No Response To Picking Up Belongings

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I had a single mom client who I tried to assist for the benefit of her child. The day before my maternity leave ends, I receive a text message asking if I will open at 6:30 AM (my normal opening time is 8:00, but I will open from 7:00-7:20 for early drop off IF necessary) and if I will accept different payment arrangements. I tell her I am sorry but I am unable to either of those things. She then e-mails her two weeks notice saying the person who was taking care of her child for my 2 week maternity leave was able to do those things so she would be leaving here.

This week (her final week) she e-mails asking about her tuition credit. All parents who paid before I went into labor got credited the days I was closed back to their account. I'm not sure what "credited to your account" means to others but in my mind it doesn't mean refund?? Am I mistaken? Do I need to re-word my policy in my handbook about closings outside of the normal, paid holidays and use a different word besides credit?
I tell her that her credit was applied to her final two weeks of care due to her using her final two weeks of care security deposit when she attempted to withdraw him one month prior to. Lots of words about how it was wrong of me to not refund her since she wasn't bringing her child here anymore. I told her that is why she didn't receive an invoice for last week and this week ... because the credit zeroed it out. She can see that if she logs into her childcarepay account. I state that she needs to let me know what morning she will be coming by to claim his belongings should he not attend here anymore prior to September 30. No reply to that, just more words about how I'm in the wrong. I state it once more but again receive no reply to it.

Should I send a final notice that all belongings not picked up by September 30 will be donated? :confused: I can't keep them here (clothing, pull-ups) because I have no room nor do I wish to keep someone elses belongings.

[Heidi]

Yes, send the final notice. Then put them all in a bag and set them in the garage for a couple weeks before you donate them. Let the dust settle first.

Hold your ground. You're not wrong on this. It's fine that she's going elsewhere, but she can't expect you to refund money, and you know she's not going to court over it. You are entitled to your two weeks notice, in any case. PAID 2 weeks notice. That's what's in your contract.

[blandino]

I would do exactly that. Sept 30 at your closing time, they go in the trash/donation box.

I always wait until the parent is done with the time period they have paid for, whether or not their child is in attendance, and then I remove them from e-mail lists/blog viewing permission/etc. So I would do the same with holding belongings, once the spot is not being paid for, you owe them no services - including storage.

[littleblossoms]

courier it to her with COD

[melilley]

In my mind "credited to your account" means just that, your money is credited to your account. I can see how if you just put that you will give them a credit that some may misconstrue your words and think that you meant a refund, but the fact that you put "to your account" is self explanatory.

I would send a final notice and say that you will be donating his stuff if she doesn't come and get it by a certain date.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

In my mind "credited to your account" means just that, your money is credited to your account. I can see how if you just put that you will give them a credit that some may misconstrue your words and think that you meant a refund, but the fact that you put "to your account" is self explanatory.

I would send a final notice and say that you will be donating his stuff if she doesn't come and get it by a certain date.

I have written in my handbook over 5 times (and in the contract) that no refunds will ever be given. There is even a section directly about no refunds only credits given. ::

So, sometimes I wonder about people but then I have doubts about if it was me.

[melilley]

I have written in my handbook over 5 times (and in the contract) that no refunds will ever be given. There is even a section directly about no refunds only credits given. ::

So, sometimes I wonder about people but then I have doubts about if it was me.

I do the same!

But it does make you wonder if they even read the handbooks and pay attention to the contract, or anything written for that matter!

[mrsnj]

I am no lawyer BUT I called mine a few years ago for a no return and asked if I could get rid of the things. I was told I could not. I could take them to them. I can send notices. Etc but I can not dispose of their personal belongings. So.........what I do is give notice stating that they can come on XYZ day and time to pick up. But I do not state in writing that I will dispose of the belongings. Then should they ever come back....a month, 6 months, a year and say "You have my things" I can simple say I gave you notice of pick up and I no longer have the things. Nothing is in writing on that I did with them. My word against theirs. I am not a storage unit! They either want them or they do not. I currently have belongings here now sitting and waiting. Will be donating in a short bit.

So....like I said I am not a lawyer....but I wouldn't put in writing you will donate/sell/trash/etc.

[Heidi]

I am no lawyer BUT I called mine a few years ago for a no return and asked if I could get rid of the things. I was told I could not. I could take them to them. I can send notices. Etc but I can not dispose of their personal belongings. So.........what I do is give notice stating that they can come on XYZ day and time to pick up. But I do not state in writing that I will dispose of the belongings. Then should they ever come back....a month, 6 months, a year and say "You have my things" I can simple say I gave you notice of pick up and I no longer have the things. Nothing is in writing on that I did with them. My word against theirs. I am not a storage unit! They either want them or they do not. I currently have belongings here now sitting and waiting. Will be donating in a short bit.

So....like I said I am not a lawyer....but I wouldn't put in writing you will donate/sell/trash/etc.

She may have a point. I would leave that out.

[itlw8]

Yep state they are on the front porch in a walmart bag. If they are stolen it is not your problem now is it.

[Heidi]

Do you know the other provider? Can you just drop off the bag there instead of donating?

Another option is to just take a picture of the pile of stuff. Then get rid of it after the date you stated. The worst thing she could do is claim later that you threw away something of value, in which case you have a picture. Get a receipt from where you donated it, too. It'll have a place to put a value on it. Since your not claiming it as a charitable deduction, you could put $5. That'd probably be accurate for a few used clothing items.

[Unregistered]

Check your state. Here if you leave your items at someone's house for 2 months then it is now your property.

[Meeko]

Check your state. Here if you leave your items at someone's house for 2 months then it is now your property.

Same in my state. When we bought our first home here, the previous owner asked if he could put his stuff in the den and he would be back for it shortly. We said yes. Days turned to weeks. I began to understand that to him...we were just free storage. There was always an excuse as to why he couldn't come and get it etc.

After a couple months I called an attorney who told me to send him a written notice that after such-and-such date, the items were considered abandoned and were mine to do with as I wished.

We told him his stuff (furniture etc) was going to the dump if it wasn't picked up. Amazingly, he suddenly had time to come and get it and take it to a nearby storage unit.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I do the same!

But it does make you wonder if they even read the handbooks and pay attention to the contract, or anything written for that matter!

I wonder, too, even though I know the answer to that is NO.

[countrymom]

to me "credit to account" means a credit of money. I think instead of saying of "account" I would say "credit of days will be applied" then there will be no confusion.