Ballestrini's Child Care Center

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:
 
Yes...I was told by the supervisor at the [redacted] location it would not be deposited and to bring in another check.  I did not bring in another check.  I was told to pay in full to.hold the spot that is true but never did anyone tell me it was non refundable.  They were not supposed to deposit the initial check.  I changed my mind due to the lack of effort and professionalism on the edtablishment and it's staff.
Sincerely,
[redacted] [redacted]

Since I stopped using the organization for regular daycare I do not have anything in writing for the drop in services.  I was offered these services after I discontinued the regular service.
 
[redacted]

Review: We pre-paid for our son to start on July 15th, 2013 in the infant room, at the [redacted] location. We notified Ballestrini's Daycare via certified mail, before the two week requirement, that we no longer were requiring their services. After following their policy, we were still informed the funds were non-refundable. Upon review of the policy pamphlet, it appears that only the registration fee of $50.00 is non-refundable. There is no indication that either the first or last week tuition is non-refundable. This is particularly so given that notice was provided pursuant to the withdrawal procedure that we would no longer would be requiring their services. As such, we would expect a refund of $400.00 dollars. This is a small community and we hoped that the good will would be evident by a refund not being compromised, though they never have responded to either letter, we sent one informing them we no longer needed them and then another following up on a refund. FYI there are two other families that we just know of (who knows how many others) that they did this to as well. Unacceptable behavior, if they are like this with money how are they with taking care of the children?! I have copies of their pamphlet with their policy if needed.Desired Settlement: We would just like the money owed to us, $400.00, and hopefully stop them from doing this to others. This is not a way to run a business especially when the well being of children is the main reason of the business. As a daycare you should not be money hungry, instead you should be focused and willing to take care of other individual's children in the safest way they can.

Business

Response:

In May of 2013 The customer enrolled her child to begin care at our child care center On July 1, 2013 .

In May 2013 She paid the last week retainer first weeks tuition and the registration fee.

In June she decided that her mother was going to watch her child instead.

The parent was told both verbally and in writing that all the money paid was non refundable. This was explained more then once before I accepted any money from her. The money she paid was to hold her child's spot to begin care in July.

I turned away other families because she reserved the spot. ( We only have 4 spaces for young infants) I told her she could bring her child for the two weeks that she paid for but she would not be refunded the money.

The policy was outlined in the parent hand book which she received. The parent admits that she was aware of this policy I have a Text message from her admitting that this policy was explained to her , I also have messages from her admitting that she received the handbook and read it.

I Turned 2 families away because [redacted] reserved the last spot in our infant program. I was not able to fill the spot until October 2013. Therefor our business lost income for the Month of JUly, August and September.

I was very nice and kind to this lady until both her and her mother started calling and harassing me on a regular basis.

we followed all of our policies

Consumer

Response:

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT ACCEPT the response from the business.)

First of all it was to reserve a spot starting July 15th (she obviously is not thorough with her information starting from as simple as our start date) never mind what else she has mentioned. She has text messages from when we talked AFTER SHE CASHED MY CHECK and I informed her we no longer needed her services, then she informs me VERBALLY (via text) that the money is non-refundable. Have her show you the dates of the texts and I will show you proof from my bank when she cashed my check. Another thing that is ironic is how she had no problem cashing my check with in a few weeks after receiving it when my child wasn't starting for another two months, money hungry? The phamplet (which I will be more than happy to forward to you) clearly states that the daycare only needs two weeks notice, which I gave more than that via certified mail. I also seeked legal advice and they agreed that there is no where in the phamplet that states it is non refundable except the $50.00 registration fee. She is worried about the business loosing money, that is not my fault, and it's not ok that my mother and I called upset that we were loosing $400?! If she thinks that's harassment she needs to educated herself with the definition of "harassment." I expect a refund of the $400.00 because it is owed to us. Being an un honest business doesn't bring you new business, word of mouth goes along ways may she keep in mind. I am very disappointed that a business, specifically dealing with children, are so about the money.

Business

Response:

The check was deposited when it was received, and after the date the check was written. I verbally told [redacted] of the policy that the fees were nonrefundable before she left her check. I explained (as I do with all families) that if she left the deposit of first and last weeks tuition and then changed her mind about needing child care that she would not be refunded the money . I told her to be 100% sure that she would be needing child care prior to putting down the deposit. These policies are written in the parent handbook, I can provide a copy if needed. [redacted] has a copy of this handbook as well.

The handbook does state that a two week PAID notice must be given. It also states that the last week retainer is only refunded if the child attends for more then 6 months In accordance with these policies she actually owes one more week of child care.

If the fees we collected were refundable then we could not hold a spot for a child. This means that we could give away the spot she held for her child at anytime. How would she have felt if on her child's scheduled first day of care we told her that we no longer had space for him, or if we called her 2 weeks prior to his scheduled start date and informed her that he no longer had a spot in daycare? In order to reserve a spot in daycare for a specific start date you must pay to hold the spot. Because she chose not to send her child to daycare I can not refund the money.

If I was refusing to provide her with a service that she paid for I would understand her frustration. However we staffed for her child to attend care, we held a spot for him, and we planned on him attending, She chose not to send him. This was out of my control. She should not have reserved a space and put down a deposit if she did not plan on sending her child to daycare. I did not force her to pay the deposit she did that on her own, She wanted to hold a space for her child to start daycare in July. She could have waited to pay the fees however then she would not be guarenteed a space for her child. She wanted to hold the spot. She wanted to make sure she had daycare when she went back to work.

These policies were explained verbally and she recieved a written copy of them.

Review: We enrolled my daughter in Ballestrini’s Childcare Center’s summer camp beginning August 3rd until August 14th. We decided to do a test drive of the camp on a part-time basis the week of July 6th- 10th. To our disappointment we discovered that the camp was actually structured as daycare with limited (minimal) activities that were outlined in the camp brochure. In addition one of the two fieldtrips was cancelled (not rescheduled without a refund of the cost). In addition the center failed to inform the parents of any changes (i.e. cancelled field trip) or emergency situations (flat tire during fieldtrip kids were not at daycare center at scheduled pick time). We decided to withdraw our daughter from the camp in August and provided a timely written notice that was faxed to the center on July 10th, 2015, with a confirmed receipt. I received an email correspondence from the center director three days later stating that the fees are non- refundable. I have a copy of signed agreement that clearly states that a two weeks written notice is required to withdraw from the program to avoid charges. I have complied with the policy and asked the director for a full refund of the pre-paid camp costs. Due to lack of response from the director I was forced to file this complaint to trigger a communication and proper refund as originally requested July 10th, 2015.Desired Settlement: I ask for a FULL REFUND OF ALL FEES $589 due to lack of response from the center and negligence.

Review: I was seeking child care for my daughter as the drop in service I kept her signed up for allowed that for a week in August. I dropped off a check for the full amount for the week and then realized that I was only going to need two days instead of five. I called the [redacted] center immediately and the supervisor, [redacted], told me that it would not be deposited and to drop off a new check. Since then I never dropped off a new check and the $173 was still cashed. I have been emailing the owner, [redacted], about this and she has told me that with the drop off service it is paid in full and never refunded. Again, a policy I was never made aware of. But since I called the same day that she would refund me $85 of it minus the two days. I had previously told her that I wasn't in need of the services any longer and made other arrangements due to the unprofessional conduct of this transaction. I am asking for the full refund of the check that was never supposed to be cashed to begin with.Desired Settlement: Full refund

Business

Response:

The mother asked me to secure a spot for her child for the last week of August. She was told that she would need to pay for the service to hold the spot for the time she was looking for as she only required one week of care .