Provider Being Shady
When I was in my third trimester of pregnancy with my daughter (first kid), I locked down an infant slot at a daycare center. The provider took a $300 deposit from me and said that deposit would cover the last 2 weeks of care for my daughter. (Meaning the 2 weeks after I gave my notice to leave.) Made sense to me. I never received any written handbook or written policies from the daycare center.
Right before my daughter started at the center at 6 weeks old, a spot became available at a home daycare. This home daycare is in an ideal location, I love the provider and the environment, and a good friend's daughter also attends there. Perfect. I gave my deposit for the home daycare slot. I got a handbook, and the provider sat and went over it with me when I visited her home. As soon as I knew my daughter would be leaving, I notified the daycare center. (More than 2 weeks notice.) At that time, the provider told me I could not use my deposit for my daughter's last 2 weeks of care, because my daughter hadn't been enrolled for at least 3 months. Having no written handbook, this caught me off guard. I have paid this provider $360 (the $300 initial deposit plus $60 for one day of care and one paid holiday). She wants $90 more to cover the other 3 days my daughter attended. She will not take the money out of my deposit. I'm pissed. As soon as she started pulling this shady stuff, I arranged other care for my daughter as much as I could. I'm strongly considering just not going back and not paying her the additional $90. I don't think it is right, because there was no written policy and she has already been paid! My daughter starts at the wonderful home daycare on the 13th. I definitely learned from my mistakes at the first daycare and will not be repeating them! What would you advise? |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: Ask the provider to show you the signed agreement between you two stating the rules. If she can't thats on her. As a business owner it is my responsibility to show proof of any agreement I am holding my clients to. If she cannot prove it, Id leave. I would not attend another day nor would I pay any additional fees. Id give written notice and state that your paid deposit should be applied to the final two weeks. Im guessing the provider is simply upset she is losing a client and behaving badly in response...:rolleyes: sorry to say, its fairly common |
Well I always say refer to your contract. Did you sign anything at all? I never take a dime from a daycare family without everything signed. To me, it is a matter of good business for us both to be on the same page. I agree with BC, if she can't show it to you in writing I wouldn't pay it an d I would go on about my way.
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No, I have not signed anything with this provider! I feel dumb, and I certainly should have been more proactive about getting things in writing, but I can't go back in time and change it. This is my first child and I just wasn't as organized as I should have been. And obviously, she should know better.
The good news is, my new provider is on the ball and I can't wait for my baby to start with her! |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: |
Originally Posted by mommyneedsadayoff: That could be also. I guess we need more info. |
Originally Posted by mommyneedsadayoff: |
Originally Posted by Thriftylady: |
Originally Posted by Mariahsaint: |
Originally Posted by mommyneedsadayoff: Hmm.. I reread it, and the bottom portion does sound like that's what's happening. But then where does 3 months part factor in? |
Originally Posted by mommyneedsadayoff: |
Originally Posted by Mariahsaint: |
Originally Posted by Mariahsaint: |
Originally Posted by mommyneedsadayoff: Parent is aware she DOES owe AN ADDITIONAL amount ($90) for the remainder of that week....(child attended 1 day, 1 day was a holiday so the $90 would be for the remaining 3 days of that week. Notice of withdrawal/termination was provided MORE than 2 weeks in advance...(I'm assuming Tuesday). Parent sounds like they weren't intentionally trying to stiff provider out of the remaining week's pay ($90) UNTIL the provider started saying the rules are that the deposit isn't going to cover the last two weeks because the parent wasn't enrolled for 3 months. I advised parent to ask for verification of the policy and if she didn't get it to just leave and not pay anything additional BECAUSE I strongly feel that any provider that twists her policies or words or actions to suit her and only her without regard for a parent deserves the same in return. As a business owner it is mainly MY responsibility to outline AND enforce my rules and policies and it's a parents responsibility to follow rules and policies they agreed to do. Since this provider failed to inform her client of their (and her) responsibilities, I feel the burden of proof lies with the provider and that it was not the parent's responsibility to do anymore than she already did. |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: This makes sense as well. I suppose we just have to wait for OP's clarification. :lol: |
Originally Posted by Mariahsaint: I paid $300 in Jan or Feb (the daily rate is $30, so that would cover 2 weeks of care, 5 days per week.) My daughter began attending on May 19, at which time I gave notice that her last day would be June 10. The deposit should have covered her last two weeks, but the provider is now telling me it won't because my kid hasn't been enrolled for 3 months. The actual problem is that none of this is in writing. |
Also, when I gave notice and she told me that my deposit would not cover the last two weeks of care, I lined up alternate care for my daughter for as many days as I could. So that's also probably confusing.
Basically, nothing was in writing and now provider is wanting to keep my deposit and not apply it towards care even though deposit should have covered ten days of care and child has only been at the center for three days of care and one paid holiday. |
With nothing in writing, I wouldn't pay her another dime. But, in the future make sure all of this is in a written contract.
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Originally Posted by Thriftylady: |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: |
Or was it a type of holding fee? Since OP didn't start right away, I am almost reading this as a form of payment that would hold the spot, which most provider's don't refund.
I would think that would make sense?!? Either way I agree that any other services provided need to be paid for and if there is a delay in that payment maybe that is why the provider isn't giving back the money because services have been rendered. |
Originally Posted by MunchkinWrangler: |
The provider told me that the deposit would pay for the last two weeks of care. When I gave my two weeks' notice, she changed her tune and said that since my daughter hadn't been there for 3 months, the deposit would NOT be applied toward the last two weeks. I have paid for all days of care (plus one paid holiday). My daughter only ended up attending for 3 or 4 days and I have paid this lady $360.
The problem is that she did not put anything in writing, and for my part I wasn't as proactive as I should have been about demanding to get it in writing. I guess this is a good cautionary tale! The written contract protects everybody involved. |
Originally Posted by Unregistered: |
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