MTL recognises that there may be times that Customers experience either payment difficulties or financial hardship.
Definitions
Both ‘payment difficulties’ and ‘financial hardship’ refer to circumstances where a Customer has the intention to pay but does not have the capacity to pay in accordance with previously agreed timeframes. They differ in that:
- ‘Payment difficulties’ are usually short term and can arise from circumstances that would not constitute financial hardship, eg theft of a wallet
- ‘Financial hardship’ is usually of longer term duration, and can arise from circumstances such as loss of employment, family breakdown, illness or injury, budget management issues associated with low income, and other unforseen circumstances arising from either reduction in income or increase in non-discretionary expenditure.
If you are experiencing payment difficulties, Move Through Life Dance Studio will negotiate alternative payment arrangements and advise you if of any assistance may be available if the Customer is experiencing financial hardship.
Application
You can apply for alternative payment arrangements in writing by completing our Financial Hardships and Payment Difficulties online form, providing a description of their payment difficulty or financial hardship and a description of their proposed payment plan.
You may be required to provide evidence of your situation.
All information provided either verbally or in writing will be treated confidentially and in accordance with MTL’s Privacy and Confidentiality policies.
Negotiation
Once you have submitted an application, you will receive an email from us offering the terms of the revised payment agreement. You will have the opportunity to either accept or negotiate these terms.
Agreement
Once terms have been agreed, you will receive confirmation of details in writing via email, including your rights, obligations and consequences of failing to adhere to the arrangement.
The agreement will commence once you have agreed to and officially accepted all the terms in writing via email to info@movethroughlife.com.au
Your responsibilities
To fulfil your responsibilities under the agreement, you must:
- acknowledge the debt and their obligation to pay it
- provide sufficient information for an accurate assessment
- be willing to reduce usage to a level they are able to pay
- make repayments as agreed
- notify MTL immediately if their financial position changes again so the arrangement can be reviewed
- ensure that all evidence of their situation is not false, incomplete or misleading.
Solutions
Some of the solutions we may be able to offer to you if you are experiencing payment difficulties or financial hardship include:
- variations to payment methods and/or plans
- reduction and/or waiver of fees and debts
- extension to payment due dates
- payments in instalments
- opportunity to have fees or debts reduced in exchange for an inkind contribution from the Customer
- discounts on future fees