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Post by Rajiv on Feb 4, 2013 23:26:34 GMT 8
Previously, there were payments and credits with 50 cents, for example, payments of $11.50 or credits of $2.50. These have been removed. Now, all payments and credits are to the nearest dollar. However, those who had a balance with $x.50 will continue to have the spare $0.50 as all further payments are to the nearest dollar. It's annoying, so I'm clearing out all the odd 50 cents from credit balances by returning $0.50 to the player concerned. So far, I've returned 50 cents to the following: * Sivaraj, on 18 December 2012. * Nick C and Sushil, on 1 January 2013. * Melvin L and John Simpson, today. Those who still have the odd 50 cents in their balance are Arijit, Ben Y, Chih Seng, Fred, John J, and Reza. I will return 50 cents to each when I next see them. |
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Post by Rajiv on Feb 22, 2013 14:40:32 GMT 8
I received the following e-mail from Paypal on Tuesday, 19 February 2013: I could still make "Personal Payments" on 20 February 2013, but no longer. Therefore, the Paypal fee will be charged for every payment. The deduction appears to be ordinarily made from the payee, not the payer, so the payer sees the full amount being paid, while the payee receives the sum less the fee. As such, I will remove Paypal as an option from "Payment modes". If anyone wishes to continue to make payment via Paypal, please ensure that you bear the fees. |
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 1, 2013 10:42:59 GMT 8
.... More worrying are players who owe for one or more previous games, and then don't play again, and don't pay despite several reminders. It leaves me wondering if they ever will pay. From now on, any approved player who owes payment for more than a month will have their account disabled. They can still play, but they have to contact me to put their name down for a game. I won't allow other approved players to put their name down either. Players whose accounts are disabled for non-payment will have "(O)" (for owing) added before their Display Name - better than "(O$P$)" I guess.  .... I've disabled the accounts of the following players: * Hail - owes $30, $20 since September 2012. * Lester - owes $13, $10 since October 2012. * Lionel Low - owes $13 since December 2012. I think Hail will play again, but he will have to settle what is owing before he can play. I'm not sure if Lester and Lionel will play again. |
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 10, 2013 8:57:36 GMT 8
Hail has made payment, so I've enabled his account, and removed the (O) from before his Display Name. .... Those who still have the odd 50 cents in their balance are Arijit, Ben Y, Chih Seng, Fred, John J, and Reza. I will return 50 cents to each when I next see them. I've returned 50 cents to Ben Y (at the game on 21 February 2013), John J, Fred and Reza. Including those on the Disabled List, the following are the remaining players with the odd 50 cents in their balance - Arijit, Andre Costa, Arthur (debit), Chih Seng, Julius and Vinod.
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 10, 2013 11:19:33 GMT 8
... I will credit $1 to those affected by the additional spotlights not being on on 7 January 2013, 28 January 2013 and 7 February 2013: .... Assuming that where a player used the credit of another, he reimbursed that player, I will credit it to the player concerned, unless he informs me to credit it to the player whose credit he used. The total credits will be as follows: Ace - $2 Alex F - $1 Ben Y - $2 Boon Yick - $1 Chen Hong - $3 Gerard - $1 Glenn F - $1 Gow - $1 James Y - $2 Jamie - $2 Jason 4 - $1 Jeff S - $3 Joel Ong - $2 Jon L - $1 Jon Seah - $1 Justin Madhavan - $1 Kelvin Au - $3 Kenny Aw - $1 Khai - $1 Mark T - $1 Melvin Au - $3 Melvin L - $1 Murray - $2 Philip Lim - $1 Rai - $2 Stan D Man - $1 Thomas - $1 |
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 19, 2013 15:28:09 GMT 8
Lionel Low has made payment, so I've enabled his account, and removed the (O) from before his Display Name. That just leave Lester on the Owing List (for players who owe me for more than a month). Separately, Jeff Lim2 also owes $23 for two games, the second of which was in January 2013, but as he is not registered, there is no account to disable.  Of course, I can add him to the Owing List, but that would largely symbolic. And I won't put his name down for a game, or let anyone put his name down for a game, unless he pays, or assures me he will pay without further delay.
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Post by Rajiv on Apr 24, 2013 16:02:32 GMT 8
.... That just leave Lester on the Owing List (for players who owe me for more than a month). Separately, Jeff Lim2 also owes $23 for two games, the second of which was in January 2013, but as he is not registered, there is no account to disable. Of course, I can add him to the Owing List, but that would largely symbolic. And I won't put his name down for a game, or let anyone put his name down for a game, unless he pays, or assures me he will pay without further delay. Lester has made payment, so he is removed from the Owing List. |
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Post by Rajiv on Apr 28, 2013 18:06:08 GMT 8
Previously: .... After the team selector poll is closed, or around the time the line ups are posted, I provide the following information: * Those who owe for previous game, and the amount owed. * Those who are short, and the amount by which they are short. * Those who have not paid yet. * The rest have prepaid. For those who have prepaid, I also provide details of those who will be short for their next game, plus their credit balance. .... From now on, when the team selector poll is put up, or sometime before the poll closes, I will indicate against the names down for each game who owe for previous games or are short, the amount they owe for previous games, plus the one they are down for. If there is no team selector poll, I will do so 12 to 6 hours before the game. .... .... As set out in the post above, I will from now on be providing payment information on the schedule thread between the time the team selector poll is put up and closes (that is, at least 6 hours before the game), rather than 6 hours or less before the game, so checking for payments is no longer tied to providing payment information. To provide more up to date information for each game, for days on which there is a game, I will delay checking for payments until immediately before I post the report thread for that game, and will update the schedule thread accordingly. The report thread is put up as soon as I can after the scheduled start time for the game. ..... Very quickly, the practice was streamlined as follows: * I check for payments immediately before putting up the team selector poll for a game. * I list the name of the players with a confirmed place and indicate against the names how much each owes, including for that game. Where there is no team selector poll, before I suggest line ups, I list the players with a confirmed place and indicate against the names how much each owes, including for that game. The overall effect is that I check for payments less often, and save myself a fair bit of time. With the cumulative indebtedness shown each time a player plays, players have been less likely to let the debt run up to $50 or higher. However, there are a few players who wait until they owe for 2 or 3 games before making payment. .... It is annoying when players continue to put their names down for games when they haven't yet paid for previous games despite several reminders. However, they do usually pay. I do operate on trust. .... You'd think players owing for previous games or with insufficient credit would have ample time to top up or make payment before their next game, but too often that isn't the case. .... Reminding those who owe for previous games to make payment is one of the most time consuming aspects of maintaining the GIFFA system, which really shouldn't be the case. .... .... ..., those who are recalcitrant may be bumped to the waitlist. That was actually the rule when prepayment was first introduced, and it was effective in ensuring prompt payment. From the start of May 2013 onwards, if a player owes for more than one previous game when I list the amounts owing, and there are approved players on waitlist who don't owe for previous games, I will push the player who owes for more than one previous game to the waitlist, and allow the player on waitlist who doesn't owe in his place. As before, those who have a track record of paying promptly, or topping up by larger amounts each time, or come in when we are short of players for a game rather than sticking with more popular games, will be given leeway. Separately: .... .... ..., any approved player who owes payment for more than a month will have their account disabled. They can still play, but they have to contact me to put their name down for a game. I won't allow other approved players to put their name down either. Players whose accounts are disabled for non-payment will have "(O)" (for owing) added before their Display Name - better than "(O$P$)" I guess. .... That remains. |
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Post by Rajiv on May 12, 2013 15:53:08 GMT 8
I received the following e-mail from Paypal on Tuesday, 19 February 2013: I could still make "Personal Payments" on 20 February 2013, but no longer. Therefore, the Paypal fee will be charged for every payment. The deduction appears to be ordinarily made from the payee, not the payer, so the payer sees the full amount being paid, while the payee receives the sum less the fee. As such, I will remove Paypal as an option from "Payment modes". If anyone wishes to continue to make payment via Paypal, please ensure that you bear the fees. Paypal doesn't provide the option of the payer bearing the fee, so you have to add it to the amount you pay. The fee is 3.4% + $0.50 if payment is from a Singapore dollar account. If I am to receive a certain amount $A, you have to pay $A plus $0.50 and the total divided by (1-0.034), or more simply: (A+0.5)/0.966 If you can't work it out, just let me know how much you intend for me to receive, and I'll let you know the amount to pay. Or just use one of the other methods provided. If you're using a non-Singapore dollar account, the fees are higher. I haven't worked it out yet. |
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Post by Rajiv on Oct 25, 2013 9:16:06 GMT 8
For those unable to use internet banking to make payment, cash deposit through a DBS or UOB cash deposit machine should be a viable alternative. There are DBS or UOB cash deposit machines all over Singapore. The "Payment Modes" post has links to the following search engine / listing for UOB and DBS cash deposit machines. * For UOB* For DBSI have just learnt that DBS cash deposit machines require you to provide your NRIC or passport number. If you want to avoid that, use a UOB cash deposit machine. If I am at a game, either to pay for the block booking of the pitch, or to play, then of course, you can pay me cash. However, I haven't been playing much as work and family have been keeping me busy, and increasingly, I am paying for block bookings during office hours. Reminding players who owe for previous games to top up or pay is one of the more time consuming things I have to do. Players have plenty of time to pay, from the time payment information is provided before the game, until the second time they they play after that. I really have no choice but to be stricter about the rule that anyone who owes for more than one game may be bumped to the waitlist. |
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Post by Rajiv on Jan 2, 2014 9:39:00 GMT 8
Currently, the schedule thread for each game includes the following: Relating the modification of priorities on the waitlist to whether a player is an approved player or a guest can be confusing and cause difficulties. I will replace it as follows: The rule about losing priority for owing for more than one previous game has been in place since May 2013. I have been flexible about it, so I've made that clear. The $50 upper limit will be applied strictly. |
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Post by Rajiv on Jan 12, 2014 8:52:17 GMT 8
For the games on on the uncovered pitches at The Grandstand over the past three Saturdays ( 28 December 2013, 4 January 2014 and 11 January 2014, the price per player was reduced to $11 as stated in the schedule thread. The change was forced on us as the covered pitch was closed for two weeks for refurbishment. It should only have affected the weekends of 28/29 December 2013 and 4/5 January 2014. However, it spilled over into this weekend for the following reason: .... I arranged to pay for 2 games at the uncovered pitch at the Premier Pitch this weekend. As the games at the Premier Pitch today and tomorrow have been cancelled, even though the covered pitches have re-opened, I will use the second booking for next Saturday. As I was only paying for two separate one hour slots, I could not take advantage of any of the packages offered by Premier Pitch. However, as the change was forced on us, I managed to persuade them to agree to treating the 2 slots as one booking for 2 hours rather than 2 bookings for 1 hour, which brought me within one of the packages. I can therefore reduce the price per player for 4 January 2014 and 11 January 2014 to $10 per player. The following players will be reimbursed $1 each: For 4 January 2014: Reds: Brendan, Rainer, Richard Coombes, Kenny, Damian, Darren D, Uday, Arijit Whites: Dom, Nick H, Des, Sam Ladbury, Timmy, Lynz, Azmi, Gerard : Line up as below: Red: Richard , Kenny ,Uday , Fred , Cheng Hong , Imran , Fergus, Arijit White: Nick , Jake , Jan Vincent , Lynz , Rock star , Timmy , Sam , Christian |
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Post by Rajiv on Jan 12, 2014 12:08:27 GMT 8
.... Including those on the Disabled List, the following are the remaining players with the odd 50 cents in their balance - Arijit, Andre Costa, Arthur (debit), Chih Seng, Julius and Vinod. Andre cleared 50 cents out of his balance by adding 50 cents to his last top up in November 2013. I gave Arijit 50 cents after the game yesterday, which he "donated" to one of the other players for a drink.  The remaining players haven't played for a long time - Julius's last game was in the fourth quarter of 2011, Arthur's in the first quarter of 2012, Vinod's in the second quarter of 2012, and Chih Seng's in the third quarter of 2012. If they don't play again, I will absorb the 50 cents. |
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 1, 2014 8:00:33 GMT 8
When discussing players who frequently withdraw on the day of the game on the "Filling places & choices" thread: .... More troublesome, and worrisome, than repeated post-poll withdrawals would be g roup withdrawals. Players sometimes put their names down for a game as a group of 2 to 7 players. They could just as easily withdraw as a group of 2 or more players, for example, if they want to play together in some other game which they think will be more challenging or exciting. However, such large scale withdrawals can decimate a game, even if it is more than 4.5 hours before the game, for which there is no penalty. Therefore, if a group of 2 or more players withdraw together, the penalties should kick in earlier. I am thinking along the following lines: | $1 penalty per player | $2 penalty per player | $3 penalty per player | price per player less $6 | | Single player | 4.5 to 3 hours | 3 to 1.5 hours | 1.5 hours to 40 minutes | Less than 40 minutes | | Group of 2 | 5.5 to 3.5 hours | 3.5 to 2 hours | 2 hours to 1 hour | Less than 1 hour | | Group of 3 | 6.5 to 4.5 hours | 4.5 to 2.5 hours | 2.5 hours to 1 | Less than 1 hour | | Group of 4 | 7.5 to 5 hours | 5 to 3 hours | 3 hours to 1.5 hours | Less than 1.5 hours | | Group of 5 | 9 to 6.5 hours | 6.5 to 4 hours | 4 hours to 2 hours | Less than 2 hours | | Group of 6 | 10.5 to 7.5 hours | 7.5 to 5 hours | 5 hours to 2.5 hours | Less than 2.5 hours | | Group of 7 or more | 12 to 9 hours | 9 to 6 hours | 6 hours to 3 hours | Less than 3 hours |
Although group withdrawals haven't been a big problem, it makes sense to be pre-emptive, so the above scheme has been implemented. I have added the table to the "Payment & penalties" section of the GIFFA System thread. However, only approved players count towards a "group". Guests will not be counted as guests may well not want to play if the approved player who put their name down withdraws. I have made this clear by adding after the table: A group withdrawal is 2 or more approved players whose names are put down together and withdrawn together. Guests are not counted towards a group. |
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Post by Rajiv on May 18, 2014 9:23:41 GMT 8
The "Payment modes" section of the "Current balances & payment modes" thread included the following: I have replaced it with: A reminder not to delay payment on "The GIFFA system & playing rules" thread as well: .... .... As with making sure you turn up for a game and being punctual, making prompt payment is about setting aside time to fulfil a commitment. It is ultimately about time management. ... on the "Latecoming, late withdrawals & no shows" thread, after pointing out that no one ever sets out to be a no show, late withdrawal or latecomer, I went on to state: .... .... It's really about time management. Some of us are good with it, others are not. Sometimes, it's as simple as learning to use a scheduler, calendar or alarm. Other times, it's about allowing sufficient time to do the things that need to be done, and not to persist in under-estimating the amount of time needed. Finally, making whatever works for you into a habit. ..., I'm prepared to give players the chance to sort themselves out, even if they require closer monitoring by me. .... .... Prompt payment involves the same requirements of remembering, setting aside the time, and doing, as showing up for our games, and on time. After a new record of $90 as the amount owing for previous games (including payment for guests). And from the "Filling places & choices" thread: .... ..., when I first discussed prepayment: .... In time, changes in price may be used to move demand from more popular games to less popular games. .... From June 2014 onwards, if a game fills up too fast, the payment per player will be increased by $1 in a subsequent week, and the less/least popular game at the same venue will be reduced by $1 the week after, as follows: - If a game fills up within 6 hours of the schedule thread being put up, the payment per player will be increased by $1 the subsequent week. The week after that, the payment per player for the less/least popular game at the same venue will be reduced by $1.
- If a game fills up within 12 hours of the schedule thread being put up two weeks in a row, the payment per player will be increased by $1 the subsequent week. The week after that, the payment per player for the less/least popular game at the same venue will be reduced by $1.
However, if the game for which the payment has been increased by $1 is slow to fill up, after 48 hours, I will reduce the payment to the usual amount. There will also be no reduction the following week for the less/least popular game at the same venue.
....
And .... ... from the schedule thread for the game on 23 April 2014: Can someone give up his spot to me? I will be travelling on Friday for 3 weeks and no football for 3 weeks is too much to bear... .... Rajiv, you want me to test the market rate for your Wednesday night games? You'd have to pay not only the player who gives up his place, but those ahead of you on the waitlist. Could be expensive. If the player wanting the place is the first on waitlist, then the player giving up his place can just swap with him, and take his place on the waitlist. However, as stated above, if the player is not first on waitlist, each of the players ahead of him on the waitlist must agree to swap as well. And if the the "deals" are made after the team selector/captain poll goes up, it's additional work for me, so the player offering to pay will have to pay to me 10% of the total he is paying to the other players  ; subject to a minimum of $2.
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Post by Rajiv on Nov 7, 2014 10:37:16 GMT 8
I have renamed the "Payment Information" board as "Payment & Balances". I have changed the description of the board to: I have renamed the stickied thread on the board as "Overview". The first post of the "Overview" thread now reads as follows: The payment for each player is set out in the schedule thread for each game. Payment modes are set out below. A thread is created each month on this board showing incoming payments over the course of that month. Other credits or penalties are shown on the relevant report threads, round up threads or schedule threads. I maintain a spreadsheet showing the payments, usage, credits and penalties for the current month, as well as each players current balance (whether in credit, nil or in deficit). The spreadsheet can be viewed here. The spreadsheet is updated to the date last stated in the thread for the current month. At the end of each month, the spreadsheet is archived under that month's thread. The player earning the most credit each month since is listed in the Annex below. See below or click here for an explanation of the spreadsheet and how to check your balance. More information about the payment system can be found on the "Payments, credits, penalties & usage" thread on the Discussion board. Feedback can be given on the same thread. The current spreadsheet is now on Google Docs, and will from now on be referred to as the "P&B spreadsheet". The explanation of the spreadsheet now reads: EXPLANATION OF SPREADSHEET & HOW TO CHECK YOUR BALANCECut-off date/timeThe current balances spreadsheet is updated once a week, up to the date/time last specified in the current month's thread. Only payments already received are included. The current month's thread is updated once a day or once every two days. Payments are only reflected on the current month's thread until the spreadsheet is next updated. How to use the spreadsheet- Players are listed alphabetically, GIFFA Players first, guests below, and those who haven't played for 6 months or more at the bottom.
- The left side of the first sheet (Payment Balance, Deposits, Credits & Penalties ("PBDCP")) shows the balance deposit from the previous month, the further deposits received during the current month, transfers of deposits between players and the total/net deposits over the course of the month. Credits (for first reports, team captains/selectors, ball used and season winners) and penalties (for late withdrawals or no shows) are shown on the right side of the PBDCP sheet. In the middle is the current balance.
- The left side second sheet ("Usage") shows the usage by games. Payments out of the deposit are shown as negative numbers. Payments for the game at the game are shown as "$0.00" as they do not affect the deposit position. There is then a column showing "TOTAL DEPOSIT USAGE". The right side of the Usage sheet are records of number of games played.
The statement on the current month's thread that the spreadsheet has been updated has been simplified. I previously included reference to the games over the past week which have been taken into account. However, it is not necessary, and the number of games each week is more appropriately dealt with as part of the weekly round up. The first post of the monthly thread has been modified to reflect the above changes. Since June 2014, when archiving the P&B spreadsheet for each month, I have identified the player who has earned the most credit in that month. I now have a listing as an Annex to the "Overview" thread. As for Payment modes, I still provide both a POSB account and UOB account, but the UOB account has been changed to my personal account. |
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Post by Rajiv on Feb 15, 2015 18:36:17 GMT 8
The "Payment & penalties" section of the "GIFFA System" thread provides as follows: .... Payment should be made as soon as possible after your name or that of your guest is put down for a game. Some players keep credit with me. Others pay game by game. Payment modes are set out on the "Current balances & payment modes" thread on the "Payment Information" board. Acknowledgement of payment will be posted within 3 days on the current month's thread on the "Payment Information" board. .... If a player or the player paying for him owes payment for more than one previous game, the player will lose priority when the payment information is provided and up to the game itself, unless the total amount is less than $50 (inclusive of the current game) and the player or player making payment confirms to me before priority is lost that he will make payment within the week, and in any event, before his next game. .... Unfortunately, I still spend too much time reminding players to make payment. I am reluctant to "bump" a player who owes for more than one previous game, usually allowing more time to pay. Unfortunately, some players take advantage of this, unduly delaying payment. With effect from 21 February 2015 (after Chinese New Year), when I provide the payment information for a game, if a player owes for more than one previous game, I will give the player a choice, pay an additional $1 admin fee or be moved down to the bottom of the list of players. If there are players on waitlist who do not owe for more than one previous game, then the player may be moved to waitlist. So that players are reminded when they fall short, after announcing the result of the team selector/captain poll on the WhatsApp group chat, I may also list the players playing who are in deficit, and the amount each owes. Players should aim to be in credit, not in deficit. The absolute limit of $50 remains. On a separate note, since the start of the year, the Payment & Balances (P & B) spreadsheet has been on Google Docs, and is updated more regularly. As such, I will no longer be specifying the date to which the spreadsheet is updated on the current month's thread. The first post of the "Overview" thread on the "Payment & Balances" board, and the monthly threads for January and February 2015, have been modified accordingly. The P & B spreadsheet is also used to compute the number of games played by each player each month, and each quarter. I have now added information on the number of games played each year and over two, three or more years, on a separate spreadsheet. The number of games played in the current 6 month period, and over the past 3 years, is used in connection with the team selector/captain poll. In order to keep the spreadsheet more compact, I have consolidated the numbers for the first quarter of 2009 until the fourth quarter of 2011 into annual figures (for 2009, 2010 and 2011). The numbers from the first quarter of 2012 onwards remain set out on a quarterly basis. At the start of next year, the numbers for 2012 will be consolidated. This leaves the figures for the last 3 years on a quarterly basis, to be used to the team selector/captain poll. At the start of each year, I will also remove the monthly figures for the first half of the preceding year (January to June). The figures would already have been captured in the figures for the first and second quarters for that year, and nothing is lost in removing the figures. Retaining the figures for the 6 months from July to December provides the information for use in relation to the team selector/captain poll. Likewise, early in the second half of a year, I will remove the monthly figures for July to December of the preceding year. |
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Post by Rajiv on Mar 31, 2015 13:30:03 GMT 8
When prepayment was first introduced in December 2010, I opened a UOB account to receive payments. However, as many preferred to pay to a DBS account, I also made my personal POSB account available. I use my POSB account for a variety of purposes, so I've now opened a dedicated DBS account. Since Jamie first raised it with me in June 2014, I have had a few requests to pay by DBS PayLah! I have linked my mobile number to the DBS account to receive payments by PayLah! From above: .... ... the UOB account has been changed to my personal account. At that time, I had been planning to open a DBS business account and close the UOB business account. However, I have decided to keep the business account, so I will switch back to the UOB business account. The information on the "Payment Modes" post in the "Overview" thread on the "Payments & Balances" board has been updated accordingly. On a separate note, from the "Latecoming, late withdrawals & no shows" therad: From the "Filling places & choices" thread: .... I am considering changing the penalties for withdrawals and no shows from the start of the next quarter (that is, from 1 April 2015) as follows: - $1 admin fee for withdrawals (a) less than 24 hours before the game or (b) after the team selector/captain poll goes up (whichever is later for that particular game). However, for each season (April to September, or October to March the following year), $1 will be waived from the first 6 times admin fees are imposed on a particular player. Therefore, only players who repeatedly withdraw less than 24 hours before the game will be affected.
- For late withdrawals (5 hours or less before the game), additionally:
- $1 penalty for withdrawals after the team selector/captain poll closed (usually 5 hours before the game).
- $2 penalty for withdrawals less than 3 hours before the game.
- $3 penalty for withdrawals less than 2 hours before the game.
- $4 penalty for withdrawals less than 1 hour before the game.
- Half the price per person for withdrawals less than half an hour before the game.
- For no shows:
- The price per person less $3 for a no show with good reason given.
- The price per person less $2 for a no show with some reason given.
- The price per person less $1 for a no show with no reason given.
As group withdrawals haven't been an issue, I will do away with different penalties for group withdrawals. Group withdrawals were previously discussed above. The changes will be implemented on 1 April 2015. .... The "Payments & penalties" section of the GIFFA System thread will be updated shortly. |
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Post by Rajiv on Sept 21, 2015 12:32:36 GMT 8
I have used "payment information" to mean both the modes of payment and the amount owing by each player as provided on the schedule thread. From now on, I will use "payment status" for the latter. Currently, the payment status is usually put up on the schedule thread at the same time as the team selector/captain, less than 30 hours before the game. This was introduced in February 2013, to allow players in deficit more time to top up. Before that, the payment information was provided about the time the team selector poll closed, 5 hours before the game. The change didn't really have the desired effect. What has been slightly more effective is this (from the post above): .... With effect from 21 February 2015 (after Chinese New Year), when I provide the payment information for a game, if a player owes for more than one previous game, I will give the player a choice, pay an additional $1 admin fee or be moved down to the bottom of the list of players. If there are players on waitlist who do not owe for more than one previous game, then the player may be moved to waitlist. .... As a matter of practice, although I indicate the $1 admin fee against the player's name when providing the payment status on the schedule thread, I waive it if the player makes payment within a day or two. Only one player has paid the $1 admin fee to date, because it took him more than a week to top up. As there is a risk of games being cancelled due to the haze, over the past week, I have sometimes held back the payment status until I am sure the game will go on, so as to save myself the work. Providing the payment status and chasing for payment are the more time-consuming things I have to do in relation to the GIFFA System. In order to save myself time, and to increase the pressure on players to pay promptly, I will make the the following changes: - With immediate effect, the payment status will be provided later, around the time the team selector/captain poll closes, or the line ups are confirmed.
- From next month onwards, The $1 admin fee will be imposed on anyone who owes half the price ($5 for weeknight game, $6 for weekend games) or more for a previous game, when the payment status for the current game is provided. The admin fee will be waived if payment is made within 3 working days, or before the player next plays after that game, whichever is sooner.
The requirement is to prepay for games. I allow some leeway. Players should not take advantage.
Currently, the three players who owe the most are:
- Andrew Y, who owes $47 for games played between May and August 2015.
- David M, who owes $40 for games played between the second quarter of 2014 and June 2015.
- Jensen, who owes $30 for games played between December 2014 and July 2015.
The players concerned have had many reminders to make payment. I operate on a system of trust. If players don't make payment promptly, why should I trust them? From next month onwards, The maximum amount I will let any player owe me is $40, inclusive of admin fees and penalties.
On a separate note, from the "Filling places & choices" thread:
.... ..., there is a general trend of players rushing for the more popular Wednesday game, while the Thursday game is a struggle to fill. If enough players kept an open mind, we'd find that both games were similar. However, I've given up trying to ask players to switch from oversubscribed games to games that are slow to fill up, as the responses are very poor. When prepayment was first introduced in November 2010, I considered using price influence numbers between more popular games and less popular games. This was last discussed on the "Payments, credits, penalties & usage" thread on 18 May 2014 (see more generally here giffas.proboards.com/thread/1429/payments-credits-penalties-usage?q=demand). For next quarter, I am considering the following: - If within 48 hours of the schedule thread being put up, there are more than 4 players on waitlist, the price per player will be $1 more. If, however, by the time the payment information is put up, there are no players on waitlist, the price per player will return to the original.
- For each game that is charged $1 extra per player, a game that is struggling to fill up will be reduced by $1. If there is no game struggling to fill up not already subsidised, I will create an extra slot, with the price per player reduced by $1 for that game.
However, if the game at East Coast on 24 September 2015 fills up, I will consider keeping the Thursday game at East Coast for October 2015, instead of implementing the above. .... Also from the "Filling places & choices" thread:
.... The following ( under the "Payments & penalties" section of the GIFFA System thread) was introduced with effect from 1 April 2015. For withdrawals 5 hours or more before a game: So far, only Calvin has used up all 6 waivers, and the $1 admin fee has not been imposed yet. Further, I have only been recording such withdrawals if they occur on the day of the game itself. It is, nevertheless, additional work for me. .... Withdrawing less than 5 hours before a game carries a penalty. However, instead of monitoring withdrawals on the day of the game over each 6 month period, it may be simpler to require those who do so, and wish to play in the same game over the next two weeks, to put their own name down if they wish to have their name added within the first 48 hours of the schedule thread going up. Therefore, no one else can put their name down for them in the first 48 hours, and they have to do so themselves. If they want to keep the privilege of having another player put their name down for them during that time, they have to pay a $1 admin fee, and have sufficient credit to cover the admin fee. On a separate note, from above: However, as I have been busy this year, for at least a few months now, I have only been been uploading the P & B Spreadsheet once a week. I have reflected the change in the "Overview" thread, and this month's thread. Also, there are the following post-game credits currently available: The credits are entered into the "Other Credits" section of the P&B Spreadsheet based on the date on which the first report is posted. However, if the first reported is posted after 10 pm, the following day's date is used. To simplify matters, with effect from this month onwards the credits will be recorded against the date of the game itself, no matter when the first report is put up or the ball credit claimed. However, the credits will only be given after the first report is posted. The credits are also stated in a post on the report thread itself. The credits will be posted on the report thread when the P&B Spreadsheet is updated. I started off updating the credits within a day or two of the first report being posted. However, for some time now, I have only been updating the credits at the end of each week. It saves me time. I will do so before uploading the P & B Spreadsheet, at least once a week. |
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Post by Rajiv on Feb 22, 2016 22:17:33 GMT 8
From "The price of popular games" thread: ....
..., I am looking at doing the following to deal with the issues of clustering, hogging and hedging:
- I will increase the price per player by $1 across the board for all games.
- For every game, I will reserve for a period of 24 hours after the schedule thread goes up 2 places for the team selectors or captains from the previous week's game, and 2 places for players who played in a less popular in the 7 days up to the day the schedule thread goes up.
- If there are places still available after 24 hours, the price per player will be reduced by $1.
- If there are places still available after 72 hours, the price per player will be reduced by a further $1.
- If there are places still available less than 3 hours before the game, any player coming in to fill up a place will pay a further $1 less.
I aim to introduce this with effect from the game on 1 April 2016.
.... Further, HYFA @ Macpherson has its put its prices up by 10% with effect from 15 February 2016. I will bear the increase until 1 April 2016. The Tuesday night game at Grandstand (small pitch) and the Thursday night game at Khalsa are $9 per player, $1 less than the Monday night game at Macpherson and the Wednesday night game at Khalsa. For the Tuesday night game, the reason was as follows: .... ..., I have been left scrambling to to find an alternative venue for the next few Tuesdays. .... While no big covered pitch is available at The Premier Pitch @ The Grandstand (on which we play 8-a-side at the weekends), a small covered pitch is available. .... .... .... If we cap numbers at 12 ($9 per player), we can still go ahead with 10. If we cap numbers at 10 ($11 per player), we would need to be able to go ahead with 8 (4-a-side), which is tough. I'll allow up to 12 to begin with. .... For the Thursday night game, the aim was to give a $1 discount in order to get the game going again, and to develop a sufficient pool of players to stabilise the game in the medium to longer term. At some stage, I would like to standardise the price per player for all weeknight games. That may be as early as mid-March 2016. Apart from the first report credit, the following credits are recorded on the report thread: .... The first GIFFA Player to provide a report of not less than 30 words is given a $2 credit. Team selectors only receive their credits after the report is up. The credit for each team selector is as follows: * $2 credit for games on a big pitch. * $1 credit for games on a small pitch. Where there are no team selectors, but only team captains, team captains each receive $1 credit. .... .... If a ball brought by a player is used up to the end of a game, and it is reported on the report thread to the game, the player will receive $1 credit for the first 35 times that ball is used. .... Quite often, a player claims the $1 ball credit without a report being provided. I have waited until the report is provided before giving the ball credit. Based on the above, there is no reason for me to do so. However, as I pointed out to Augustine on Sunday (21 Feb 2016), if the player claiming the ball credit is the first to add a brief account and the final score, the total credit is $3 instead of just $1. And a brief account can be very brief! 30 words is just over one line. If no report is provided after a couple of days, even the 30 word requirement is waived! |
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; subject to a minimum of $2.