Melton Christian College (MCC) is an Australian K–12 school with nearly 1,200 students, located in Melton, Victoria, serving families across Melbourne’s growing western corridor. As the school grew, tuition fee collection became increasingly manual and time consuming, limiting the finance team’s ability to efficiently manage payments at scale.
By partnering with FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing, the school has transformed its approach to fee management, reducing manual processes, improving visibility, and strengthening cash flow outcomes.
Melton Christian College achieved a 99% fee collection rate in 2025 for families enrolled in FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing. This has contributed to a reduction in bad debts and improved predictability of cash flow.
The Challenge: Manual Fee Collection Didn’t Scale with Growth
Prior to FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing, fee collection relied heavily on manual processes:
- Direct debits were uploaded manually
- Fixed schedules offered limited flexibility for families
- Visibility into missed or delayed payments were limited
- Reports required manual updates
“Before FACTS, there was a fair bit of manual work involved from our end, managing families’ bank accounts and overseeing payment schedules, and flexibility for families was limited.” recalls Teri Vitaliano, Finance Administrator at Melton Christian College.
As a result, the finance team spent significant time monitoring accounts, identifying missed payments, and responding reactively to issues after they occurred. Legacy balances from older agreements added further complexity, making it difficult to maintain efficient and proactive fee collection practices.
The Approach: Actively Managed Payment Plans with FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing
Melton Christian College introduced FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing, establishing actively managed payment plans as the standard for all enrolment agreements from 2025 onwards.
Under this approach:
- Families either pay upfront or enter into a structured payment plan
- Payment schedules align with household budgets and pay cycles
- The system automates payment reminders and ongoing monitoring
- Families securely manage bank details via the FACTS Parent Portal, removing the need for the school to handle sensitive data and supporting PCI DSS compliance.
Now in their second year with FACTS, Melton Christian College has established a strong foundation for fee collection, with processes that continue to mature and results that speak for themselves.
“FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing has enabled improved visibility over payment plans and strengthened our reporting capability. With a collection rate of 99% for families enrolled in FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing, Melton Christian College is well positioned to continue enhancing these outcomes,” said Teri.
The outcomes are clear:
- Significant reduction in bad debt, with outstanding balances largely limited to legacy agreements rather than ongoing payment issues
- Improved cash flow forecasting
- Enhanced payment plan reporting and visibility
- Improved family control over payment plans and schedules
The Family Experience: Clear, Predictable Payments and Confidence
The shift has not only benefitted the finance team but has also improved the experience for families.
Families now:
- Have a better understanding of their account balances and due dates
- Can choose payment schedules that align with their pay cycles
- Receive automatic reminders ahead of payments
- Access support through the FACTS Family Help Desk, reducing calls and emails to the school.
“Families are happy that it meets their budgeting needs,” says Teri, particularly the ability to choose payment days that suit them.
Melton Christian College’s experience shows that strong collection outcomes are achievable even when most families are long-standing and accustomed to paying their own way. With a 99% collection rate in 2025 for families enrolled in FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing, the results speak for themselves. The key is giving families a structured, flexible payment experience that works for them and giving finance teams the visibility and automation to manage it confidently. FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing delivers both.
If you want to improve fee collection, reduce administrative load, and give families a better payment experience, speak with our team to find out how FACTS School Payment Plans and Billing can work for your school.
