Hi everyone, new ACC member and new CivCom member here. It seems we’ve got at least a couple of chronic non paying parents at my squadron. Is there any guidance you can give on how to change the behaviour? There doesn’t seem a great appetite to take any meaningful action or sanction to encourage their contribution. Is there any written down guidance for us to refer to? Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give
First thing to understand is whether this is can’t pay or won’t pay, as each needs a different approach.
If it’s can’t pay, many squadron’s CivComs “subsidise” the subs payments for those individuals. Oftentimes, those individuals will also receive further financial support to attend cadet activities such as camps and DofE.
If it’s won’t pay, I have known squadrons to launch comms (generic, not individualised) stating that those cadets who are in arrears are considered to be the lowest priority for fun activities such as flying, gliding, shooting and camps.
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If it came to it, and you were sure it’s a “won’t" not “can’t" a recommendation for discharge could be issued to the OC but I would do that very cautiously
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It’s an interesting one.
I’d reach out and ask if there are any issues and whether there’s any way you can help.
Coupled with the generic approach above that cadets are low priority for opportunities if they’re in arrears, that sets the scene quite nicely.
If there’s no engagement, then I think you probably have to issue something like a formal warning. If they’re still not forthcoming and won’t let you help, then I think you might have to discharge.
I think we all want to support and ensure no cadet is left behind, but I think that has to come with basic courtesy. At that stage, you could perhaps sit down with a cadet and try to get an idea of whether there’s anything else going on, which is where ongoing relational practice will help in opening the door on such a conversation and make them feel safe.
But if we’re not going to take any action on unpaid subs (when there’s no engagement), then subs have become entirely optional for all of your membership…
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There’s information in the ACP 11 / the committee manual & your wing chair can advise.
You can stop them I think once you get three months behind in subs.
More than that you have to agree a repayment plan or if the committee writes it off.
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Thank you for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately it’s a won’t, not can’t situation. What they can appear to do just fine is make sure their child is first to register for every opportunity going. I can see how the time spent chasing is time wasted by all concerned
Thank you for taking the time to reply. There’s no doubt the primary concern here is supporting any situation for any cadet enrolled. This situation has been going on for many months, so it sounds like several attempts have been made, with success in obtaining the overdue amounts but they’ve never once engaged nor committed to a standing order payment being made monthly. It’s as if, if we don’t chase, they won’t bother. We’ve enquired as to any financial difficulty but it’s met with radio silence. The treasurer is wasting so much of their own time reporting on and chasing in subs, we are at risk of them jacking it in. It doesn’t seem like there’s any consideration from some people 
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I’ve had that once in the past and banned the cadet from all off Sqn activities, after unproductive discussions with parents. Won’t pay subs, don’t take part in activities that subs enables.
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It’s such a shame some people behave in this way. If the fifty paying parents and carers found out there would be uproar. We want to do the right thing by the cadets and parents/carers alike
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I’ve been wondering whether switching to annual payments, up front and with no refunds, might be a better way to do it.
Then you massively reduce the chasing and admin burden, while being able to forecast all expenditure for the year. No doubt a discount could be offered.
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I can’t get monthly payments, never mind annual! It’s a good idea in theory but I wonder what sort of uptake would there be for the annual subscription payment
Offering annual payments with a decent discount (say 10x the monthly rate) would be popular with those who can afford it: but as an option, rather than instead of monthly payments.
This is the only avenue TBH
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Can you say why?
Just interested in what drove them to the decision.
We regularly get families who choose not to pay.
Who we then see dropping their offspring off in a £60k car.
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You know people don’t have £60k to drop on a new car and it’s likely to be lease or PCP costing a few hundred a month?
After we spent close enough 20k on a new engine for our old car before selling it for half of what we bought it 2 years before, 350 a month for a lease for an electric car with virtually 0 maintenance didn’t sound so bad anymore 
We’ve had the ends of the financial spectrum.
where a family could fly two cadets home from a two week family holiday in florida, so they could take part in our Wing Activites Day, then fly them back to rejoin the family holiday… taxi to/from the airport… (true story)
….to not being able to buy a pair of parade shoes or can’t afford the subs.
I’m more interested in why the family are refusing to pay, rather than being unable.
Has the squadron not met their expectations? Are the squadron not taking part in the syllabus? Their cadet been excluded from activities?
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I appreciate it’s a thread drift but new car is not the same as high income, leasing, motability, etc. We didn’t have money growing up but thanks to a friend working at Vauxhall, we had a new car every 6 months for a fraction of the cost.
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There has been no restriction on the cadets’ activities to date, the squadron are fully engaged in the training syllabus and the cadets are progressing through their training. We are half a dozen emails deep now with each set of parents, with no meaningful engagement. We’ve offered support if necessary with no uptake. I’m aware that at least one set of parents are both in very responsible, traditionally well paid jobs. The scope for speculation is wide but the fact of the matter is we have around 50 sets of parents/carers making monthly contributions and a couple that aren’t and this is what I want to address