Direct Debit Request Service Agreement

1. The Customer authorises and requests the Debit User to debit the customer’s account through the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS).
2. The Council will give not less than 14 days written notice to the customer should it propose to vary any of Debit arrangements as shown on the Direct Debit Request. We may send notices either electronically to your email address or by ordinary post to the address you have given us. If sent by mail, communications are taken to be received on the day they would be received in the ordinary course of post.
3. The customer(s) may request the Council to defer any of the debit arrangements or stop any debit item by phoning or visiting the Council office.
4. Direct Debit forms need to be completed upon enrolment.
5. In compliance with the Industry’s Direct Debit Claims Process, the Council will assist customer(s) disputing any payment amount drawn on the nominated BSB/Account in ‘The Schedule’ of the Direct Debit Request. The Council will endeavor to resolve the matter within the Industry agreed timeframes.
6. The Council advises that Direct Debit is not available on all accounts.  The customer(s) must check with their financial institution to ensure the account nominated in ‘The Schedule’ of the Direct Debit Request enables direct debiting and that the details are correct.
7. It is the customer(s) responsibility to ensure at all times there are sufficient cleared funds available, at the due date of the debit drawing, to enable payment from the BSB/Account as nominated in ‘The Schedule’ of the Direct Debit Request. If the customer is uncertain as to when the debit will be processed to the cutomer’s account, he or she should enquire direct of the Ledger Financial Institution.
8. In the event of a Direct Debit rejected the Council will contact the customer seeking alternative arrangements within seven (7) days.  Failure to respond may result in the cancellation of your child care place.
9. Failure to have sufficient clear funds will result in a dishonored payment fee being incurred as per Council fees and charges schedule in the current adopted budget.
10. The Council advises that the debit drawing will be made on the agreed due date as nominated in ‘The Schedule’ of the Direct Debit Request. When the due date is a closed business day, the Council will initiate the debit drawing on the next open business date.
11. A closed business day is defined as any calendar day on which financial institutions are not open for direct debit processing. i.e. weekend, and national public holidays.
12. Customer(s) who wish to cancel the Direct Debit Request due to cancelation of care must notify the Council in writing not less than seven (7) days before the next scheduled debit drawing. Stops or cancellations may be directed to the Debit User or the Ledger Financial Institution.
13. The Council requests customer(s) to direct all inquiries, disputes, requests for payment changes or cancellation directly to the Council’s Children & Youth Services Department on the contact details below. Dispute resolution: The customer must be advised that Claims may also be directed to the Ledger Financial Institution.
14. The Council collects personal information for the purposes of carrying out its functions and facilitating the operations of various other Acts of Parliament and agrees to keep confidential and secure all customer(s) records and account details contained in ‘The Schedule’ of the Direct Debit Request. The Council will only disclose personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, where we are specifically required by law or for the purposes of and incidental to this Agreement. This includes disclosing information in connection with any query or claim or in relation to an alleged incorrect or wrongful debit.

15. Applying for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy

    Eligibility – Kindergarten Fee Subsidy for a child for whom it receives per capita in any of the following circumstances.

    • The Child is identified by a parent, carer or legal guardian as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
    • The Child individually holds, or has a parent or guardian who holds one of the following:
      • a Commonwealth Health Care Card
      • a Commonwealth Pension Concession Card
      • a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or White Card
      • Refugee Visa (subclass 200)
      • In-Country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201)
      • Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202)
      • Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
      • Protection visa (subclass 866)
      • Emergency Rescue visa (subclass 203)
      • Woman at risk visa (subclass 204)
      • Bridging visa’s, A-E
      • The child is identified on their birth certificate as being a multiple birth child (triplets or move)

Confirmation of the Direct Debit Request and a copy of this Service Agreement will be issued to the Customer(s).

For further information, please contact: