Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Simplify the Billing! We Did!

We did! Also we are tied to the bylaws which require 2 OKCMAR Billings. Here is the schedule-
July- OKCMAR Dues Installment- September 1/2 MLS/Key Fees for the year- December- Assn Dues (National State & OKCMAR installment) March 1/2 MLS/Key Fees for the Year.

These are the due dates- we do send out billing 2 months ahead in order to give you plenty of time to pay and to make sure you are sent out several notices before services are suspended

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just making sure this works before it is released

Anonymous said...

Does this work

Anonymous said...

What is the deal about the $62.50 OKCMAR dues, is that not a third bill! I was unaware of the bill because I'm only working Real Estate part time right now, and I've talked to several other Realtors that have the same problem. You are no longer sending the bills to us personally even though we each individually asked you too. My broker didn't tell me about the fee until last week and I just don't think it is fair for me to have to pay a $25 late fee when I wasn't notified of the bill. He only called me to see if I had paid it already, he doesn't even think he got a bill for me in the first place.

One Woman said...

Please re-read the post. There are two OKCMAR billings for dues one in July as stated for $62.50. Once in December for the remaining $62.50 and NAR and OAR dues.

If you read the post thoroughly it shows that there are also two MLS billings. One in March and One in September (This covers MLS fees and the optional /SupraKey Fees/ Wireless Fees.

The MLS billings should go to the broker because they are the broker's bill and the broker's responsibility. We create a direct bill to the agent as a courtesy to the broker and to save the broker time and money in collecting from his/her agents. It also prevents the entire brokerage from being cut off because we suspend the member for a month first. Again the broker is billed for each license the firm holds and typically brokers pass this MLS expense on to their licensees.

Your partial dues payment should have first been sent to you and then sent to the broker if you did not pay. If you did not receive your dues statement and your broker did most likely your address is wrong. The last billing period we received over 800 invoices back as expired forwards/wrong address/incomplete address. My guess is that we have incorrect address information for you. Because we got so many back in December we sent invoices to the office this June in order to hopefully get your invoice to you.

To wrap up- Currently OKCMAR has two billing periods. This is a bylaws issue, as staff we would like to see this changed. We think it is very inconvenient for members. The NAR membership year runs from Jan 1- Dec 31st. We think the split is confusing, inconvenient to members and unnecessary. We have brought this issue to the bylaws committee and they are working on a resolution.

MLSOK.com, the for-profit service corporation has two billing periods. Members may opt to pay monthly through ACH withdrawal from their checking, savings or credit card.

Finally, we have a fast and easy way for you to check your payments and balances you may owe. Just go the the OKCMAR website home page, www.okcrealtors.com> Choose the tab on the top of the site that says PAY/REGISTER ONLINE> sign in with your license # and MLS Password> My Balances comes up.

In an earlier post on this blog we have a step by step screenshot pdf that can walk you through the first time.

We really, really appreciate your input! We agree that we need to keep the billing process as simple as possible and are working towards that. Watch the weekly eblast for bylaws announcements. Please contact me at my email address at dkennedy@okcmar.org to discuss your late fee. I would much rather have accurate addresses than collect late fees. We don't want to penalize our members but we do need to get your attention so that we can help you get the most out of your association and the MLS.

Anonymous said...

Most Realtors cannot, or do not, understand and distinguish the difference between OKCMAR, OAR, NAR, MLS and OREC dues...the reason must be like selective hearing. OKCMAR (OKC Metro Assoc. of Realtors) dues have been $125.00per year for over 10 years. OAR and NAR dues have been unchanged almost this same period or longer. They did increase slightly 5-7 yrs. ago when NAR started national TV ads for us, in our area and on our local stations.

OREC licensing costs are controlled by the Commissioners who are appointed by our state Governor.

Become familiar with 2 monthly magazines "Opening Doors" from OAR and "REALTOR" from NAR, and the website www.realtor.org. They will help you understand each Association and the part they have in our future development.

One Woman said...

Dear Anonymous- there was some GREAT INFORMATION in your post! THANK YOU! May I add that members should also read the OKCMAR REALTOR magazine that comes out quarterly. We try to cover many of these subjects.