Board approves dues surcharge
By Ray Ferraro
PEF Retirees President
Thanks to all of you who let us know what you think of adding a $3 surcharge for PEF Retirees who renew their dues by check.
Approximately 60 percent of you who responded said to go ahead, so we are making the change.
We mail an average of 500 annual renewal notices each month to members who pay by check.
When the checks are received, they have to be processed and then deposited. That means we have to handle each of these renewals at least three times. If past-due notices are necessary, the process is repeated. We will even send a third reminder before canceling a membership.
That’s why our Executive Board has voted to keep all first-time annual memberships at $12, regardless of the method of payment. But effective July 1, membership renewals paid by check will have a $3 administrative charge. That means renewal checks will be made out for $15.
Of course, you can avoid this surcharge and go right on paying just $12 per year, if you pay through an automatic monthly deduction of $1 from your NYS Retirement System pension check.
When you sign and return a card authorizing that deduction, we process it once and send it to the Retirement System. That’s it.
We never have to contact you about your dues again, and you never have to give another thought to paying them. Your membership will always be current.
All PEF Retiree members will be notified by mail of the new surcharge for check payments. And you will continue to have the option of signing up for the automatic dues deduction at the time of renewal. If you ever want to stop paying by automatic deduction, a revocation card is available upon request.
Chapter meetings are coming up April 2 and May 7 in Albany, April 20 in Syracuse, April 25 on Long Island and May 7 in Buffalo. They will all be held at noon in the local PEF offices, except for Syracuse where the meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Old Country Buffet.