Admin fees for instalments

fiz7630

Daughters college using company to collect monies for bus card. payment is £12.38 a month for which they want to charge a further £6 each time admin fee. Is this allowed ? Its penalising parents that cannot afford to pay off in less instalments but 50% extra each time seems extortionate 

[Deleted User]

Yes, it's allowed. Consider if there's anyway she can pay up in front. Even putting it on a credit card would be more efficient. 

mattyprice4004

It seems high, can she not pay in quarterly instalments? 
Then it'd only be £6 on a £36 payment, much better.

user1977

And if it's only £12.38 a month, how short is the journey?

Tokmon

fiz7630 said:

Daughters college using company to collect monies for bus card. payment is £12.38 a month for which they want to charge a further £6 each time admin fee. Is this allowed ? Its penalising parents that cannot afford to pay off in less instalments but 50% extra each time seems extortionate 

It's only £148.56 a year. If your struggling to pay this off in one go then please go to the "Debt-Free Wannabee" part of the forum; it isn't only for people in debt they will be able to help you budget your money better for things like this.

user1977

Tokmon said:

fiz7630 said:

Daughters college using company to collect monies for bus card. payment is £12.38 a month for which they want to charge a further £6 each time admin fee. Is this allowed ? Its penalising parents that cannot afford to pay off in less instalments but 50% extra each time seems extortionate 

It's only £148.56 a year.

Presumably even less if it's term-time only.

jimbo6977

Complain to the school, then go to the local paper.

Don't let them take a photo of you with a grumpy face and crossed arms. 

fiz7630

Thanks all. This is just 10% of the annual fee as she's entitled to 90% college bursary due to low income. It's approx 25miles each way and we have applied for a grant to cover but they demanded a payment before decisions are made giving me 3 days notice. I have complained to the college and  the company however no response from either

Andy_L

 mattyprice4004 said:

It seems high, can she not pay in quarterly instalments? 
Then it'd only be £6 on a £36 payment, much better.

It seems so high that it seems possible there's been a communications failure and its a one-off £6 charge for monthly payments rather than £6 each month.

What sort off "bus card" is it. Can't you just go directly to the bus company & get a season ticket?