Parent Handbook - PAYMENT OF FEES POLICY

The purpose of this Policy is to provide a framework under which the St Morris Community Child Care Centre Inc., and its Director, can protect the financial viability of the Centre by ensuring the prompt payment of family fees, and the successful collection of any outstanding monies.

PAYMENT OF FEES:
It is required that all families pay their child care fees either weekly or fortnightly, unless special arrangements have been made with the Director, in writing, that the fees may be paid monthly.

DEFINITIONS:
An account is Overdue when
                - the amount owing is greater than two weeks of the family fee
An account is Outstanding when
                - the amount paid in any four week period is less than 50% of the total due, or
                - no payment has been made for a period of six weeks
                - there is money owing after a child has left the Centre

OVERDUE/OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS:
The following procedure will apply to all overdue/outstanding accounts :-

Step 1.    Letter to be sent requesting that the overdue account be paid or contact the Director if they have a problem meeting payment

Step 2.    If no response to step one, the Director shall inform the Treasurer. The Treasurer will send a letter requesting contact be made with the Director within seven days, or this matter will be put into the hands of the Collection Agency, and the child’s/children’s place/s cancelled.

Step 3.   The Management Committee to be notified at the following meeting, that step 2 has been implemented.

Step 4.    The Management Committee to be notified at their following meeting, that step three has been implemented.

DEBT COLLECTION:
Where a family has failed to comply with requests for payment as noted above, the outstanding debt will be placed in the hands of a Collection Agency.

The Management Committee reserves the right to implement legal proceedings in cases where the Collection Agency was not successful in recovering outstanding monies.

RIGHT TO REFUSE CARE:

The Management Committee has the power to cancel a family's child care places within St Morris Community Child Care Centre Inc., and this action will be taken where a family has failed to comply with the Committee’s request for payment of an outstanding account.

The family will be given two weeks notice in writing that if their account is not paid in full their places will be cancelled and care refused. Families with outstanding accounts may be refused care for future children on the Centre’s waiting list.

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP:

Where a family is experiencing financial hardship they should contact the Director to discuss the problem and ascertain whether any special arrangements or assistance may be available.

The Executive of the Management Committee will be notified and reserves the right to make decisions regarding any special/appropriate arrangements.

 
RIGHT TO APPEAL:

If a family believes the decision of the Management Committee, or the Director, has been unjust or unreasonable, they have the right to state their objectives or appeal against a decision in writing within seven (7) days of being notified of such decision.

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