BMG 2021 Business Notice

2021 Business Notice Bacchus Marsh Grammar CONTENTS - Page 21 - Responsibility for all amounts owing subsists with both parents/ guardians throughout the attendance of their child/ren at the School irrespective of what may happen to the relationship (if any) of the parents/ guardians (refer above regarding split billing arrangements in the case of relationship breakdown). While it is acknowledged that changes in marital and family relationships can occur during the period of a child’s enrolment, which may lead to a mutually agreed change to school fee responsibility or an agreement to split the fee account, the School regards the acceptance of financial liability under the enrolment agreement and Conditions of Enrolment as legally binding. As such, the School reserves the right to pursue either or both parents/guardians with regard to outstanding school fees in accordance with its legal rights. Furthermore, should the matter proceed to debt collection, students may be withdrawn from the school until such time as payment issues are resolved to the satisfaction of the School. Note - Non-payment of enrolment fees, tuition and or any other payments or charges, may result in the child’s position at the School being terminated (refer also to the Conditions of Enrolment for further details). 7.3 Debt Collection Policy The Bacchus Marsh Grammar Board authorises the Business Manager and the Principal to take any necessary steps to recover outstanding fees. The School will take the following course of action in the event that fees are not paid by the due date or instalment payments are not made by the required date. The Principal has the discretion to waive the debt collection procedures for parents/guardians who have contacted the School and have a legitimate reason for not making payments when they are due e.g. financial difficulty. Action Timing of the Action Admin Fee School will send a Reminder After fees are not paid by the due date. Nil School will send a Second Reminder After fees are not paid by 7 days after due date. $50 School will send a Final Reminder After fees are not paid by 14 days after due date. $50 Debt Collection Procedures will commence If the Final Reminder is ignored. $100 Legal Action If the Debt Collection procedures prove unsuccessful. Legal Fees Charged 7.3.1 Administration Fee The School reserves the right to charge an Administrative Fee to parents/guardians for overdue accounts or for breaches of an approved Payment Plan. 1. Each time the School issues a Second Reminder or Final Reminder, an Administration Fee of $50 will be applied to the relevant account unless satisfactory financial arrangements have been formally agreed to by the School. 2. An administration fee of $100 will be charged when an account has been referred for Debt Collection. 3. An Administration Fee of $50 will apply for each occasion a parent/guardian defaults on an instalment unless the reason for the default is an administrative error on behalf of the School. These amounts will be billed to the parent/guardian account. Non-payment of the Administrative Fees will be considered non-payment of fees for the purposes of the operation of the Debt Collection Policy. 7.3.2 Debt Collection Fees Parents/guardians will be responsible for the payment of all legal fees incurred by the School for the recovery of outstanding debts. These charges will be billed to the account when advised to the School. 7.3.3 Financial Arrangements In special circumstances, the School will consider requests from parents/guardians who are unable to pay the fees in accordance with the Debt Collection Policy due to medical, financial or domestic circumstances that may require compassionate consideration. Under these circumstances, the School may agree to enter into a formal financial agreement where (a) repayment of fees can be deferred or (b) an alternative payment schedule can be arranged. Note such arrangements do not alter contractual arrangement between the parties pursuant to the Enrolment Agreement and the School reserves the right to pursue its full legal rights against the parents/guardians at any time with reasonable notice, notwithstanding the existence of such alternative financial arrangements, should it choose to do so. 1. Parents/guardians must apply for financial arrangements in writing to the Principal. 2. Financial arrangements are entirely at the discretion of the Principal.