need on advice on daycare payment not authorised

[Visitor7]

A few weeks ago I made an enquiry with Nina's daycare about sending Emily there as well. They let me know how much and the what forms to fill out, and I said that I may look at enrolling her sometime this month. DH & I then decided not to, and nothing was done about it.
I got a phone call from the director this morning. She wanted to let me know that they acccidentially didn't put the CCB on Emily's fees, so the fees coming out by direct deposit this week are the full fees. Ummm, she's not even going there! I let the director know that she wasn't going, and she informed me that they have her starting on the 26th November I again told her that she wasn't going, I had changed my mind, and that no enrolment forms were handed in.
She then said that it's 'too late' to cancel the direct deposit, and that there will be a credit on my account!
I can't afford for this to go through this week, and the accounts are separate for each child, which would mean there's a credit sitting there for a child that doesn't even attend.
What can I do? I don't want to let this happen, I can't. We can't afford it. No forms were handed in, therefore no authorisation was made to do the direct deposit.
Somebody help please!

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Call your bank and tell them not to allow it. Will they take out separate amounts for the girls, or all in one lump sum?

It may be too late to stop it on their side, but it should never have been started - why on earth would they set up payments for a child who hasn't enrolled?! Not smart on their side

[Mum2Romone]

call the director and let her know that the funds aren't available and she does not have permission to charge you for this.
You made a simple enquiry and they jumped the gun
I'd also empty my bank account if that's what i had to do to stop her taking money needed elsewhere

[toomanyshoes]

Call your bank, if you haven't handed in any forms they have no right to do that. So not on!

I'm sick of hearing the good ol' "oh it's too late now" when it comes to direct deposit, companies think they can take your money when they have no right to it and your meant to "suck it up" but watch out if you under pay!

[Visitor7]

From what she was telling me, it'll be a different transaction. I'm calling my bank now.
M2R - I did let her know that we can't afford this, we don't have the funds, and her response was 'oh sorry, it's too late now'. I'm not backing down from this!

[Just Me]

Glad that you are not backing down! It is wrong on so many levels. If you have no luck with other avenues, contact the ACCC and see what they say. At the very least they will record a strike against the centre for breaking the law as they are in breach.

I hope you get it sorted out. It's not fair that you have to spend time stressing about this and sorting it out

[Visitor7]

I just found out that they have now started charging me $0.88 for each direct deposit transaction. In their parents handbook, it clearly states "parents who use the direct debit payment method will be required to pay the banks service fee of $0.00". I just called the bank and they don't charge for direct debits on my account! grrrr! I know it's only $0.88 a week, but that's still MY $0.88!!!!

I'm calling the director again.

ETA: Update
Why does it take almost yelling to someone to get it through their thick head that this is wrong!!! After a not so very phone from myself, the director has finally managed to cancel the payment and she 'thinks it should have cancelled'. It had better of cancelled! And I've told her I refuse the pay the $0.88 fee and to do something about it.

I need some chocolate now.

[shellbell3]

Good on you Jodi. Those sorta things make me angry, they're always so quick to grab your money but it always seems to be a battle to get whats owed to you.
Its so wrong too them doing the whole thing without any forms or agreements handed in, plus don't you have to sign something agreeing to DD? I know you wouldve signed for nina but I wouldve thought you wouldve had to agree to something with Emily too and sign?

[Just Me]

Absolutely amazing that she can cancel it now when she couldn't before because 'it's too late'

I feel annoyed on your behalf. It is so wrong!

[Cupcake]

How can they have even used your bank details on another child other then the one they have enrolled? Thats a bit illegal isnt it?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

That's a point, technically they shouldn't have had your bank details, as you hadn't enrolled her. Obviously they've gotten them from her sisters file, but that's illegal!

Good on you Jodi

[Visitor7]

She apologised!! The director apologised to me this morning, realising she stuffed up. AND, I get my $0.88 back

[Cass72]

Just sticking my nose in here................

I'm glad you got your $0.88 back too! You say that it's not a lot but consider how many children are enrolled and how many people are getting that additional amount deducted from their accounts. That works out to be an additional $45.76 per year per child - assuming that the centre has at least 50 children attending (which is probably way understated) that's $2,288 per year!!!!!!

[Floweryfields]

It is actually illegal to claim CCB for a child if they are absent for either their first or last days of attendance, most likely due to situations like this one. So the centre should not have any intention of that to begin with. Why do they have bank account details for you? I would be ringing the director and telling her that you will be coming in to collect the money back in a cash refund. I have accidentally had this happen for someone who changed their minds too - and I just refunded the amount in cash to the family - no big deal really.

[Floweryfields]

Just sticking my nose in here................

I'm glad you got your $0.88 back too! You say that it's not a lot but consider how many children are enrolled and how many people are getting that additional amount deducted from their accounts. That works out to be an additional $45.76 per year per child - assuming that the centre has at least 50 children attending (which is probably way understated) that's $2,288 per year!!!!!!

Just to clarify though, the centre doesn't get that .88c, it's the direct debit company that does.

[Visitor7]

It is actually illegal to claim CCB for a child if they are absent for either their first or last days of attendance, most likely due to situations like this one. So the centre should not have any intention of that to begin with. Why do they have bank account details for you? I would be ringing the director and telling her that you will be coming in to collect the money back in a cash refund. I have accidentally had this happen for someone who changed their minds too - and I just refunded the amount in cash to the family - no big deal really.

They have my bank details as my other daughter goes there. They were able to cancel it in time, so fortunately no fees were taken out for her