QUESTION:
Is it more advisable to set up individual items or will scheduled payments offer more flexibility for parents? And what is the best choice for reporting?
Note: This feature cannot be used for unlisted items or public items.
RESPONSE:
If you decide to create separate items, ensure they have the same start date to allow a parent the opportunity to pay one or as many as they want to. Downside for the school is that a report would need to be run for each item. This will require collation to determine whether a student has paid all pieces to the fee.
Scheduled Payments provides flexibility to parents and provides one report to help identify who has not paid the fee in full.
SchoolCash Online includes an option to “Pay in full today”. In addition, the number of installments will default to the maximum, and users will have the ability to schedule a single future installment for the full amount.
Recurrence
Recurrence can be activated on a monthly basis or using custom selections.
Monthly Frequency
Payments is processed on the first of the month. This setting requires a maximum number of payments and the entry of a last payment date. The program will inform user if the maximum number exceeds last payment date set.
Custom Recurrence
The custom recurrence selection allows for frequency and first payment flexibility. This selection requires entry of a last payment date.
Twice a Month Frequency
The new frequency will create a payment plan that processes two payments a month. When selected, payments will be processed on the 1st and 15th of every month within the First and Last payment dates. Below is a screenshot of the new SchoolCash Catalog settings.
Collect Past Due Installments at the Time of Purchase
Turning this feature ON will schedule any past due installments to be processed overnight after the item is purchased. Enabling the feature allows parents to "catch up" on previous payments to the date of purchase. The following payment amounts will remain.
The option is OFF by default and does not change current scheduled payments.
Default to Maximum Number of Installments
Items that allow scheduled payments will now have the maximum number of installments selected instead of “Pay in full today”. In the sample below, the option to pay in nine installments will be selected when users purchase the item. Users will still be able to reduce the number of installments or pay in full if they choose to do so.
SchoolCash Online Single Installment Option
SchoolCash Online users can schedule the full amount to be paid on the next installment date instead of paying immediately or paying with multiple installments. To select the single installment option, they simply select 1 as the number of payments.
Pay In Full Today
Activating the Enable "Pay in full today" option toggle will allow a parent to select the radio button and not a number from the number of payments drop-down
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Scheduled Payments - Twice a Month Frequency Detailed
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