What to do about fines/dues?

[AGDLynn]

I was at a campus Greek org. advisor's meeting and one of the groups wanted to discuss how orgs. handle when a member or members owe money to the org.

One school may withohold class registration and/or other campus privileges revoked. However, some schools may have a problem with that since org. dues/fines are not connected with the actual school.

Collection sevices were mentioned although some may charge a set price for services.

Just wondering how other campuses and/or individual orgs. handle this.

[TexasOphiA]

Fines and fees are part of fufilling membership requirements. If requirements arent fufilled, then suspension or diassociation is an option in some cases.

We just had an issue with people paying a fee, and luckily everyone paid up. But if they weren't going to pay, they weren't able to have priveledges of an active sister.

[Kevin]

My chapter uses Omega Financial to collect dues/fees. They do take a fee off the top but it's well worth it.

They do send delinquent members (at your chapter's request) off to a collection agency. They do provide you with an excellent collections solution. The amount that they charge was explained to me as a percentage rate that aims to charge your organization $35 per semester for each member on your roster (although it's done by some mathematical formula that they'll provide to you and readjust at your request).

You should also never rule out small claims court to collect what's owed to you (depending on your state). You'll need to make new members sign some kind of contract acknowledging that they owe these dues/fees and keep lots of records.

[DWAlphaGam]

We did social probation for unpaid dues and/or fines. Sisters still had to go to meetings and mandatory events, but they weren't allowed to go to formals, date parties, sisterhood dinners, etc. This didn't happen too frequently, but when it does, they usually coughed up the money around date party/formal time so they could go.

[astroAPhi]

kt, I have a question.

Many of the fraternities here have international members. Sometimes, when these students leave a group, they seem to be able to get away with not paying for dues that they owe because of their non-citizen status. Is there anyway to get international students to pay up the money they owe?

Thanks.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
kt, I have a question.

Many of the fraternities here have international members. Sometimes, when these students leave a group, they seem to be able to get away with not paying for dues that they owe because of their non-citizen status. Is there anyway to get international students to pay up the money they owe?

Thanks.

When I was treasurer, we had a brother from Japan who was offered a very prestigious role in the America-Japan summit in Washington (I think he heads it up now). He left in the middle of the semester with a $96 dollar charge on his account. I believe that we as a chapter voted to just let it go. It was not intentional on his part. He still emails from time to time. I wouldn't be surprised for Sigma Nu to someday have to add his name to the list of famous alums. When I was treasurer, I hounded everyone so much that they pretty much stayed on top of getting their stuff paid. In the case of a few guys that left with tabs, you just kind of have to write them off as the cost of doing business Omega Fi is still trying to collect on 'em along with umpteen other collection agencies.

It might help to do a presentation every few months to show members what it costs them when their fellow members don't pay dues. When it becomes tangible like that, folks seem to take more notice.

I always kept a list posted in the house of anyone that was 30 days past due. They weren't allowed to come around, park at the house or do ANYTHING unless they were there to pay. Worked pretty well

If your international members are still in the area, you could file a claim against them in small claims court. In our active chapter, the current treasurer is pursuing this with some members currently. I'll let ya'll know how that works out.

[SplitzSTG]

With the rising cost of tuition, and financial aid not cutting it anymore, our chapter understands that there may sometimes be problems in making full payment all the time. One way we help with that is by breaking up Dues into installment payments. If there is still a problem paying, our VP of Finance is very understanding to each situation. We all sign promisary notes at the beginning of each school year, and although extensions on payment are common, all brothers understand that payment is still due.

We have been able to do this as a result of very successful fund raisers.

We have, however gone so far as to dis-associate a founding father for continued non payment.

So I think it depends on the overall financial status of the individual chapter on how these issues are handled.

[bonelifer]

If a member of our chapter owes money and they are having trouble paying, they are required to speak with the Executive Council about the situation. If they don't or aren't oweing to their responsibilities, they go on probation. If they then don't start to make restitutions they are suspended. Also if they make it obvious they are no willing to pay no matter the situation, then this could lead to permanent EXPULSION, which entails notifying national headquarters by written letter so that they remove their name from the Chapters National Roster.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by bonelifer
If a member of our chapter owes money and they are having trouble paying, they are required to speak with the Executive Council about the situation. If they don't or aren't oweing to their responsibilities, they go on probation. If they then don't start to make restitutions they are suspended. Also if they make it obvious they are no willing to pay no matter the situation, then this could lead to permanent EXPULSION, which entails notifying national headquarters by written letter so that they remove their name from the Chapters National Roster.

Most national organizations have policies like that. The unfortunate thing is that few of us follow through. You really have to have an exec with the intestinal fortitude to see something like that through. Your chapter members need to understand that freeloaders cost them money out of pocket.

[AGDAlum]

I was finance adviser to a collegiate chapter and we had our share of members with delinquent accounts. Since only a third of the members lived in the house, "denying privileges" (social probation) or peer pressure weren't always an effective incentive.

I'd impose a two/four/six weeks overdue policy and then refer the account to a collection agency. No ifs, ands, or buts.

More importantly, I would have a new member program on chapter finances -- given by the treasurer, the finance adviser, and the house corporation treasurer. Information to be presented: not only what each member's responsibilities are, but the chapter budget for the year and the house corp financial picture. Also the schedule of fines.

I'd also send that information to new members' parents. Even if the members are paying their own way, sending that information to the parents can't hurt. In fact, if the chapter is soundly managed then the parents should be impressed.

Finally, I think that "managing your money" is a good topic for a chapter program. (Maybe a Panhellenic program?) We hear how school kids learn so little about budgeting. Those that didn't get it by high school don't magically understand once they matriculate.

I remember an incident in the late 70's when the chapter to which I was an adviser was had a heated discussion about raising dues by $5 a month, or $45 per year. The collegians were protesting mightily. I asked them to look at their shoes and consider how much they'd paid for them. Even back then, most had paid more than $45.

[James]

If we are brothers/sisters why do we have to pay lol?

I would take two apporaches similar to what has already been mentioned.

One is public humiliation. I would have either/or a big poster board made up that tracks how current everyone is and have it as the first thing people see when they enter the room. I would distribute a fact sheet with everyone's exact financial staus at the beginning of each meeting, and make that the first item on the agenda. If you aren't paid up at the bginning of each event, you can't attend.

A lot of times people can avoid paying dues because people don't officially know how behind they are. And they don't see it consistantly enough.

Another thing to look at is the relevance of your programming. We lose a lot fo interest from people junior and senior years and I can't help but sympthize with people that don't feel that the chapter is meeting their needs anymore because a lot of the programing is geared for freshmen and sophomores.

Keep in mind also that there are often two kinds of delinquent accounts: The guy that just stops coming to anything, and Mr./Ms. Social that comes to everything, is everyone's best friend but somehow never has dues money.

I think the second person is more dangerous than the first.

Also you might want to think of creating a paid inactive status for people that just don't find the chapter relevant anymore. Committment is for life sure, so why expell them because they don't want to do the same things their senior year?

If some people don't want to play anymore let them pay the minumum national dues and insurance so they can graduate and still stay on the roster. If they want to come to some stuff from time to time make them pay a set fee.

We need to stop punishing people for our own failures in social programming.

I was appalled at how bad the retention is from Pledge class to sernior year in some of our larger Greek Systems. Especially among the Sororities. Thats a programming failure.