This past year, the South Coast Food Share network implemented a new billing system, called Primarius, issued by the Oregon Food Bank. Billing concerns with several partner agencies have arisen and Oregon Coast Community Action has worked diligently to not only address the issues, but also thoroughly explain how the new system works. ORCCA apologizes for the inconveniences of the Primarius system and wants to ensure all the agencies in the South Coast Food Share network understand how the system works in order to prevent future issues.
Members of ORCCA’s staff met with members of Brookings Community Helpers Food Bank to discuss the billing system and how the invoices worked. The concerns that arose were a result of interpretation of the invoices produced by the current Primarius program.
Kedric Brissette, a member of ORCCA’s board of directors, was present at the meeting between Brookings Food Pantry and South Coast Food Share staff that took place on Dec. 15. Previously unaware of how the network billing system worked or what the problems were, he quickly learned where the confusion arose. “The monthly invoice shows the last month’s bill amount on the current bill, therefore Brookings believed they were getting billed twice, which was not the case,” says Brissette. “When you make a payment, that payment goes towards the first invoice that has not yet been paid.”
At the meeting it was communicated that the billing system would be improved, however it would not happen until the new year. Oregon Food Bank is in the process of offering a new version of Primarius to ORCCA and other regional food banks who have also had billing issues. With this new system, partner agencies will receive a bill as soon as their food is dropped off or picked up. They will then check their order and communicate any concerns immediately.
“Nobody has been overcharged,” says Madeleine Parks, ORCCA Finance Coordinator. “We have the invoices to back up every single number on the statements.” Parks has offered to go over the process and paperwork that is at the core of these billing concerns with any of the pantries. Additionally, the Director of Essential Services at ORCCA, Patricia Gouveia, has also offered to set up meetings with any pantries regarding any questions or concerns.
The termination of OASIS from the South Coast Food Share network was not a result of billing issues. OASIS had stopped ordering product, therefore it was not cost effective for ORCCA to keep them in the network. Additionally, their clients had begun to receive food from other local pantries. With several organizations on the waiting list who would be ordering food and needing food services, it made sense for ORCCA to begin a partnership with agencies that needed food to serve those in need.
VERY interesting that the software problem at ORCCA has morphed into an internal processes problem. Double billing is only the tip of the iceberg of complaints. Billing for orders that were never delivered,, delivery of orders that were never ordered, orders that were ordered but never delivered. When trying to communicate these errors to upper management, their responses were atrociousness . No business should be allowed to treat their customers in such a manner. They kicked a few sites out of the network for complaining , putting the others on notice that if you complain you get axed. It almost worked !! But not quite. It is hard to believe that the ORCCA org. could behave this way, That is why they got away with it for so long.. This happened because of incompetent upper management and a weak , uninterested , uninformed board of directors,
Love you Kay. We’ll always have Mexico……
danger? I’d tell you where to put your indignation —- but it’s occupied.
You are a simple mind, attempting to ‘insert’ yourself in other peoples’ business.
You’re really such a tough guy,huh? You can take on a food bank ! Wow, a hero in your own mind !
It’s people like you here in C County that keep this place as ignorant as it is. And will continue to be “had” by any filthy corporation that wants to have their way with us.
SOME of us don’t drop our drawers to any Tom Dick or Harry.
Others do.
Take your pissing match some place else. Taking on a food bank makes you proud? What a wanker you’ve turned out to be.
They don’t have a choice in whether they stand by the retraction – they don’t manage the board, the board manages them (at least now).. @Kay, this is about stopping abuses so that people can be helped. Don’t fret, I’m sure the new executive leadership will support your windmills also. But they’ll do that and actually help people. @MaryG, don’t ask orcca staff, ask the orcca board.
The “board retraction” refers to comments made by an employee to KCBY. I have an email in to ORCCA to determine if they stand by this press release even though it mentions the Oregon Food Bank software system.
Biting the hand that feeds them.
ONLY in Coos County.
BECAUSE of the rag called The World which doesn’t know squat about journalism? They are the worst amateur group of people I’ve ever seen work at a “news”paper. And you praise them because they are blowing smoke up your arse, and you LOVE it !!
Strange folks live here don’t they?
Time to retract this given orca board’s statement from last night regarding this?
The truth of what, exactly? What is that ORCCA has done that needs to “come out”? All we have heard at The World is there has been billing irregularities which ORCCA has now explained and at worst a personality dispute between ORCCA staff and the Charleston pantry. What is it you think ORCCA has done?
It is truly amazing that SCFS can continue to look at black and white facts and still deny them !! HOWEVER , they need to keep in mind that you can fool some of the people all the time , all of the people some of the time but NOT all of the people all of the time . Time is running out for fooling ANYONE. Thanks to ” The World ” the truth is beginning to come out after YEARS of being mask by ORCCA’s smoke and mirrors act.
Community “Helpers”, huh? Quite aggressive in your style aren’t you? You don’t have to scream to get your question answered, we’re all adults here, I don’t think any of us have a say in any of this, how about you?
And by the way, I doubt very much you need to know every phone call ANY blogger does or does not make. I know this probably seems strange to you, as you voice your appreciation of the “professionalism and jouranlistic skills like the World”, but I understand there are some in Coos County who will get a good guffaw from your words.
Some folks really CAN”T deal with the truth.
Case in point.
ORCCA addresses Food Bank billing errors
A message says LEAVE A REPLY. Not sure what is needed.
Who are you? Are you ‘in bed’ with ORCCA? Has it dawned on you to contact the sites involved to get the other side of the story? Had you contacted me I would have explained that Mr. Brissette did not know that our food bank is in the network even though he is the Curry County ‘representative’. He has no clue about the billing issues and his simple solution is not on subject. Our Oct. bill had five invoices from the Sept. bill on it. Taking the balance forward, subtracting the credits then adding the invoices, including the five repeats, one comes up with the balance due! Sounds like double billing to me!! “Nobody has been overcharged” Ms. Parks? How do you explain this? Oasis has the letter from ORCCA that states that they were terminated from the network due to non-payment of bills. Of course you would not know this as you don’t call, you don’t write… With hopes that who ever you are is able to create some professionalism and journalistic skills much like The World!! Julie Davis Executive Director Brookings Harbor Community Helpers, Inc. Food Bank