Einnahmeverluste durch verlorene oder falsch behandelte Wartelisten-Gebühren

Definition

Many Australian centres charge a waitlist fee or enrolment deposit as part of their policy, often outlined in service documents or on websites.[1][6] Where these are managed manually—cash or EFT taken at reception, noted on paper forms or basic spreadsheets—administrators can neglect to charge the fee, misplace records, or fail to align them with actual enrolment outcomes. This leads to unbilled fees (lost revenue) and, conversely, situations where families challenge non‑refunded deposits or unclear terms. Under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010), unfair contract terms, misleading fee disclosures, or retention of deposits contrary to the stated policy can trigger complaints, forced refunds, and possible penalties, creating direct financial loss beyond the uncollected revenue. Logic: If a centre receives 200–400 enquiries a year but only correctly charges and reconciles fees on 50–70% of applications, and the waitlist/application fee is typically AUD 20–50, the centre may be missing 60–200 fees, equating to AUD 1,200–10,000 of revenue leakage. Additional losses occur where poorly documented deposits must be refunded to avoid or settle consumer complaints, or written off when the centre cannot substantiate its entitlement.

Why This Matters

The Pitch: Child care operators in Australia 🇦🇺 forgo or write off AUD 2,000–10,000 per year per centre in mis‑charged or disputed waitlist and enrolment deposits. Automating fee disclosure, collection, and refund handling ensures all legitimate fees are billed and reconciled while reducing disputes and bad‑debt write‑offs.

Affected Stakeholders

Centre Director, Administration / Front Office Staff, Accounts Receivable / Bookkeeper, Owner / Approved Provider

Related Business Risks