Bay Montessori School

Review: I am a retired Air Force officer and recently moved my family to [redacted], MD, for a position with the US Navy. My oldest son is three and a half and had been in a preschool for the past year. We visited more than 10 schools in the area before deciding to enroll him in Bay Montessori on Oct 2, 2013. We paid a non-refundable $300 registration fee and the tuition and after care, $798.Our son began complaining that he did not wish to return to the school on the first day. We kept him in Bay for a week in case it was new school jitters but his objections became more and more adamant. We withdrew him on Thursday, Oct 10. We retrieved his items on Tuesday, Oct 15, and on Friday, the director, [redacted], spoke with me on the phone and informed me that there would be no refund in tuition. She stated that refunds are only given if the school decided to remove the child or if the family geographically relocated.I have reread all of the paperwork and the tuition agreement. It does state that there is no reduction in tuition unless the school withdraws the student or the family relocates geographically. However, it also states that there is a 30 day trial in which the parent or the school may withdraw the student without penalty. I think any reasonable person would assume that without penalty would mean a refund of unused tuition. So after determining that the school is not a good fit within a week of starting, I am not even offered a partial refund. When a refund was requested, I was told in a condescending tone that our policy is not to refund tuition repeatedly. I also didnt think that after care fees constituted tuition. I have traveled and lived all over the country. This is the first time I've run into such a policy.We feel scammed by not being informed of this policy in advance. Had I known this was their policy, I would not have considered Bay Montessori School. My son attended the school for a week and I was charged for nearly a month? Unacceptable.Desired Settlement: Obviously, a refund would be nice, but more over, we feel scammed. This policy should be less vague in writing or at least brought up during the registration process. This could have also been brought up when we were talking about pulling him out. Suddenly informing us when we have already done so is deceptive.

Business

Response:

December 5, 2013Revdex.com,This particular customer signed a contract for a school year with Bay Montessori School for the annual tuition amount of $5,397. The signed contract states “no reduction or credit will be granted if a pupil is withdrawn unless said withdraw is made at the specific request of the school or the family is relocating outside of [redacted]’s County.” We did let them out of that contract minus the one month already paid since he withdrew within the 30 day trial period.Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because nothing has changed since the initial complaint. Of course, we were let out of the 1 year contract during the 30 day trial period, this was never a complaint. The complaint is that the first month tuition also known as the "trial period" should be clearly stated as nonrefundable. A non-refundable deposit is requested of $300, yet the "trial period" is left vague with a statement that reads "During the thirty-day period the PARENT or the SCHOOL may recommend withdrawal without penalty." Perhaps I am just used to better customer service, but I read that as a partial refund. I do not want their money. I want them to acknowledge that it is a vague policy and to clarify it so that no one else is trapped by the appearance that the trial period is refundable as we were. I would not have done business with this school had I known that the entire first month is non-refundable. In the case of something so sensitive as childcare, I find a month nonrefundable payment as a gamble. We can not be the first people to have a child not adjust to a new school and remove them quickly. Requiring payment for something that was not rendered during a "trial period" is just not a good business practice.

Regards,