[SeaPrincess]

Does anyone know how/if I can opt out of direct debit payments for daycare?
Or who I can speak to about this because I am not having any success with our daycare.

I'll try to make this short:
DD started in July and our weekly rate is $148, which was debited once at the end of the first week.
For 2 months they debited once a fortnight but only $150, so we got well behind and got charged late fees of $10 (which may or may not have been reversed)
All other payments have been irregular and range from $100 to $638, which was last week, and apparently the result of them not debiting me at all for the past 5 weeks.
Currently I am in credit $134, which I suspect is 1 day and 6x $10 late fees.

I've already tried twice to opt out but the owner told me that's the only form of payment they will accept.

This post has been edited by SeaPrincess: 19/12/2012, 12:31 AM

[feliz6]

I recently had a gym membership I needed to cancel. I sent a no. Of written requests via mail and email. When they didn't respond I cancelled the direct debit through my bank. So, if you wanted to stop the direct debit payment you could talk to your bank. That doesn't help with the payment of fees though. Do you know if any others use a different payment method?

This post has been edited by feliz6: 19/12/2012, 03:35 AM

[songshirah]

I'm not sure, but I do think it's highly cheeky of them to not take out what they should, and then charge you late fees!!

[SeaPrincess]

I do have the contact details of one other parent who I could ask. Last time I discussed it with her (after I received a bill for over $1,000 which they told me not to worry about because I'm on direct debit), she told me she pays cash weekly.

I know they've had issues with the office manager and now have a new one, but I'm picking up a 3rd work day, so I just want it sorted out before DD starts the extra day.

[SeaPrincess]

I'm not sure, but I do think it's highly cheeky of them to not take out what they should, and then charge you late fees!!

When I asked about this a while ago, she said they're charged automatically, but she would reverse them. But since then they've not charged me for at least another 6 weeks.

[duck-o-lah]

I would be quite forceful about the situation, it's unacceptable. If it is the only form of payment they will take then they have a duty to make sure those payments are processed correctly.

I'm sure it's not the only method they will accept, our daycare sent a letter out saying they were making DD mandatory and I simply refused to sign up to it. I didn't have any issues whatsoever. Good luck.

[sarahs_three]

Could you maybe use centrepay if you get a benifit from clink? I know my daycare fees are what I set it as, they only differ or stop if I request it.

[SeaPrincess]

I would be quite forceful about the situation, it's unacceptable. If it is the only form of payment they will take then they have a duty to make sure those payments are processed correctly.

I'm sure it's not the only method they will accept, our daycare sent a letter out saying they were making DD mandatory and I simply refused to sign up to it. I didn't have any issues whatsoever. Good luck.

I've sent an email today requesting a statement, reiterating the fact that it is unacceptable to me and that if it is not resolved I will insist on ceasing direct debit payments (I'll cancel my card if I have to). I've also spoken to DEEWR who have given me an email address to send the statement to and they will follow it up.

It makes no sense to me - we don't get CCB and I get CCR paid quarterly, so we are paying full fees with no variation. It should be an easy account to manage.

[Madnesscraves]

That's a real pain in the butt OP. they have a responsibility to process payment correctly.

Now, be warned, if you refuse DD, they can refuse a spot for her. I'd suggest trying to sort thigs out with admin, of course the most civil you can be, the more likely they'll comply. I'd only bother getting cranky at them when they don't offer solutions at the end.

Other step, talk to Fair trading (NSW) dept. they can note on the daycare file they eff up payments and aren't helping out Fair trading can liaise between you and the daycare if they are refusing to speak to you.

Hope it works out OP.

[SeaPrincess]

I spoke to the owner this morning. Copy of account in hand - amount owing is 1 week's fees, which will come out on Friday and from now on, this should be the normal process.

I also explained about the late fees and she is going to go back and make sure that they have been deducted.

Of course the old manager got the blame for the whole thing - they didn't part on the best of terms.