Arbiter Mandate

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Brad

Good questions. On the surface it seems highly anti-competitive to me. I’m not sure how they get away with mandating officials to use something, especially when the officials or the officiating organization is expected to pay for it.

Our arbiter fees are taken from our annual dues. We're paying it, but it's just not itemized.

A few years ago, the state mandated its use for playoff assignments: that's the only requirement I'm aware of that comes down from the state. I think it was just easier to use a system that is compatible at the local level.

Refpay seems to be making the same transition. First mandated to get paid for playoff games, now more and more schools get added each year.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

Refpay seems to be making the same transition ... more and more schools get added each year.

One school last year, a second this year (of the seventy schools we service). I haven't worked at either school. Some of us, including me, are reluctant to give the schools our bank account numbers, social security numbers (that we already do for many schools), and driver's license numbers. And we don't want to pay $5.00 for a mailed paper check. What do you guys think? What have your experiences with Refpay been like? Is it inevitable as we continue our march through the Digital Age of "Big Brother"?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

One school last year, a second this year (of the seventy schools we service). I haven't worked at either school. Some of us, including me, are reluctant to give the schools our bank account numbers, social security numbers (that we already do for many schools), and driver's license numbers. And we don't want to pay $5.00 for a mailed paper check. What do you guys think? What have your experiences with Refpay been like? Is it inevitable as we continue our march through the Digital Age of "Big Brother"?

The schools don't get my account number, they have my social security number and my email address. They deposit the money into my refpay account, and I then transfer it over to my bank account.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

The schools don't get my account number, they have my social security number and my email address. They deposit the money into my refpay account, and I then transfer it over to my bank account.

Thanks. What ever happened to the good old days when the athletic director just handed you an envelope of cash before the game and winked at you?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Thanks. What ever happened to the good old days when the athletic director just handed you an envelope of cash before the game and winked at you?

I used to work the Saluki summer league in Houston back when I started and the guy that ran it shook your hand on the way in as both a greeting and cash delivery method! Money in the bank!!

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Adam

The schools don't get my account number, they have my social security number and my email address. They deposit the money into my refpay account, and I then transfer it over to my bank account.

RefPay does a great job of handling payments. You don’t need a paper check at all…you can transfer out of your RefPay account to your bank account, as Adam pointed out, whenever you like—even automatically if you wish (i.e. anytime your account is over $100, etc). I believe they also have a debit card that you can use to spend money directly from your RefPay account.

Although it is mostly owned by Arbiter, RefPay is somewhat separate and integrates with other systems. We integrated it into our system so that schools can pay officials directly from our site—after linking their RefPay account they never leave our site…it works great.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by Adam

Refpay seems to be making the same transition. First mandated to get paid for playoff games, now more and more schools get added each year.

At our association's opening softball meeting earlier this week, a comment was made that most (if not all) schools in our area might be using RefPay by 2015. one umpire was not happy about this and asked what he should do if he doesn't want to accept any payments via RefPay.

In my experience, if RefPay is set up properly, it's more convenient than waiting for a check. I've had ADs use RefPay to pay me as soon as I arrived on site. Three business days later, the money is in my account.

So far, I haven't had to provide my SS# for RefPay schools, although some have asked for the e-mail address tied to it. Other schools seem to be able to pay me via my Arbiter account information.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

At our association's opening softball meeting earlier this week, a comment was made that most (if not all) schools in our area might be using RefPay by 2015. one umpire was not happy about this and asked what he should do if he doesn't want to accept any payments via RefPay.

In my experience, if RefPay is set up properly, it's more convenient than waiting for a check. I've had ADs use RefPay to pay me as soon as I arrived on site. Three business days later, the money is in my account.

There are a couple of schools that routinely pay the next morning, and if I watch closely, I can have the money in my account one day later.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

one umpire was not happy about this and asked what he should do if he doesn't want to accept any payments via RefPay.

Do you know why he was unhappy about it? Just curious as to what peoples’ aversions are to RefPay and similar payment services.

[Stat-Man]

Brad,

He never actually offered a reason aside from asking what alternatives were available to him. Our trainers really didn't know what to tell him, aside from saying that he could possibly ask to be payed by check, even though schools are trying to move away form that as much as possible now.

If asked to speculate, I'd wonder if he dislikes any form of online banking/payment processing.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

If asked to speculate, I'd wonder if he dislikes any form of online banking/payment processing.

Yeah. Sounds about right. Usually it’s because the person wants to avoid reporting the income—whether to the IRS or his wife!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Brad

Yeah. Sounds about right. Usually it’s because the person wants to avoid reporting the income—whether to the IRS or his wife!

My only aversion is one particular assigner who charges $1 for every RP transaction when he pays for his games.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Adam

My only aversion is one particular assigner who charges $1 for every RP transaction when he pays for his games.

That's because RefPay charges a fee everytime the paying administrator processes a paysheet. It is a sliding scale depending upon how much the individual official is being paid.
That assignor is simply passing on his cost of paying you. Now you can argue that the schools should be assessed that cost or it should be covered by the assignor as part of any assigning fee that he receives, but just as with paper checks, stamps, and envelopes there is a cost associated with making payments to officials. All that needs to be determined is who should pay for it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Brad

Do you know why he was unhappy about it? Just curious as to what peoples’ aversions are to RefPay and similar payment services.

I know what aversions I've heard. If you want your money for free, you have to manually transfer it. Automatic transfer carries a fee. That's ridiculous.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich

I know what aversions I've heard. If you want your money for free, you have to manually transfer it. Automatic transfer carries a fee. That's ridiculous.

It's no different than cashing a check, though. In fact, it takes less effort: and I can cash checks with my smart phone app.