Students wait 104 days to get hall bond refund

Massey Halls told students bond refunds would take “up to 60 working days”. However, 66 residents waited up to 104 days after new residents had already moved in.  

John* moved out of a Palmerston North hall in November last year, but was left without his $450 dollar bond until this month.  

With just a part-time job and StudyLink taking a while to kick in, John* said, “I’ve been having to ask my parents very nicely for some grocery money every now and then.” 

“Their entire cliental is uni students who famously don’t have money, and they’ve just been holding onto it. I don’t know why.” 

“I wanted to be moved out and done with uni halls, living in my new flat and starting a new year of study, and this is kind of just hanging on from last year.” 

John* argued that when you are renting traditionally, it wouldn’t take this long to simply process a bond refund.  

“It feels really icky.” 

A Massey University spokesperson said some reasons why a bond refund could take over 60 days were awaiting account details, incorrect account details and residents staying on.  

None of these reasons applied to John*.  

Across the three campuses’ accommodation sites, there were 58 Manawatū residents and 8 Wellington residents that did not receive their bond within 60 days.  

30 of the Manawatū residents were refunded on March 1st, while 28 were refunded on March 8th. 8 Wellington residents were refunded on February 29th. 

*Name changed for anonymity.