Helpful Tips to Sign Up Parents

Helpful Tips to Sign Up Parents Helpful Tips to Sign Up Parents 1. Present EZ-EFT as the expected way to pay. Present EZ-EFT to your customers, not as an option, but as the norm. If EZ-EFT is positioned as the way you normally collect payments and your staff is confident and enthusiastic in their presentation, your parents will easily accept the automatic payment program as a simple and convenient way to pay. 2. Explain how the Parent benefits from EZ-EFT. EZ-EFT eliminates writing checks and dropping off or mailing payments. Most importantly, customers don t have to worry about missing payments or being charged late fees. Plus, EZ-EFT allows your business to keep costs down, resulting in LOWER FEES for your service. 3. Compare your payment program to familiar forms of EZ-EFT. Describe EZ-EFT working similarly to: Automatic teller machine networks (ATMs) Direct deposit of payroll or Social Security Automatic payments of insurance premiums, car or mortgage loans 4. Emphasize customer control and financial security. Do Say Your financial institution makes your payments for you Your financial institution sends payments to us You authorize your financial institution to automatically make a payment on your behalf The most secure payment method available You are always in complete control 5. Avoid suggesting loss of financial control. Don t Say Debit your account Take from your account Deduct from your account Go into your account Collection Method We Collect 6. Use facts and figures to alleviate concerns. 48 percent of all households use direct deposits today EZ-EFT transactions through the Federal Reserve system have grown 20 percent annually The vast majority (or give percentage) of our customers use EZ-EFT Version 7.0 Page 1

Q. WHAT IS EZ-EFT? A. EZ-EFT or Electronic Funds Transfer is a paperless alternative to writing checks. You simply pre-authorize your payments to be made automatically and electronically by your financial institution (or via your credit card). Q. WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM OFFER ME? A. It allows you to make your payments automatically without having to remember and write checks, each week (or month). EZ-EFT payments happen on time, every time. A. WHAT DOES THIS SERVICE COST? A. It doesn t cost you anything. You receive all these benefits absolutely free. Q. WHY SHOULD I USE THIS SERVICE? A. For convenience. This process saves our customers time and money. It also helps us control our costs, and we pass the savings on to you. Q. HOW DO I KNOW MY PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE ON TIME? A. This service is provided by CheckFree, the nation s leading provider of electronic funds transfer. They guarantee proper processing of your payment to assure authorized application of funds in your account. Q. WHAT IF I DON T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN MY CHECKING ACCOUNT TO COVER THE PAYMENT ON THE DUE DAY? A. Your financial institution charges the same overdraft fees as for a normal transaction with insufficient funds. The advantage of using EZ-EFT is that the payment is deducted from your account on the same day of every (week) month, making it easy for you to plan ahead. Q. WHAT IF MY CREDIT CARD IS AT THE LIMIT WHEN THE PAYMENT IS CHARGED? A. This service depends on you having enough available credit for the charge to be accepted. If your credit card does not have enough available credit, the payment could be denied by your credit card company and your payment may not be made. Q. Q.WHO HAS ACCESS TO MY ACCOUNTS? A. Only you and your financial institution no one else. To use EZ-EFT, you authorize your financial institution or credit card provider to make the payments. Your financial institution automatically makes your payment on your behalf, but only with your authorization. Consumer safeguards for EZ- EFT make it more secure than conventional forms of payment. Q. HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY PAYMENT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM MY ACCOUNT? A. The transfer is made on the same day of each week or month. Q. HOW WILL I KNOW MY PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE? A. Your payment is clearly itemized on your bank statement (or credit card). Version 7.0 Page 2

EZ-EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) is the easiest way for you to pay your weekly/monthly bills. It s simple, secure and best of all FREE! HOW DOES EZ-EFT WORK? Once you enroll in EZ-EFT, your financial institution will automatically send us your payment from your checking, savings or credit card account on the day it is due. It s your choice. WHAT ABOUT SECURITY? Payment is made by your financial institution only with your authorization. What s more, Federal consumer safeguard regulations are even more stringent for EZ-EFT than when you pay by check, which means that EZ-EFT is more secure than conventional checking. I hereby authorize (Print name of your financial institution.) to make my periodic payment on my behalf from the checking, savings or credit account listed below and transfer it to Center s Name. CHOOSE ONE: Checking Account Transfer (Voided check must be attached.) Savings Account Transfer (Savings Account Number) Credit Card Charge Visa AMEX MasterCard Discover (Credit Card Number) / (month/year) (Expiration Date) Convenience EZ-EFT reduces the time and hassle of paying bills. Automatic payment means never having to remember to write, drop-off, or mail a check again. Control You determine the method of payment. And you can cancel this free payment service for any reason, at any time. Value Not only is EZ-EFT free, but it saves you time and money, and simplifies your busy life. REGISTER NOW FOR EZ-EFT IT S EASY AND FREE To Register for EZ-EFT simply complete the enrollment form below. 1. Place your completed form in an envelope. If you choose to pay with the checking account option, please enclose a voided check. 2. Mail to the address listed. I understand that I am in full control of my payment, and if at anytime I decide to make any changes or discontinue this service, I will notify Center s Name. Change of payment method will not affect the terms of my contract. Name Address City State Zip Signature Date Version 7.0 Page 3

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE OR LETTER TEXT NEWSLETTER ARTICLE OR LETTER TEXT Italicized Items are meant to be customized to your circumstances, or are optional Want to never write another check for child care again? or Never write another check to Center Name again! Starting effective date Center Name will be introducing a convenient new service called EZ-EFT that makes it easy for you to pay your child care fee automatically -- at absolutely no cost to you. The simple authorization form allows us to bill your financial institution (or credit card) on the due date. There is no need for you to write checks, remember to drop off (or mail) them, or worry about late fees. Your record of payment will be listed each month on your banking or credit card statement (and at your request we can also provide you a complete statement of charges and credits each month). Getting started is easy. Simply complete the authorization form included here, or pickup a form at the front desk. Attach a voided check to the form and return it to us. If you prefer to pay by credit card, just include the account number and expiration date. What about security? The service uses the Federal Reserve s electronic payment network used by financial institutions nationwide, so it is absolutely secure. Consumer safeguard regulations for electronic payments are even more stringent than when you write a check. With your busy schedule, it s nice to know that you will have one less task to perform each week/month with absolutely no cost or effort on your part. Sign up for EZ-EFT today! Version 7.0 Page 4

I hereby authorize (Print name of your financial institution.) to make my periodic payment on my behalf from the checking, savings or credit account listed below and transfer it to Center s Name. CHOOSE ONE: Checking Account Transfer (Voided check must be attached.) Savings Account Transfer (Savings Account Number) Credit Card Charge Visa AMEX MasterCard Discover (Credit Card Number) / (month/year) (Expiration Date) I understand that I am in full control of my payment, and if at anytime I decide to make any changes or discontinue this service, I will notify Center s Name. Change of payment method will not affect the terms of my contract. Name Address City State Zip Signature Date Version 7.0 Page 5