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Parents and Guardians Forum>My Provider Terminated Me With No Notice But I Paid In Advance. Do I Get A Refund?
Unregistered 03:51 PM 12-10-2016
I went to my DC today to drop off my daughter and submit a notice that I would be leaving soon. Today is the 10th and I was paid up until the 14th. I asked her if I could just use what I had paid for and she cited the 2 weeks notice policy. I agreed that I did owe her a two weeks notice, which would put my last day as the 23rd. I and asked her what it would cost to cover the 15th to the 23rd so I could fulfill my obligation to give proper notice. She informed me that she would not prorate the remainder of my notice and I needed to pay her for two full weeks. By doing that I would be paying her for an additional 5 days that I do not wish to use her. I seem to think my 2 weeks notice begins when I provide it in writing while she seems to think its 2 weeks in addition to what I've already paid. The portion of the contract just says I need to provide a two weeks notice when I wish to end services and have to pay the two weeks wether or not I use the remaining days. Of which I agree to, since I offered to pay her and use her until the 23rd.
We went back and forth discussing figures, what dates I had paid and when, and the specifics of the contract. We disagreed on some things but we both remained calm and professional. I again stated I would pay, on the spot, the remainder of my 2 weeks notice if she could provide me with a dollar amount for the 9 unpaid days. She went in to her personal issues a bit and said it would be best for us to end our relationship immediately. She stated that she had to finish putting up her Christmas tree, decorations, and had holiday shopping to do. She told me about her sister needing surgery and an upcoming event for a grandchild. She offers 24/7 care but since I am the only parent who needs Saturday services, she has to postpone things to stay home with one kid (mine). The reason I selected her was because I do work full time, including nights and weekends. I asked her that since she is the one not accepting my notice and terminating the contract with no notice, would I be reimbursed for the 10th through the 14th. At first she said yes, then did the math and said no. She said she'd have to think all of this over and would let me know later. She proceded to put my daughter's things in a bag and send me on my way, causing me to miss today at work...which I had already paid for. Should she provide me a prorated refund for the 5 days shes refusing to provide care?
We went back and forth discussing figures, what dates I had paid and when, and the specifics of the contract. We disagreed on some things but we both remained calm and professional. I again stated I would pay, on the spot, the remainder of my 2 weeks notice if she could provide me with a dollar amount for the 9 unpaid days. She went in to her personal issues a bit and said it would be best for us to end our relationship immediately. She stated that she had to finish putting up her Christmas tree, decorations, and had holiday shopping to do. She told me about her sister needing surgery and an upcoming event for a grandchild. She offers 24/7 care but since I am the only parent who needs Saturday services, she has to postpone things to stay home with one kid (mine). The reason I selected her was because I do work full time, including nights and weekends. I asked her that since she is the one not accepting my notice and terminating the contract with no notice, would I be reimbursed for the 10th through the 14th. At first she said yes, then did the math and said no. She said she'd have to think all of this over and would let me know later. She proceded to put my daughter's things in a bag and send me on my way, causing me to miss today at work...which I had already paid for. Should she provide me a prorated refund for the 5 days shes refusing to provide care?
Mike 05:11 PM 12-10-2016
As far as your 2 weeks notice, if the daycare is paid weekly, most would require 2 full Sun to Sat weeks notice. If you end in the middle of a week, she may charge a daily rate for that period which could be more than the weekly rate anyway.
As for her terminating in the middle of your discussion, not very professional. My guess is, since you were leaving anyway and arguing about a few days, she took the opportunity to just terminate. Does the contract give information about her cancelling? If it says she also has to give 2 weeks notice, she should at least refund you the time left. Then again, if it's weekly and the refund is part of a week, she could calculate daily and could end up saying you owe her money.
As for her terminating in the middle of your discussion, not very professional. My guess is, since you were leaving anyway and arguing about a few days, she took the opportunity to just terminate. Does the contract give information about her cancelling? If it says she also has to give 2 weeks notice, she should at least refund you the time left. Then again, if it's weekly and the refund is part of a week, she could calculate daily and could end up saying you owe her money.
Unregistered 06:06 PM 12-10-2016
thanks for responding! I've been refreshing the website eagerly waiting, as this is my first time posting in any forum 
She takes payments for two weeks at a time ($360.50)or for the entire month ($721). over the long run I'd be better off paying the full month but I couldn't afford the lump sum after have been on maternity leave for 6 weeks, so I opted to pay the 2 week rate. She did allow a prorated amount since I started in mid November. For November I paid the $360 for 2 weeks (13th through 26th) plus an $83 prorated amount for the last few days of the month. She stated that she normally doesn't prorate but since she has miscalculated the original quote, we could meet at the additional $83 to end off November. The next payment I made was for December 1st through the 14th. Today is the tenth and she turned me away. I asked her to tell me what I owed for the remainder of the two weeks and thats when she started complaining about working Saturdays during the holiday season 😞
Regarding the contract, she said she would make copies after it was completed and signed, but never provided them to me. I let her know today that I still wanted my copy and she said she would probably have it ready mid to late next week. So, unfortunately I do not know the terms for her terminating the contract. Everything I've read say that they can terminate at will, which is fine, but I still feel like she should refund me for what I had already paid since it was her, not me, breaking the deal. I was not delinquent in paying, nor did the conversation become nasty to where she could even suggest that I was being rude or unreasonable. I could understand if there had been a loud argument or if Id become aggressive and threatening, then she wouldn't want to finish proving care. But, we were both calm, she handed me my stuff and I left.
She takes payments for two weeks at a time ($360.50)or for the entire month ($721). over the long run I'd be better off paying the full month but I couldn't afford the lump sum after have been on maternity leave for 6 weeks, so I opted to pay the 2 week rate. She did allow a prorated amount since I started in mid November. For November I paid the $360 for 2 weeks (13th through 26th) plus an $83 prorated amount for the last few days of the month. She stated that she normally doesn't prorate but since she has miscalculated the original quote, we could meet at the additional $83 to end off November. The next payment I made was for December 1st through the 14th. Today is the tenth and she turned me away. I asked her to tell me what I owed for the remainder of the two weeks and thats when she started complaining about working Saturdays during the holiday season 😞
Regarding the contract, she said she would make copies after it was completed and signed, but never provided them to me. I let her know today that I still wanted my copy and she said she would probably have it ready mid to late next week. So, unfortunately I do not know the terms for her terminating the contract. Everything I've read say that they can terminate at will, which is fine, but I still feel like she should refund me for what I had already paid since it was her, not me, breaking the deal. I was not delinquent in paying, nor did the conversation become nasty to where she could even suggest that I was being rude or unreasonable. I could understand if there had been a loud argument or if Id become aggressive and threatening, then she wouldn't want to finish proving care. But, we were both calm, she handed me my stuff and I left.
childcaremom 03:01 AM 12-11-2016
It all depends on what your contract says. 
My contract states that I can terminate at will with no refund of fees. If I terminate with unused tuition fees still here (paid days still unused), I use my discretion as to whether or not I refund the fees. I will say that I hardly ever do. Sometimes though, I do find it easier to refund and be done.
I have never been in the situation you are describing but it does seem unprofessional how your provider handled it. I can understand 'why' she didn't want to continue on but I still would have honoured our commitment and seen it through.
Again, it all comes back to your contract. Best of luck with your new provider!
My contract states that I can terminate at will with no refund of fees. If I terminate with unused tuition fees still here (paid days still unused), I use my discretion as to whether or not I refund the fees. I will say that I hardly ever do. Sometimes though, I do find it easier to refund and be done.
I have never been in the situation you are describing but it does seem unprofessional how your provider handled it. I can understand 'why' she didn't want to continue on but I still would have honoured our commitment and seen it through.
Again, it all comes back to your contract. Best of luck with your new provider!
Blackcat31 08:17 AM 12-11-2016
My opinion on ANY contract conflict is that a provider should always refund for any days/time she is unwilling to provide services.
I dont care what the contract says... if a provider terminates immediately for any reason, any fees paid for services that are "unavailable" for use should be returned.
Personally, I feel its the professional and ethical thing to do.
I dont care what the contract says... if a provider terminates immediately for any reason, any fees paid for services that are "unavailable" for use should be returned.
Personally, I feel its the professional and ethical thing to do.
Unregistered 08:44 AM 12-11-2016
thanks for answering☺ Just curious since you said you have terminated a contract before, would you provide the refund if your reasons for breaking the contract were personal? She cited her sister having surgery as a general hardship. Then events with grandchildren that fall on Saturdays, as well as it just being hard to get her holiday decorations and shopping done since my daughter is typically the only one there on Saturdays. It seems like when she found out I was leaving, she decided it wasn't worth it to miss out on the following 2 weeks of holiday events/ planning that I was keeping her from.
Blackcat31 08:57 AM 12-11-2016
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
thanks for answering☺ Just curious since you said you have terminated a contract before, would you provide the refund if your reasons for breaking the contract were personal? She cited her sister having surgery as a general hardship. Then events with grandchildren that fall on Saturdays, as well as it just being hard to get her holiday decorations and shopping done since my daughter is typically the only one there on Saturdays. It seems like when she found out I was leaving, she decided it wasn't worth it to miss out on the following 2 weeks of holiday events/ planning that I was keeping her from.
I never mix business with personal. thanks for answering☺ Just curious since you said you have terminated a contract before, would you provide the refund if your reasons for breaking the contract were personal? She cited her sister having surgery as a general hardship. Then events with grandchildren that fall on Saturdays, as well as it just being hard to get her holiday decorations and shopping done since my daughter is typically the only one there on Saturdays. It seems like when she found out I was leaving, she decided it wasn't worth it to miss out on the following 2 weeks of holiday events/ planning that I was keeping her from.
My thoughts are that personal issues from either party have no business in business.
It just muddies things up.
I operate the business side of my business in a very black and white manner.
It keeps things easy and clear for both parties.
Unregistered 09:02 AM 12-11-2016
I could understand if I had done something wrong, like not give notice or become aggressive in conversation, or if my daughter was causing some type in interference with care for the rest of the group, but that's not the case here. She wanted to me to pay another $360 on top of what I had paid, but that turned my 2 week notice in to a nearly 3 week notice. When I wouldn't do so, that's when she sent me out, telling me about her personal issues and not accepting my 2 weeks. She did at one point offer to reimburse me but changed her mind after doing the math. I got that its only $128, so I can't understand why she won't return it when shes the one who refused my notice and my money that day.
mommyneedsadayoff 08:14 AM 12-11-2016
I would definitely refer back to contract, but if it has nothing specific other than you must provide a two week notice, then i agree she should have accepted the notice. If she was looking for a way out, a better option would have been her saying the 14 can be your last day and just finish out the week. I dont think its very professional for her to just terminate the contract, but it can be hard to make a stronger judgment bc we dont know her side of the story. Not saying you are lying, but there can be so much background information to these types of cases, so without hearing the other side, its hard to say definitively, who is right or wrong. Either way, best of luck to you and welcome to the forum!