GreekBill

golfygal · #1 02-09-2007, 07:48 PM

Has anyone heard of GreekBill? the website is www.greekbill.com it looks helpful but I wanted to see if anyone has info.

Thanks!!

Bob Dole · #2 02-10-2007, 01:02 AM

We've tried it for two semesters and it is not worth it. We have yet to see any of the money that they guarantee that they can collect. They send info to collection agencies and then just give you the run around. May I suggest PayPal?

amanda6035 · #3 02-10-2007, 08:03 AM

use Omega Financial. www.omegafi.com

AnatraAmore · #4 02-10-2007, 08:26 PM

Our National started requiring us to use the Automated Bill Highway (APH) last year and since then, I can't even describe how much easier it is to collect dues. APH has done wonders for my chapter - a group that previously struggled with sisters not paying until the end of the semester, not having money to pay bills when we needed it, etc. It is very simple to use, includes all of the reports that you could need, and the customer service has been excellent. They invoice members monthly and you can set up payment plans for individual members on the system and if a member should neglect their financial obligation, sending them to collections is simple and straightforward and as easy as calling APH since they have all of the information necessary already.

You can check them out at www.billhighway.com. I know that there are lots of threads about using services like this and I now understand why most chapters benefit from them...

EE-BO · #5 02-11-2007, 01:25 PM

The cheap Greekbill plan does not actively pursue collections at all. $15 per member per semester to basically just send a bill. They will send a couple of demand letters for delinquency, but that did nothing for our chapter.

The more expensive version does include more aggressive collections according to the person we spoke to on the phone, but the cost was much higher and did not seem worth it.

I have heard good things about Omega, but we have not looked at them yet.

Frankly, I think these are helpful- but unnecessary services. The real trick is to have alumni, a Housing Board preferably, that helps a chapter draft up leases and chapter dues commitments that the parents sign as well in a guarantor or personal guarantee capacity. Then you can go after Mom and Dad if the member drops out and stops paying.

That is a much more effective approach, especially when Mom or Dad hold a state license as part of their profession. In these cases, you can report the bad debt to their state licensing board- and that is a good way to get pretty quick collection results...

Edit- I should note, for practical purposes it is not a good idea to plan on going after parents for the money in every case. If someone just quits and is paid up when they leave- or close to it- then it is best to just leave it be. Not even GreekBill is going to collect in those kinds of situations most of the time. Reserve this kind of action for people who leave owing any past due rent or a lot of dues for semesters already past (but of course with strict adherence to rules and social suspension for late payers- you won't have people get this far in debt in the first place.)

amanda6035 · #6 02-11-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EE-BO

Frankly, I think these are helpful- but unnecessary services. The real trick is to have alumni, a Housing Board preferably, that helps a chapter draft up leases and chapter dues commitments that the parents sign as well in a guarantor or personal guarantee capacity. Then you can go after Mom and Dad if the member drops out and stops paying.

Yeah, because it's SOOOO EASY to go after mom and dad and force them to pay.

I like the threat of being sent to collections. I think the threat is one thing that forces people to pay-up. because if you just say "we're going to go after mom and dad" it makes it very difficult for a chapter. Besides what if Mom and dad don't own a business? Then what?

Fees might be a pain in the tush, but i think its not only worth it, but necessary to pay, because you DO have a higher collection rate than what you would if you just begged and pleaded members to pay.

EE-BO · #7 02-11-2007, 04:09 PM

When you have attorneys and business owners who are active alumni, it is very easy to go after people in the right way on your own. However, that does assume such people are in place. If they are not, then a service like GreekBill or Omega might make sense.

I just wanted to point out there are alternatives, and also that the cheapest plans do not get one the best service. Current officers in my chapter (where I am now an advisor) were told when they called GreekBill that our plan did not include sending people to collections.

When I was active in my chapter, we did not have any outside service at all. It was real simple, if you did not pay your rent in the house- the legal procedures for eviction required in the state of Texas were initiated. Period. The Housing Corporation did not tolerate people who would not pay their rent. That is part of the deal when alumni drop millions on a house and then take time from their personal lives to manage it and make ongoing investments as needed.

Dues were the same. If you did not pay your dues, you were suspended from social events. And if you got a semester in arrears without a legitimate financial hardship, you had a choice of resigning or going through an internal procedure that could result in losing your roll number. If a guy had legitimate financial issues, the chapter could go with other alternatives, but a deadbeat without an excuse lost his roll number. Period.

There is something to be said for using a very basic Greekbill service to send a professional invoice home and get it paid. It can be very helpful- and whether it is worth the expense is up to the chapter.

However, it is dangerous to assume that such a service provides more guarantees of collection than are actually the case. Rent is one thing- but social dues in a fraternity are another.

Ultimately, if a chapter is having a serious problem with collecting dues- the solution is not to spend more money on a billing service, but to take a close hard look at why people are not paying their dues.

Do members not feel they are getting their money's worth?

Are a lot of the people being initiated not telling their parents and then trying to pay their dues out of their monthly allowance or student loans? (which almost never ends up happening given the size of the average college student's budget)

Are some members seeing other members get by with not paying on time and feel they have a right to do the same? (this is a big one!)

These are the kinds of problems that have to be addressed at the front end, not after the fact.

Again, for administrative purposes there is value in these billing services. But if collections are a serious problem, it is dangerous to assume these services will get you all that money at little to no cost.

Standard first placement collections fees are 30-50% of the amount to be collected (first placement meaning they are the first agency to attempt collection of funds.) So why would any service out there do a full collection on a $400-2,000 dues bill when they are only being paid $15 per semester per active to do billing AND "collection" procedures?

If you take away the trouble cases and send them to another agency as a second placement- the collection commission goes up, as high as 80% since it is unlikely the debt will be paid.

So here you are actually in a worse situation than if you handled collections internally.

There is not any big conspiracy here- but retaining a billing and collections service is a serious step. And a contract should be carefully reviewed by an alumnus with some legal and/or financial experience.

The danger I see is chapters just signing up with these companies and going with the cheapest plan assuming all will be okay. This is not something wrong with the companies in question- the details will all be in the contract and it is the chapter's duty to make sure what they are getting is what they think they are getting.

Kevin · #8 02-14-2007, 12:25 PM

Some states allow for a contract to specify that the debtor will pay any reasonable collection fees incurred. When I was treasurer, I always warned people that if they were sent to collections, a 30% penalty (the collection fee of OmegaFi) would be assessed on top of whatever they owed.

I agree, collections is a drastic step, but on occasion, they are a godsend for the overworked (and underpaid) officers.

shinerbock · #9 02-14-2007, 12:42 PM

I dunno, we just pay Omega so we don't have to deal with it. Plus its in Columbus and I've heard an Auburn alum started it.

Tom Earp · #10 02-14-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

Some states allow for a contract to specify that the debtor will pay any reasonable collection fees incurred. When I was treasurer, I always warned people that if they were sent to collections, a 30% penalty (the collection fee of OmegaFi) would be assessed on top of whatever they owed.

I agree, collections is a drastic step, but on occasion, they are a godsend for the overworked (and underpaid) officers.

Kevin true about underpaid officers.

We as a Chapter went through the payment to the Treasure. But being a Brother, it seemed to be hard to ask for the money and then not getting it still!

H C decided to take over payments and contracts then write a check to Treasurer.

It ended up as one of our sharpest finance Alums came up with Omega, we voted on the best way to go. It is a cotract written and signed by both the member and parents who will have to be responsible for monies owed. Why should this be any different than paying college monies owed?

It is a debt owed, period. Is that harsh? No, because if a member does not pay His/her monies, the other Brothers/Sisters have to pay for it. Now, where is the sympathy for them who may not have it?

If money is late, then it should be taken as Kevin said, they are not allowed to come to any and all functions until money is paid.

Unless LXA is so different than any other GLOs, you still have to send Dues to IHQ for every member listed.

So, where does the bottom line come down to?

The Chapter who will be hurt or the member who is not paying?

macallan25 · #11 02-14-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I dunno, we just pay Omega so we don't have to deal with it. Plus its in Columbus and I've heard an Auburn alum started it.

We do the Omega thing as well.

ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl · #12 02-21-2007, 02:32 AM

A few of us have discussed it with the guys around here (apparently it's a heated issue)...and I don't see why it's necessary, if a chapter has reprecussions for not paying on time. Sometimes a sister or a brother has to choose between rent and dues...and they should be paying rent, that's fine. But some want to choose between a new pair of shoes and dues. I have no patience for this second group, but for our girls that rarely happens, because we make it clear that paying on time is an important requirement for being a sister. If you aren't paying (and don't have a good reason, like you are genuinely out of money for the time being and have rent to pay and books to buy for classes), then you don't get to do the same things everyone else does, like enjoy the social activities or have a sister-daughter, or hold office...but you are STILL required to fulfill all requirements that the chapter holds you to. For most people, this is just not a very desirable situation to be in.

I think financial responsibilities should be treated as TOTALLY non optional except for those in extreme circumstances. It's disrespectful to not pay dues for a frivilous reason. I say it's a slap in the face to your sisters...that your need for a new tv, an Ipod, or new shoes is more important than being a true sister and fulfilling your obligations to them. It's pretty easy to tell the difference between someone who has a legit excuse and someone who doesn't.

ZTAmillz · #13 02-23-2007, 03:18 PM

ZTA is just filling in the paperwork to move to Bill Highway in the Fall. It should be intresting. ALL chapter money (dues, tshirts, formal, etc) has to be paid by the due date or the company charges a 5% late fee.

As an advisor, I am trying to make sure that all members hear and understand the policies NOW. It will force sisters to budget thier money just like the real world. We shall see how it turns out. I know our treasurer is thrilled that her job will be much easier and all online.

kjlsu · #14 07-13-2007, 11:42 PM

Even though we are a big chapter we started on the GreekBill lite service to try and save some money. We were advised that the lite service was created for smaller chapters so they could have the access to member management tools and basic billing services without collections. After seeing all their full service had to offer.....we upgraded and could not be happier. I don't see how a big chapter can bill, budget and track all changes. Our members(mostly parents) have been very happy that they can not view their accounts, what they are being charged, and most of all when they paid and how much 24 hours a day online. I know this has saved me countless hours answering questions.

I would recommend any chapter to use GreekBill.....If big do the full service....If smaller do the lite but know that you are getting a savings for a reason and they can not offer everything at this low price. Our chapter rep is Gina and she is great.

BabyPiNK_FL · #15 07-14-2007, 02:20 AM

my chapter switched to APH last year. i don't know if this has changed (i haven't paid summer dues yet) but you can't pay with credit card unless you're like 30 days late. you have to grab a check and void it. (this can get really annoying to type out all that). I HATE it. i know it's supposed to be beneficial to the chapter, but people still pay when they have the money (as opposed to on time) and i miss being able to pass the check or cash at meeting and that being the end of it.

on the other hand, there have been chapters at my school who've lost thousands of dollars to shady treasurers. thankfully we haven't had that, but all the same, i think i'd prefer something else than APH. one benefit to it is that the late fees are not ridiculously expensive (which is why we STILL don't get around to those dues...) lol, being broke all the time...what an experience. (tomorrow i'm going to put a whopping $7 of gas that i begged off of family members in my car!)