Venting - Denied Daycare Security Deposit

nycmommy13

Okay, ladies, I need to vent! I just got a new job and my husband and I are moving on August 15th. In June, I hadn't gotten the new job yet but was interviewing around. At my son's daycare, they have a policy (not written down but just casual) that teachers' children are allowed to be removed for July and August but with their spot held for September provided they keep the security deposit with the daycare to hold their spot. I received an email from the director confirming that this would be the case. On July 1st, I wrote to my daycare withdrawing my son and asking when I could get the deposit, thinking I would be able to get it on August 1st. I never received an answer. Today I called and was told by the director that headquarters told her I was not able to get my security deposit refunded because I didn't give 30 days notice. I said that I had given her 60 days notice. She said that because he wasn't returning in September, we had to refer to the original contract that says to give 30 days notice and that I would have had to notify her on June 1st. I said that I appreciated them allowing me to take my son out for those two months but she needed to show me something in writing that I had signed that defined what 30 days notice meant in my particular situation. She then said that the money was being applied to July tuition. I told her that she never would have gotten that anyway, though, since they waived the tuition for those two months. If I had withdrawn him on August 10th, I could see them keeping the deposit. I gave them 60 days, though, and they have plenty of time to find another baby to fill his spot.

She's calling again in the morning to see what she can do. I told her if she can't get the money, I expect to be getting two weeks of services since that's what that money is equal to. I could bring him in for the first two weeks of August so I can pack without a baby around. We really needed that money for the move and his new daycare deposit, though! I can't see how that money was owed to them - it just seems like greed.

Ok, done venting. How was your day?

snowflake143

Ugh, I get the reason they require 30 days notice, generally that seems reasonable. But they are totally trying to rip you off with a technicality 

LuLuEisla

If they don't refund you the deposit you could always make a complaint with the better business Bureau  (if they are a business, not a home daycare. Not sure about if an in home daycare qualifies)