Parents today experience several common problems when it comes to paying school fees. There are many problems with manual school payments that could easily be solved. The requirements to pay online have simplified the process, but several challenges still exist. Parents still find themselves in situations where they cannot pay, cannot pay on time, or could do better with an improved process. This article goes over the seven most common school payment pains faced by parents when it comes to paying school fees, as well as how to resolve these pains.
Manual School Payments are Becoming a Thing of the Past
The vast majority of schools in the United States today allow parents to pay their school fees online. This has made it easier for parents to pay and fewer challenges than when payments were still manual. The ability to pay with a click of a button makes it easier for parents to follow up on their payments, track the status of their payments, and ensure that they are making timely payments. Parents can also log in to check how many days are left before fees are due or get regular reminders through email or text messages.
Some schools still only accept manual payments, including cash payments. While this means that parents could save money on fees for payment processing by avoiding third-party payment processors, it also means they may encounter more challenges when making payments.
7 School Payment Pains Parents Experience
Now, let’s look at the seven biggest school payment pains for parents!
#1: Not Allowed to Make Easy Payments
Some schools only accept cash payments, even though electronic payments are easier for both parents and schools. Parents could be required to line up in long queues just to pay school fees that they could have paid online within minutes.
#2: Can’t Pay on Time
Parents may sometimes experience delayed payment due to factors outside their control, such as having no cash available at certain times of the month or only receiving the school fee bill at the last minute. When faced with situations like these, they can try paying online before offline payments become necessary.
#3: Have to Pay More When Parents Can Save
Some schools require parents to pay more as convenience fees or commissions for third-party payment processors, which may be their only option. Local banks might have different policies regarding school fee payments, so parents need to check with their bank before choosing a payment method.
#4: Receiving Extra or Irrelevant Information in SMS Messages
A common delivery method for school fee reminders is through text messages sent by the school to parents, but these messages may contain unnecessary information that can be safely ignored. This can lead to confusion when parents try to follow up on their school fees and end up sending messages to the school that are not answered.
#5: Not Getting Transaction Updates after Making a Payment
In some cases, parents may have made a payment through the bank’s mobile banking application but did not see any updates from the school on their account afterward. The application might have failed to deliver the update, or the parent might have chosen not to receive SMS messages with updates on their school fees.
#6: No Customization in Reminders
Sending unnecessary SMS messages with irrelevant information can be annoying. Still, at least parents have the option of turning these messages off if they don’t want to receive them in the future. Some schools send automatic reminders through text messages, but they do not allow parents to change the time of day when the reminders are sent out.
#7: Receiving Late Payment Notices
Parents may receive late payment notices even though their school fees have already been paid, mainly if they chose a method to deliver updates on their late payments or if schools choose not to create systems that would automatically update their records with payment updates.
Best Way to Resolve Payment Pains
The best way to resolve these pains is through using a school management software system. A school management software system can provide a solution that is beneficial to both parents and schools through the following:
#1: Allowing Parents to Make Payments Online
One of your school’s goals should be to communicate with parents in ways that put them at ease. With a school management system, you can make it easy for parents to make online payments to your school, and they will appreciate your commitment to making things easier for them.
#2: Customizing and Automating Reminders and Updates
You can set up SMS messaging in a school management system that meets the needs of both parents and the school’s needs by sending automated reminders and customized messages. You could even send payment-related updates to parents through the system.
#3: Getting Better Transactions and Reports
In a school management system, you can have more control over what goes into your school’s transactions as well as how these are displayed as reports. You will also be able to create recurring transactions that would allow you to set up payments on a weekly or monthly basis.
Utilizing school management software is the best way to go. There are so many benefits, and it can cure many of the payment pains parents may experience.
As more parents become active in their children’s education, they expect easier payment methods to be available. Schools can use school management software to increase the number of online payments parents make by meeting their needs through customizing messages and automating some processes. Stop letting manual transactions detract your focus from teaching students! Utilizing school payment management software is the best way to accommodate all families and address school payment pains.
SchoolCues is an all-in-one school management system for small schools with limited budgets and resources. Our solutions include admissions and enrollment, online payments, student information system, gradebook, communications, parent engagement, donations and fundraising, alumni management, and more. Schedule a demo with us today.