Lee District Basketball Association Inc

The complaint against LDBA is based on the following: (1) The consumer requested a refund(2) The refund was denied based on the LDBA policy after the Board reviewed the request, despite the "No Refund Policy' prominently expressed on the website and repeated during registration.Background:LDBA
provides recreational basketball for youths in the Lee District areaThe league offers various seasons such as Winter, Spring, and Summer recreational basketball with practices and games for the participantsThe children are provided jerseys and the league is responsible for providing an administrator, coaches, referees and gym locations for practices and gamesBased on the registration, the league allocates the resources based on the number of participants per seasonThe practice times and locations are based on the allocation from Fairfax County for available gym spaceThe game times and locations are also based on the allocation from Fairfax CountyThe fees for gym space are based on the number of participants that are registered with the league for any given seasonThe teams are based on similarly skilled (and aged) participants for parity in league playLDBA has an Administrator and Board of DirectorsSince the number of participants is directly related to the costs associated for the League for a season, and to keep parity within the league, the number of registrants is extremely important to determine the viability of the league in any given seasonThe Board instituted the "No Refund Policy' in response to participants signing up for a season and then deciding to not participate due to signing up for other recreational leagues or for other reasonsThe policy is prominently displayed on the website so participants are aware of the policy, before they register the participantAll participants are "on notice of the policy.Discussion:This consumer is correct in stating that she registered her children for the Winter Season and the timeline of events, specifically, that she registered her children on the last day of registration and assessmentHer children were assigned to teams and begun practicing as well as equipment purchasedTheir registrations were made part of the justification/request for allocation of space from the County in which fees were owedThe only Correction is that LDBA did not state that games would be specifically on Saturdays at 6:00PMSince the formation of the league, LDBA has always had Saturday games, and this is communicated, but it is impossible for LDBA to state an exact time of games for any division during the registration/assessment periodIn keeping with a mission of transparent communication being available, general season layout and milestone information is available and represented on the LDBA websiteIn fact, the games normally run from as early as 9:00AM to as late at 7:30PM, based on gym usage permitsPractices run throughout the week from 6:00PM through 9:00PM based on gym usage permits from the CountyAfter the consumer raised her concern regarding practice times with the Administrator & Coach, the Administrator, the Coach for her children, and the Age Division Coordinator moved practice dates around to accommodate herWith this addressed, she then brought up her concern regarding the game timesAdditional Conversations with the consumer took place and the Administrator communicated to her the policy and an additional accommodation was offeredLDBA offered to credit/transfer the fees for another season so her children could participate but ultimately she asked for a refund and Board reviewAt this point the matter was brought to the attention of the Board of Directors to address her concernsBased on the consumer being on notice of the policy, opportunity and conversation that took place on the date of her children's registration/assessment, general season information on layout available on website info and calendar sections, the clarity of the policy and no extenuating circumstances provided for the refund, her request was denied by the Board.ConclusionThe Board of LDBA declined the refund request based on the following: (1) notice provided to Consumer prior to registration; (2) clarity of the policy communicated to all Consumers prior to registration; (3) Board review of the refund request and vote of the Board which found no extenuating circumstances to overrule the "No Refund Policy" and; (4) an accommodation offered to the Consumer in which she declined.Respectfully, LDBA Board of Directors

[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 as Answered]
 Complaint: [redacted]
The complaint against LDBA is based on the following: (1) The consumer requested a refund. (2) The refund was denied based on the LDBA policy after the Board reviewed the request, despite the "No Refund Policy' prominently expressed on the website and repeated during registration (this policy was never stated during registration).Background:LDBA provides recreational basketball for youths in the Lee District area. The league offers various seasons such as Winter, Spring, and Summer recreational basketball with practices and games for the participants. The children are provided jerseys and the league is responsible for providing an administrator, coaches, referees and gym locations for practices and games. Based on the registration, the league allocates the resources based on the number of participants per season. The practice times and locations are based on the allocation from Fairfax County for available gym space. The game times and locations are also based on the allocation from Fairfax County. The fees for gym space are based on the number of participants that are registered with the league for any given season. The teams are based on similarly skilled (and aged) participants for parity in league play. LDBA has an Administrator and Board of Directors. Since the number of participants is directly related to the costs associated for the League for a season, and to keep parity within the league, the number of registrants is extremely important to determine the viability of the league in any given season. The Board instituted the "No Refund Policy' in response to participants signing up for a season and then deciding to not participate due to signing up for other recreational leagues or for other reasons. The policy is prominently displayed on the website so participants are aware of the policy, before they register the participant. (All participants are "on notice of the policy (the refund policy is not prominently displayed on their website as stated and neither was it communicated to us before or during registration.  At the time of registration we wished to confirm the league schedule and/or policy before sign up.  However, the administrator was unavailable and the on-site staff was unable to answer any of our questions.  The staff informed us that it was the last day to register and pay our fee if we wanted to participate in the league.  The company’s refund policy cannot be applicable in this situation because our registration was based on game schedule information provided over the phone by one of their staff a few days prior to tryouts & registration on 11/23.  The game schedule turned out to be different from what we were told and conflicted with our existing schedule.  This is the only reason I requested cancellation of our registration and additionally, I made this request 5 days later on 11/29 soon as I became aware of the conflict.  I have emails to corroborate all of these facts). Discussion:This consumer is correct in stating that she registered her children for the Winter Season and the timeline of events, specifically, that she registered her children on the last day of registration and assessment. Her children were assigned to teams and begun practicing as well as equipment purchased. (I registered on 11/23 and on 11/27; I received the first email from LDBA with league information specifically team assignments for my children.  I had to get in touch with the coaches to confirm the game schedule and I learnt that the schedule was different than what we were given to understand and additionally, the practice time were changeable every week.  I immediately emailed the administrator on 11/29 to request cancellation.  She responded by email saying that LBDA would adjust their schedule to accommodate my children.  The teams did not begin practice until at least a week after my cancellation request.  An email was sent to parents on 12/6 to say that the jerseys were on backorder and would not arrive until 12/15 and therefore games would not start until then.  Therefore the company is incorrect in stating that practices had begun and equipment was already purchased at the time I requested cancellation.  I never requested any change to their schedule as stated by the company.  The administrator said they would change their league schedule for us in response to my cancellation request.  Contrary to what the company has stated, they never adjusted their practice or game schedule for us and neither did they refund our fees).  Their registrations were made part of the justification/request for allocation of space from the County in which fees were owed. The only Correction is that LDBA did not state that games would be specifically on Saturdays at 6:00PM. (their staff member did specifically say so over the phone which the company denies)  Since the formation of the league, LDBA has always had Saturday games, and this is communicated, but it is impossible for LDBA to state an exact time of games for any division during the registration/assessment period. In keeping with a mission of transparent communication being available, general season layout and milestone information is available and represented on the LDBA website. In fact, the games normally run from as early as 9:00AM to as late at 7:30PM, based on gym usage permits. Practices run throughout the week from 6:00PM through 9:00PM based on gym usage permits from the County. After the consumer raised her concern regarding practice times with the Administrator & Coach, the Administrator, the Coach for her children, and the Age Division Coordinator moved practice dates around to accommodate her. With this addressed, she then brought up her concern regarding the game times.  Additional Conversations with the consumer took place and the Administrator communicated to her the policy and an additional accommodation was offered. LDBA offered to credit/transfer the fees for another season so her children could participate but ultimately she asked for a refund and Board review. At this point the matter was brought to the attention of the Board of Directors to address her concerns. Based on the consumer being on notice of the policy, opportunity and conversation that took place on the date of her children's registration/assessment, general season information on layout available on website info and calendar sections, the clarity of the policy and no extenuating circumstances provided for the refund, her request was denied by the Board.ConclusionThe Board of LDBA declined the refund request based on the following: (1) notice provided to Consumer prior to registration; (The refund policy is not prominently displayed on their website as stated by the Company and neither was it communicated to us before or during registration).  (2) clarity of the policy communicated to all Consumers prior to registration; (3) Board review of the refund request and vote of the Board which found no extenuating circumstances to overrule the "No Refund Policy" and; (4) an accommodation offered to the Consumer in which she declined. (In lieu of a refund the company wants us to choose another season to register for the league.  Registering for an alternate season does not change their game schedule because there is NO schedule.  Their schedule is unpredictable and can change even during the season based on space availability, as the Company itself has stated.  This is a pertinent piece of information that should have been communicated to all parents interested in joining the league.  Not communicating this and having their staff member say that the games would be played at a specific time is not only dishonest but a sort of trap for unsuspecting parents like us.  The fact remains that we registered for the league based on incorrect information provided by one of their staff members.  The company now denies providing this information.  We notified the company soon after registration that their new schedule was not what we were expecting.  Yet, the company continues to make false statements and refuses to issue a refund).