How a BC works
Ten people each put in Rs 10,000 a month. Each month one of them takes the whole Rs 100,000, in an agreed order, for ten months, until everyone has had a turn. Everyone pays in Rs 100,000 and gets Rs 100,000 back; what changes is when. The early turns are an interest-free loan from the group, and the late turns are disciplined saving.
Rules to agree before month one
- The amount and the currency, and that everyone pays every month, including their own month.
- The due day. “By the 5th” is clearer than “early in the month”.
- How the order is set: a draw, an agreed list, or requests (someone with a wedding in March asks for March).
- What counts as late and what happens then: a reminder, then the admin calls, and whether a late payer can still take their turn.
- Swaps: allowed only if both people agree, and the admin records it.
- Dropping out: before the order is fixed, simply leave; after, the member finds a replacement or the group agrees a plan.
- Who the admin is, and that only the admin confirms payments and payouts.
Setting the order fairly
The order is where trust is won or lost. Draw it with everyone present, on a call if not in person, and write it down straight away. Once the first month starts, don’t change it except through a swap both people accept.
Each month
Remind before the due day
A short message a few days before saves most late payments.
Confirm each payment
Members say when they’ve paid; the admin checks and confirms. Don’t rely on “I sent it” in a busy group chat.
Pay out when the round is complete
The recipient gets the pot once everyone has paid, not before.
Record it
Write down who received what and when. After ten months, this record is what stops disputes.
When things go wrong
- Someone pays late. Remind them privately on the due day, not in the group. Note it in the record, so everyone can see who has paid on time over the months.
- Someone wants a different month. Let them ask another member to swap; it happens only if that member agrees.
- Someone can’t continue. Fall back on the rule you agreed. This is why you write the rules first.
Questions
What is a BC committee?
A BC, or committee, is a savings circle (a ROSCA). Members pay the same amount every month, and each month one member takes the whole pot, in an agreed order, until everyone has received it once.
How do you decide who gets the committee first?
Draw lots with everyone present, agree an order openly, or let members request months they need. Fix it before the first month and change it only through swaps both people accept.
What if a member stops paying?
Follow the rule you agreed before starting: usually reminders first, then the admin talks to them, and a replacement member or an agreed plan if they can’t continue.
Can I run a committee in an app?
Yes. Duesy has a free committee tracker: draw the order, confirm payments, send reminders and record each payout. Members still pay each other directly.