Difference between revisions of "Freeside:4:Documentation:Administrator:Fees"

From Freeside
Jump to: navigation, search
(Overview)
(Examples)
 
(5 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
* A fee definition can be a flat amount (e.g. a postal invoice fee) or a percentage of an invoice amount (e.g. a finance charge).
 
* A fee definition can be a flat amount (e.g. a postal invoice fee) or a percentage of an invoice amount (e.g. a finance charge).
 
** The fee can also be defined based on usage (CDRs), as either a flat amount per call or a percentage of rated price.  These can be set independently for each usage class (local, intrastate, etc.).
 
** The fee can also be defined based on usage (CDRs), as either a flat amount per call or a percentage of rated price.  These can be set independently for each usage class (local, intrastate, etc.).
* The event that generates a fee can be an invoice event to charge the fee based on an existing invoice, or it can be a customer event to charge it on the customer's next invoice.
+
* The fee can be charged based on past invoices, or on the customer's upcoming invoice.
  
= Configuration =
+
= Configuring the fee definition =
  
First, create the fee definition itself.
+
You must have the "Edit fee definitions" access right to do this.
  
* Under Configuration -> Users, add the "Edit fee definitions" access right to your user account.
 
 
* Open Configuration -> Packages -> Fees, and click "Add a new fee definition" at the top.
 
* Open Configuration -> Packages -> Fees, and click "Add a new fee definition" at the top.
 
* Set the fee's properties:
 
* Set the fee's properties:
 
** Description on the invoice.  If you have multiple customer languages available, you will need a description for each one.
 
** Description on the invoice.  If you have multiple customer languages available, you will need a description for each one.
 
** Comment (optional, for internal use)
 
** Comment (optional, for internal use)
** The agent who will use this fee definition
+
** The agent who will use this fee definition (optional)
** Package class, for reporting purposes
+
** Package class, for reporting purposes (optional)
 
** Whether to treat the fee as "setup" or "recurring", again, for reporting purposes
 
** Whether to treat the fee as "setup" or "recurring", again, for reporting purposes
 
** The flat amount to charge
 
** The flat amount to charge
** The percentage of the invoice amount to charge, and whether that's the percentage of the gross amount of the invoice or the unpaid balance.
+
** The basis for additional charges, one of the following:
** Minimum and maximum values of the fee (optional).  Note that the maximum will be adjusted to allow for any taxes that apply.
+
*** "Amount charged" to charge a percentage of the invoice amount.
 +
*** "Balance due" to charge a percentage of the unpaid amount (e.g. a finance charge).  If charging the fee on an upcoming invoice, this is equivalent to "amount charged".
 +
*** "Usage charges" to charge a flat amount per call and/or a percentage of the rated charges for certain usage classes.  You can then set the amount and percentage independently for each class.
 +
** Minimum and maximum values of the fee (optional).  Note that the maximum will be adjusted to allow for any taxes that apply
 
** Whether to limit the fee to the customer's credit balance.  (This is not generally useful.)
 
** Whether to limit the fee to the customer's credit balance.  (This is not generally useful.)
 
** Whether the fee is taxable, and what tax class or product category it falls into.
 
** Whether the fee is taxable, and what tax class or product category it falls into.
 
* Submit the form.
 
* Submit the form.
  
Then create an event that determines when the fee should be charged.
+
= Configuring the event =
  
 
* Open Configuration -> Billing -> Billing events, and click "Add a new event".
 
* Open Configuration -> Billing -> Billing events, and click "Add a new event".
* To charge a flat fee each time the customer is billed, or based on a percentage of the customer's current invoice amount:
 
** Set Type = "Customer".
 
** Set Action = "Charge a fee based on the customer's current invoice."
 
** Set any conditions that limit which customers should be charged the fee, such as agent, customer class, or current balance.
 
 
* To charge a flat or percentage fee based on previous outstanding invoices:
 
* To charge a flat or percentage fee based on previous outstanding invoices:
 
** Set Type = "Invoice".
 
** Set Type = "Invoice".
 
** Set Action = "Charge a fee based on this invoice."
 
** Set Action = "Charge a fee based on this invoice."
 
** Set any conditions that limit the invoices that should be charged for, such as invoice age and balance due.
 
** Set any conditions that limit the invoices that should be charged for, such as invoice age and balance due.
* In the action parameters section, choose the fee definition you created.
+
** Choose the fee definition you created.
 +
** If you want the fee to be charged only on the customer's regular billing cycle date, check the "Hold fee until the customer's next bill" box.  Otherwise, the fee will be charged (and an invoice generated) as soon as the event conditions are met.
 +
 
 +
* To charge a fee whenever a customer is billed:
 +
** Set Type = "Customer".
 +
** Set Action = "Charge a fee based on the customer's current invoice."
 +
** Set any conditions that limit the customers that should be charged, such as payment method.
 +
** Choose the fee definition you created.
 +
 
 +
* To charge a fee whenever a package is billed:
 +
** Set Type = "Package".
 +
** Set Action = "Charge a fee when this package is billed."
 +
** Set any conditions that limit the packages that should be charged for, such as package status or class.
 +
** Choose the fee definition you created.
  
 
= Examples =
 
= Examples =
(coming soon)
+
 
 +
=== A finance charge ===
 +
Fee definition:
 +
* Description: Finance charge
 +
* Report this fee as: a recurring charge
 +
* Flat fee amount: 0
 +
* Based on: balance due
 +
* Fraction of balance: 5%
 +
Event:
 +
* Type: invoice
 +
* Amount owed on specific invoice: over $5
 +
* Customer balance: over $5
 +
* Invoice age: 1 month
 +
* Action: Charge a fee based on this invoice
 +
* Hold until next bill
 +
=== A $10.00 declined payment penalty ===
 +
Fee definition:
 +
* Flat fee amount: 10.00
 +
Event:
 +
* Type: Batch payment
 +
* Batch payment declined
 +
* Customer balance: over 0.00
 +
** (since you probably don't want to charge the fee if the customer has made other payment arrangements)
 +
* Don't run this event after it has completed successfully
 +
* Action: Charge a fee based on the customer's current invoice
 +
 
 +
=== 911 fee ===
 +
Fee definition:
 +
* Description: 911 Fee
 +
* Report this fee as: a recurring charge
 +
* Flat fee amount: the amount to charge for a 911 recurring fee
 +
Event:
 +
* Type: Package
 +
* Agent: all or only apply to applicable agent
 +
* Conditions
 +
** Package Definitions - choose the packages the fee applies
 +
** Package Status: 'not yet billed' and 'active'
 +
* Action: Charge a fee when this package is billed
 +
* Fee definition:  choose the previously created 911 fee
 +
 
 +
=== Postal fee ===
 +
Fee Definition:
 +
* Description: Postal Fee
 +
* Report this fee as: a recurring charge
 +
* Flat fee amount: the amount to charge for mailing postal invoices
 +
Event:
 +
* Type: Package
 +
* Agent: all or only apply to applicable agent
 +
* Conditions
 +
** Customer receives a postal mail invoice
 +
** Don't run this even more than once per customer in the specified interval:  Interval 29 days
 +
** Package status: 'not yet billed' and 'active'
 +
** Package billing frequency: monthly
 +
* Action: Charge a fee when this package is billed
 +
* Fee definition:  choose the previously created postal fee

Latest revision as of 13:18, 11 September 2017

Overview

  • Fees are charges automatically added to a customer's invoice based on some set of conditions.
  • Unlike Freeside's traditional "one-time charges", charging a fee doesn't create a persistent package definition or a package on the customer's account.
  • A fee definition can be a flat amount (e.g. a postal invoice fee) or a percentage of an invoice amount (e.g. a finance charge).
    • The fee can also be defined based on usage (CDRs), as either a flat amount per call or a percentage of rated price. These can be set independently for each usage class (local, intrastate, etc.).
  • The fee can be charged based on past invoices, or on the customer's upcoming invoice.

Configuring the fee definition

You must have the "Edit fee definitions" access right to do this.

  • Open Configuration -> Packages -> Fees, and click "Add a new fee definition" at the top.
  • Set the fee's properties:
    • Description on the invoice. If you have multiple customer languages available, you will need a description for each one.
    • Comment (optional, for internal use)
    • The agent who will use this fee definition (optional)
    • Package class, for reporting purposes (optional)
    • Whether to treat the fee as "setup" or "recurring", again, for reporting purposes
    • The flat amount to charge
    • The basis for additional charges, one of the following:
      • "Amount charged" to charge a percentage of the invoice amount.
      • "Balance due" to charge a percentage of the unpaid amount (e.g. a finance charge). If charging the fee on an upcoming invoice, this is equivalent to "amount charged".
      • "Usage charges" to charge a flat amount per call and/or a percentage of the rated charges for certain usage classes. You can then set the amount and percentage independently for each class.
    • Minimum and maximum values of the fee (optional). Note that the maximum will be adjusted to allow for any taxes that apply
    • Whether to limit the fee to the customer's credit balance. (This is not generally useful.)
    • Whether the fee is taxable, and what tax class or product category it falls into.
  • Submit the form.

Configuring the event

  • Open Configuration -> Billing -> Billing events, and click "Add a new event".
  • To charge a flat or percentage fee based on previous outstanding invoices:
    • Set Type = "Invoice".
    • Set Action = "Charge a fee based on this invoice."
    • Set any conditions that limit the invoices that should be charged for, such as invoice age and balance due.
    • Choose the fee definition you created.
    • If you want the fee to be charged only on the customer's regular billing cycle date, check the "Hold fee until the customer's next bill" box. Otherwise, the fee will be charged (and an invoice generated) as soon as the event conditions are met.
  • To charge a fee whenever a customer is billed:
    • Set Type = "Customer".
    • Set Action = "Charge a fee based on the customer's current invoice."
    • Set any conditions that limit the customers that should be charged, such as payment method.
    • Choose the fee definition you created.
  • To charge a fee whenever a package is billed:
    • Set Type = "Package".
    • Set Action = "Charge a fee when this package is billed."
    • Set any conditions that limit the packages that should be charged for, such as package status or class.
    • Choose the fee definition you created.

Examples

A finance charge

Fee definition:

  • Description: Finance charge
  • Report this fee as: a recurring charge
  • Flat fee amount: 0
  • Based on: balance due
  • Fraction of balance: 5%

Event:

  • Type: invoice
  • Amount owed on specific invoice: over $5
  • Customer balance: over $5
  • Invoice age: 1 month
  • Action: Charge a fee based on this invoice
  • Hold until next bill

A $10.00 declined payment penalty

Fee definition:

  • Flat fee amount: 10.00

Event:

  • Type: Batch payment
  • Batch payment declined
  • Customer balance: over 0.00
    • (since you probably don't want to charge the fee if the customer has made other payment arrangements)
  • Don't run this event after it has completed successfully
  • Action: Charge a fee based on the customer's current invoice

911 fee

Fee definition:

  • Description: 911 Fee
  • Report this fee as: a recurring charge
  • Flat fee amount: the amount to charge for a 911 recurring fee

Event:

  • Type: Package
  • Agent: all or only apply to applicable agent
  • Conditions
    • Package Definitions - choose the packages the fee applies
    • Package Status: 'not yet billed' and 'active'
  • Action: Charge a fee when this package is billed
  • Fee definition: choose the previously created 911 fee

Postal fee

Fee Definition:

  • Description: Postal Fee
  • Report this fee as: a recurring charge
  • Flat fee amount: the amount to charge for mailing postal invoices

Event:

  • Type: Package
  • Agent: all or only apply to applicable agent
  • Conditions
    • Customer receives a postal mail invoice
    • Don't run this even more than once per customer in the specified interval: Interval 29 days
    • Package status: 'not yet billed' and 'active'
    • Package billing frequency: monthly
  • Action: Charge a fee when this package is billed
  • Fee definition: choose the previously created postal fee