Cottontail Preschool

Review: On Monday, October 28, 2013, at about 5:15 pm, I went to the preschool for a tour with the director. I toured for about 30 min. and made a decision to pay the $37 registration fee to hold a spot for my son until Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. I only filled out one form, the registration form before leaving that night which provided our address, emergency contacts, health insurance information, and my signature. I gave her the form and did not receive a copy. She gave me a receipt for my $40 payment (receipt only stated $37) and she apologized for not having $3.00 change. She gave me the rest of the paperwork and told me to return it on Friday. She stated a few times she wasnt sure which teacher she would place my son with. She was back and forth about which teacher she was going to place him with. We left there about 5:50 p.m. They close at 6:00 p.m.On Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at 8:30 a.m., I called to tell her I had changed my mind and asked for my registration fee back. She said she could not give me my money back because the form (I had no copy) stated it was non-refundable. She then added that after I left the night before, someone else had come in to enroll in a certain teachers class, and she had to turn them away. I found that hard to believe since we left 10 min. before they closed and she had stated she wasnt even sure which teacher [redacted] would be placed with. I sensed she was lying. I asked where it said it was non-refundable and she said on the form she gave me. I went home later that night and looked through all the forms and did not see that stated anywhere.On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at 8:30 a.m., I called her once again and stated it was not on any of my forms. She said she had the form I signed and it stated it there. I asked for a copy and said I would pick it up some time that week. I did not pick it up until a week later and it did say it was non-refundable and holds my childs space until he starts, but he didnt start so I think its unfair to keep a registration fee for no reason. Theres no purpose to it.This seems very unfair to me.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund for the $40 I paid to register my son who never even attended the school.

Business

Response:

December 28, 2013

Revdex.com Complaint ID [redacted]

Revdex.com,

On Monday October 28, 2013, I received a telephone call from a parent who was interested in enrolling her child at Cottontail Preschool. We had a brief conversation via telephone, the parent was upset and stated that her child was being kicked out of the preschool he was attending. The parent asked me if I was available to meet with her that day for a tour of the preschool at 3:30pm. I told the parent I was available anytime to meet with her for a tour.

The parent arrived for a tour of the preschool at about 5:30p.m. that day and she toured the preschool with me for about 30 minutes. During the tour of the preschool, I told the parent I had one opening available between two different classes in different age groups. I stated that because I had not observed her child’s maturity level or his interactions with other children I was unsure which class I would place him in. I discussed the different classroom placement options with the parent.

Upon completion of the preschool tour, the parent decided to enroll her son. I told her I would provide her a 50% registration fee discount (normal registration fee is $75) due to the situation with the school her son was currently attending. The registration fee I quoted her was $37. The parent gave me $40 cash. I did not have the $3 change but I promised to give her the $3 when the child started. The parent filled out the registration form which clearly states the registration fee is non-refundable. I provided the parent a handwritten receipt for the registration fee. The purpose of a non-refundable registration fee is because it secures the child’s place at school. I explained this to the parent at the time of registration. When I register a child, I have one less vacancy for prospective enrollees, and I am counting on their business. If I fill a vacancy and another parent calls or comes in to enroll their child, I am forced to turn them away if there are no vacancies.

On October 29, 2013, I received a phone call from the parent who enrolled her son the previous day. The parent told me she had changed her mind and was not going to enroll her son at Cottontail Preschool. The parent told me the preschool her son currently attends was going to “work with her” and allow her son to remain at the school despite what she had told me the previous night. The parent asked me to refund the registration fee she paid and I told her it was non-refundable. I reiterated our previous conversation and told the parent that the registration fee secures a child’s placement at the preschool. I also told the parent she signed the registration form which clearly states the registration fee is non-refundable. I reminded the parent of our conversation the night before where I told her the registration fee was non-refundable. I told the parent she could come to the preschool at anytime and I would give her $3 change I promised her at the time of enrollment.

On December 13, 2013, I reviewed Cottontail Preschool’s Yelp account, and saw that the parent wrote a poor review for the preschool citing the dispute over the registration fee. I believe this is an example of the parent’s vindictive nature and unreasonable behavior. I ask that the Revdex.com take this into consideration.

I appreciate the opportunity to explain the circumstances of this business dispute to the Revdex.com and promise that Cottontail Preschool keeps with the highest standards in child care and business practices.

Sincerely,

Owner/Director

(619) 425-3107

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.