My neighbor Annette was frantically calling the other night. I saw her message but since I was busy, I was not able to return her call. Close to midnight last night, she again messaged me asking for urgent help. It was a distressed call. She was asking for my help.
They own a school in Cavite. Some of the teachers wanted to take out loans against their monthly SSS contributions but they were denied by SSS because no payment under their names were ever made as per their records.
Naturally the teachers were up in arms against the school thinking that their monthly contributions were never remitted ever since the school opened which was 6 years ago.
And how did that happen?
The owners checked their files. All their monthly contributions were paid on time, evidenced by the signature of the SSS officer and official seal and stamp.
The SSS collection officer named T____ would even go to their school driving an SSS official vehicle to personally pick up their cash payments every month. He would come back the next day with the forms properly received with SSS official stamp and with his signature.
When Annette went to the SSS office to verify, she was told that their school never remitted anything for the past 6 years. She was being slapped with over half-million pesos representing P300,000++ contributions plus the P200,000 penalties. When she showed the evidence of their monthly contributions, they found out that these T___ person didn’t give the cash payments to SSS. He must have pocketed them. Their contributions were stolen. They also learned that Annette’s case is not the only one. There are many. This guy has resigned and no longer lives in the last known address.
Paano na sila Annette? Inaaway sya ng mga teachers. They refused to understand that what happened was not the school’s fault. They are even threatening to sue the school for non remittance of their contributions.
Ni remit nga, kaya lang sa kasamaang palad ibinulsa pala nung officer ng SSS.
I advised her not to pay the P500,000+ and instead ask her lawyer to write a letter to SSS and attach all her proof of payments. Sabi ko awayin nya ang SSS kasalanan nila yun.
Important things to remember for business owners & individuals:
NEVER REMIT IN CASH.
ALWAYS PAY IN CHECK PAYABLE TO Social Security System.
ASK FOR OFFICIAL RECEIPT.
Contribution forms must not only be stamped but must be accompanied by SSS official receipt.
Keep your records intact.
I think you can now check online your monthly contributions.
HI Ms. Annie, I’m just wondering why they did not pay through bank? Pag bulk payment ba dapat sa SSS officer at hindi sa office ng SSS magbayad? Sorry I’m not into big business with many employees, hindi ko alam ang mga palakad para mabilis. Pwede bang cheke ang pagbayad sa lahat ng bayarin sa SSS para sa lahat? At least nakapangalan doon SSS talaga.
They erred in trusting this guy too much and for lack of knowledge. You are right, dapat they should have paid in CHECKS and payable to SSS. Theirs is a small school with less than 20 teachers.