Registered User
Yeah it is dodgy as, although I was certain mine has consistently been what has been paid, not just what the fees are.
If the case if this, for example do people who get a 50% discount still get the full rebate seeing as there is apparently no record of them not paying that half?
(I should know this, but the last person I spoke to at CCMS said it was on the paid amounts so stuffed if I know)
Moderator
I was sure it was based on what was paid. I was using FDC and it was billed at the end of the month (Dec), so the last bill I paid was not till the next quarter (Jan) and I am sure that amount was in my (Apr) rebate.
Any centre I have been at has been adamant about being 2 weeks ahead with fees. So letting a family get $8000 behind is hard to comprehend, saying that though how do you turn away children when they are being dropped off?
Registered User
I can't understand how someone could get a debt as large as that either. I have to be a week ahead at all times in my fees, and I pay fortnightly. I could imagine someone being a few hundred dollars in debt if they miss a week or two payments, but I would assume after this they would have to forfeit their place in favour of a child whose parents were able to pay their fees.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
That says it all really. People are rorting the system because of leniant child care centres. If the centres refused services when fees aren't paid, then the attendance records wouldn't include that much that is unpaid.The arrangements child-care centres put in place around the payment of bills and whether they continue to offer their service to parents who owe significant debts, is a business decision for the centre," she said.
We only use registered care (preschool) so not sure if it's different, but I claim using payment receipts. Maybe the automated system for approved care is different? But it does come down to the centre itself cracking down on people paying their fees.
Registered User
yeah unfortunately it lands on the shoulders of the child care centre and how they manage non-paying families. they could pull their place - but at what point do they do that? the government pay the rebate on what the centre advise they have charged, not what has been paid. the child care centres have to put in usage statements to be able to claim CCB and it's on that basis that CCR is paid.
Registered User
Our centre requires a two week bond, and to be paid two weeks in advance at all times. Two weeks notice on leaving, which if you leave without giving notice, they will not return the bond and will use that to cover unpaid fees in the notice period. I don't know at want point they'd refuse to take the child with fees unpaid and I don't really want to find out either.
I get that there are parents doing what they can to rort the system, but the ability to do so comes from the centres allowing them to get so far behind in fees. I can understand them wanting to help families with financial difficulties, but $8000 in unpaid fees? That just seems to be poor business decisions, really.
BW
Registered User
Astrid I think it's a bit of both - there would undoubtedly be families doing it that tough that they leave without paying (embarrassment maybe?) and then there would be others who would deliberately rort the system and rip off centers. Maybe the only way around it is a register that the centers can use to list non-fee paying families so the new center can check them out and decide if they want to let those families attend or not. Afterall childcare is a business and if there are people out there who are doing the wrong thing then it just makes it so much harder for everyone else who does the right thing.
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