life email address. I have in email proof I had written to say I cannot access my-life. Nobody ever rep****. Not even once. But of course - the lack of response from UNISA is a students fault. After my initial Hello Peter complaint, a rude lady called. She said it was my fault UNISA could not get hold of me. How when I had been asking for my fee statement and none was forthcomming? I said to her my email address had not changed - from the time I gave it to UNISA upon registration. Still - she insisted its my fault. She said I had to contact the debt agency as the debt agency tried to reach me. I said nobody ever did. I asked for proof. She was adamant they had proof and would send it to me. Its been almost, if not, a month or more. NOTHING. But still- its my fault. The faculty of education teaching office also had my contact details. I wrote them down when I registered. So I wondered how on earth UNISA could hand me over when I had been chasing after UNISA for a fee statement. I have now a vast trove of emails saying I owe money. I have paid the full balance outstanding to UNISA. I have yet to receive an email saying my payment or proof of payment was received. I am still financially blocked. I need my results but again - radio silence. I had been doing the PGCE which is phasing out. 2020 is my last chance for me to finish it. UNISA does not care. I know I am one of many but for me this matters. For me, these fees did not just come out of thin air for me to pay? I am hopeful that "alleged" proof UNISA has about my fees will be sent to me. I need this block removed. I have paid. I owe UNISA R00.00 . I am not sure what else I need to do to resolve this? Or who at UNISA Finance even cares. UNISA demanded money. I paid it. I want my results. I need the block lifted. I need access to the UNISA portal to register for my ONE outstanding module. If UNISA is unable to do the above, I need it in writing as at this point, if UNISA cannot comply I fully intend to have a lawyer draft a letter of demand. Because maybe if UNISA sees the lenghts students go through, the hoops we jump through, something might change. If this is how UNISA is, all I plan to do is finish my qualification and never have to deal with UNISA again. I cannot recommend UNISA to anyone. I am actually busy with my Masters elsewhere and I am so grateful I did not choose UNISA. Can you imagine the levels of frustration I would have paid to endure? I am sure someone will call, with a half-hearted apology. As I have always said - I do not want an apology. I just want the right thing to be done. If it cannot - I want it in writing why. Not by phone- UNISA Head Office people do not actually do what they say will do on the phone. As wonderful as the Cape Town team is, they cannot do much as they need UNISA Head Office to actually do their work. Which apparently does not include service to the student. Yes - have already emailed the "correct" email address for accounts - *** AND ***O SILENCE RegardsStudent ***