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Hi ladies/gents(?)
Please reply to me, I need some support and any advice. I'm sorry it is long, please read. I really appreciate it.
I took on a child over the telephone (never again!) for a family planning to visit my area for the summer. I was told it would be for 1-2 months temporary, but full time. This was in April or May.
I emailed her my paperwork and she sent in the enrollment form only (didn't sign policies
ut oh 
yes a red flag, why didn't I pick up on it) and her 2 week deposit.
Months later... her first day she shows up with no other paperwork, tells me the child will not come as much as we discussed and - in not so many words - that she wanted her $ back and didn't really want the child to come at all. Her reasoning was completely understandable (sick family member, long story), HOWEVER, I do not refund deposits and I turned away 2 or 3 families because I was expecting this child. So, That's that, I lost out on 2-6 weeks of income ALREADY and she wanted a refund?? No way was I going to do that. I told her that the best I can do is that she can use the 9 days as she sees fit through the next month and that I do not refund deposits. I told her about the other families I turned away and kindly made it clear that I'm losing a lot of income because of this.
My policies state:
"There will be a nonrefundable deposit equal to 2 weeks of care due upon enrollment of your child, 3 weeks for multiple children. This deposit may be paid in full, or financial arrangements may be made. This deposit is to serve as the final week’s payment. Two-week’s notice is required if the child is to be permanently withdrawn from daycare, three weeks for multiple children. Failure to give written notice will cause loss of deposit."
Problem#1 The child attended for 4 partial days. She hasn't been here for 3 days now, but the mom showed up today while my sub was here to get her things, told my sub it isn't working out here and she will be in touch with me. She then is asking my sub about the # of kids here and says - oh, well if my kid came you would have been out of ratio. Then walks over to my parent board and studies my license info. Truth is that this particular mom texted my sub and said her kid wasn't coming today so my sub decided to bring her own kids! I never go out of ratio, ever.
Problem#2 Because of the above obvious concern I called DCM to try to diffuse the situation and if ratio info came up mention info above. She didn't answer, I left a message. ...sorry it didn't work out, I wish you and your family the best, yada yada yada, 3pm today.
6pm I get an email "I got your message today and feel that we need to talk about refunding some of the money I paid you for child's day care. Please respond to my email address."
I have not responded. My thoughts are to reply maybe tomorrow late afternoon and state the facts: I held the spot 2 months, turned other families away and do not give refunds, and quote the paragraph above from my policies and then ignore any further calls and emails, as she is clearly looking for a fight.
Clearly I made mistakes here, I let her kid come those four days without other paperwork and never made her sign the policies. Lesson learned - and no need to admit my mistakes to DCM, BUT, now what?
What would you do? Thanks guys!!
Please reply to me, I need some support and any advice. I'm sorry it is long, please read. I really appreciate it.
I took on a child over the telephone (never again!) for a family planning to visit my area for the summer. I was told it would be for 1-2 months temporary, but full time. This was in April or May.
I emailed her my paperwork and she sent in the enrollment form only (didn't sign policies
ut oh yes a red flag, why didn't I pick up on it) and her 2 week deposit.Months later... her first day she shows up with no other paperwork, tells me the child will not come as much as we discussed and - in not so many words - that she wanted her $ back and didn't really want the child to come at all. Her reasoning was completely understandable (sick family member, long story), HOWEVER, I do not refund deposits and I turned away 2 or 3 families because I was expecting this child. So, That's that, I lost out on 2-6 weeks of income ALREADY and she wanted a refund?? No way was I going to do that. I told her that the best I can do is that she can use the 9 days as she sees fit through the next month and that I do not refund deposits. I told her about the other families I turned away and kindly made it clear that I'm losing a lot of income because of this.
My policies state:
"There will be a nonrefundable deposit equal to 2 weeks of care due upon enrollment of your child, 3 weeks for multiple children. This deposit may be paid in full, or financial arrangements may be made. This deposit is to serve as the final week’s payment. Two-week’s notice is required if the child is to be permanently withdrawn from daycare, three weeks for multiple children. Failure to give written notice will cause loss of deposit."
Problem#1 The child attended for 4 partial days. She hasn't been here for 3 days now, but the mom showed up today while my sub was here to get her things, told my sub it isn't working out here and she will be in touch with me. She then is asking my sub about the # of kids here and says - oh, well if my kid came you would have been out of ratio. Then walks over to my parent board and studies my license info.
Truth is that this particular mom texted my sub and said her kid wasn't coming today so my sub decided to bring her own kids! I never go out of ratio, ever. Problem#2 Because of the above obvious concern I called DCM to try to diffuse the situation and if ratio info came up mention info above. She didn't answer, I left a message. ...sorry it didn't work out, I wish you and your family the best, yada yada yada, 3pm today.
6pm I get an email "I got your message today and feel that we need to talk about refunding some of the money I paid you for child's day care. Please respond to my email address."
I have not responded. My thoughts are to reply maybe tomorrow late afternoon and state the facts: I held the spot 2 months, turned other families away and do not give refunds, and quote the paragraph above from my policies and then ignore any further calls and emails, as she is clearly looking for a fight.
Clearly I made mistakes here, I let her kid come those four days without other paperwork and never made her sign the policies. Lesson learned - and no need to admit my mistakes to DCM, BUT, now what?
What would you do? Thanks guys!!
....Mom called the state and tried to cause trouble. My friend called and talked with Tom Copeland and explained the situation and about the agreement dcm signed (she was nervous about doing the right thing)....he told her that she had every legal right to keep the 2 weeks notice and give dcm the remainder of the state money.
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