TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Over winter break, Troy University’s Housing Office created a new way for students to pay for their laundry with the use of an app.
The app, also known as “One Tap Away,” is a new system that has been implemented since the start of the spring semester. It was a change that was originally expected to happen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re actually the behind,” said Sabrina Foster, Head of Troy University’s Housing Office. “The laundry company was really nice. We were actually supposed to have this change before COVID, but they let us have it [the old system] for an additional several years.”
Although the new system was meant to improve students’ ability to do laundry, some say the process has become more of a chore. An early issue with the new system was due to accessibility issues. Students who did not have smartphones were not able to use the app, but this issue has been addressed.
“We did have some concerns because not all of our students have a cellphone, some also have the flip phones, so the company actually gave us a kiosk at their expense, and it allows students to use a debit or credit card,” Foster Said.
However, some issues remain, with resident Diarra King experiencing glitches with the app.
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“It will not work,” Diarra King. “It will say a machine is taken and it isn’t, and vice versa.”
Even with the issues, Foster says the Housing Office hasn’t received any formal complaints regarding the machines. Whether or not students agree, Foster says they will need to be open to change, because more is coming.
“At the end of 2027, is when they are going to be replacing machines, now the pricing is going to be going up because Troy,” Foster continued. “We are one of the schools that are a $1.50, the other schools for the company or $1.75 or more so I’m sure eventually the price will go up.”
The last time Troy’s Housing Office made a big change to its laundry system was back in 2015 when the university introduced the option to pay for laundry services via cellphones.
