[***MEZ***]

I find this situation quite bizarre.

Firstly that the school allows parents to get so far behind on fees that they would be owing so much. How could the school let it get to the "bankruptible" stage?

Why don't private schools just "end the contract" when fees are a semester behind? They're not charities and it's not as if there isn't a free alternative up the road.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/schools-mov...90529-bq8b.html

[Guest_muminthemaking_*]

As I suspected, and the article states, they will let children finish a semester or year, as it's in the childs interest to do so. There are some people in society without a conscience when it comes to paying their bills. (I'm a former credit mgr and have seen it all!)

[Guest_keylimepie~_*]

They are entitled to recover their money owing, like any other business.

It's not the schools fault parents don't pay.

The school is silly for not cutting them off earlier. I'm sure they have procedures & prosesses they have to go through first though.

Love it how it's the schools fault.
perhaps these families felt a lot of shame to pull their kids out of school. That's no excuse not to pay your bills though.

[~LTM~]

If you don't pay your bills, there are consequences. Especially in a situation where there is a free alternative down the road.

[***MEZ***]

The school is silly for not cutting them off earlier.

I agree. If an elite school charges $20K a year, then that's a massive bill to get into arrears with. Just try to get that far behind in your mortgage or your Telstra bill for that matter.

Essentially, these parents are using a service without paying.

This post has been edited by Maelstrom: 30/05/2009, 08:53 AM

[Trilogy]

If your children have used the service you need to pay for what they used, simple.

As others have pointed out, if you can't/won't pay then go to a government school.

[TheMuriels]

People know upfront how much the fees are when they enrol there child(ren). If you can't pay the fees, don't enrol the child in private eduation.

This post has been edited by TheMuriels: 30/05/2009, 08:55 AM

[Prizzy]

Many families have fallen on hard times of late.
I think the GFC is responsible for the majority of this. I feel for the families and the kids. How awful to be so far behind with such big debts.
There has been a small number of kids moved from local private schools to DDs tiny school so its happening all over.
I'm sure the families could afford the fees at the time of enrolment. This is an ugly bit of tall poppy syndrome, typical of EB.

[emmafg]

People know upfront how much the fees are when they enrol there child(ren). If you can't pay the fees, don't enrol the child in private eduation.

So true.

This equally applies to buying houses, cars, holidays, alloys, TV's etc etc.

This is a non-story.

[Prizzy]

I just don't agree.
When I bought my home I plan to be working at least 2 days a week and for my husband's business to continue to be at least as successful as it was the day I bought it.
If one of these things don't go to plan and I can't pay the mortgage, does that mean that I shouldn't have bought it in the first place? If I get sick, should I have only rented an apartment I could pay on centrelink benefits?

Use some common sense.