BCL Payments 2019

Begrudgingly the BCL organisers have decided to start planning version 12 of this liver-destroying tradition.

And after 12 years, we have finally decided to be responsible adults and actually do some proper financial planning.

Debit order / Stop order

The BCL organisers would like to implement a debit order system to our fellow boys financially plan for this event.

We have 2 reasons for this:

1. Affordability – BCL does get a bit more costly every year as we try up our game, and therefore boys struggle to pay a lumpsum. Especially with weddings etc. money can be tight around November.
2. Planning – It makes it very hard for us to plan BCL (accommodation, food, drinks & entertainment) without a proper budget. And by getting boys to commit to a debit order we can plan much more effectively.

We have tried to threaten late-payers with Tremblers, thinking this would get everyone paying on time, but alas, every year we still have to chase boys for payment.

• R250/month – If each person sets up a stop order to the BCL bank account on the 1st of every month, starting April, then they would have paid R1750 by the time BCL rolls around.

This is more than enough for us to plan a proper event. Anything that is left over, stays in the bank account, making next year’s BCL slightly cheaper.

If you are not sure how to set up a stop order, because your mommy does your banking, here’s instructional articles:

• https://m.standardbank.com/standardbank/Business/Banking/Online-banking/Internet-banking/Step-by-step-guides/Payments-and-transfers/Future-dated-payments

• https://www.nedbank.co.za/static/demos/internet_banking/recurring-payment.html

• https://www.capitecbank.co.za/bankbetterlivebetter/articles/how-debit-orders-work

• https://www.fnb.co.za/demos/scheduled-payment-PC.html

No full payments

Unfortunately, we cannot allow full payments, because this would defeat the point of implementing a debit order system – which is to get people paying on time.

If we allow full payments, then we are back to square 1 where we are chasing people for payments.

You are paying for two nights

By default you will be paying for the weekend. You cannot choose to pay for 1 night only.

BCL is a weekend event, and it has been one since 2012. When we do our budgets, we are planning accommodation, food and drinks for 2 nights.

Refund policies

We understand that it’s hard for some to commit (to an event that has been happening on the same date for 12 years) in advance, therefore we have added refund policys:

• 100% refund – if you cancel 45 days before BCL (Tuesday, 15 October)
• 50% refund – if you cancel 14 days before BCL (Friday, 15 November)
• 0% refund – if you cancel within 2 weeks of BCL

This gives everyone plenty of time to cancel.

It’s important to understand that our budgets are based on confirmed attendees – and if people cancel at the last minute, it not only messes with our budgets, but it’s hard for us to refund them as we may have spent the money already.