Fed up about subs

[roving_guider]

Not that i think problem parents should escape completely, especially if others who aren't well off are paying but what about trying to speak to hall owners to see if you can pay less because of the small number of girls and/or grant from local council if you're in deprived area?

[gillmack]

We get the girls to pay weekly and also they have the option for cencus to pay that up every week. Thats an extra £1 a week. My guide company has mixed backgrounds.

[Anonymous]

We did already talk to the church and they have been helpful - not sure we could get them to do a lot more.

The thing is, I have said from about the 1st week back that parents can pay in installments and they have either promised to do so but then not come up with it, or done nothing about it.

I'm writing a letter today as follows:

Dear parent

I am writing to you because some parents, including you, have not paid any subs this term. The subs that families pay are essential to the running of the unit. These subs go towards the rent of our hall, the annual payment per girl (“Census”) that we must make to GirlGuiding UK to be members of the organisation, to be insured and to have the use of their resources, badges, materials for meetings, and administration costs among other things.

The amount owing for this term is £X and in addition we are owed __________ by you for outings which consists of

Unfortunately to be fair to the other girls in the unit we cannot have girls attending who are not paying subs. I am therefore reluctantly asking you to bring me at least part payment for this term before the next meeting or I will not be able to allow your daughter to attend until payment is made.
Please could you bring to my house (address above) before the meeting at least £Y, which is slightly more than the cost for two meetings. I will then expect that the same amount is paid at each following meeting this term and next in order to clear your backlog for this term.

Once that is done, we will be able to arrange that you pay in installments at each meeting. Unfortunately we do have to charge the full amount even when girls do not attend as rent, Census, and resources are the same whether girls attend or not.
Also, if you have not paid for Z outing by the next meeting, I will assume that your daughter no longer wishes to come, and will offer her space to another girl.
I am very sorry to have to do this but as a small unit, our budget is extremely tight and we cannot afford for girls not to pay. We have a great group of girls this term and we are all enjoying ourselves, so we do hope she will continue to be able to attend.

Thank you

My Name

(I am owed for second hand uniform by one mum but am leaving that out for the moment, and another one asked me to let her know when I had some to try on, but I will take a couple of things along to the meeting and if it doesn't fit, but she has brought subs, we can sort out trying it on - subs are a priority I think and uniform can come next).

[catdrew]

i would be inclined to not offer uniform or trips to these 2 girls until you get some subs money.

we had a couple who pay for trips but not for subs which is wrong. also had a couple of bounced cheques.

you got to be tough with them or they walk over you. if you have a waiting list tell the parents that because you havent received any money their places will go to new girls.

[Anonymous]

I have no waiting list (hence the small unit) though there are a couple not yet old enough who will start next term. But I'm hoping if they do leave I might not get charged census.

We can manage financially quite OK if everyone actually pays their bloomin' subs!

[Barmy Barny]

RE the census. I believe that you should only be charged for those girls who are on the books (active in Go language) on 22/2/10.
HTH

[Cazbly]

Good letter - go with it. It is always hard getting tough, but it has to be done.
You just have to keep in sight that you are being fair by a larger number of people by taking this kind of action.

[laughingowl]

It may seem hard but it is important that they pay. At Breakfast/ after school club they wouldn't take it!

[Anonymous]

Not a penny so far has appeared through my door!

I suspect 2 will keep their girls away (and may not even turn up to our remaining outing) and the third will turn up bold as brass claiming a) not to have any money At All (so why did she ask for a place for both her and daughter on outing? am assuming having no money is not new!) and b) not to have got the letter.

[fenris]

Well if she hasn't any money to pay her 'fare' on the bus, you can't let her board, can you? Although it may be hard to do, if you forewarn your staff that that is the position, then they can support you. If your Commissioner happened to be there, then she could help to back you up too . . .