What????NO you cant!

***Warning this is a vent post***

So a few months ago in early October I had a family sign up for January 3rd .she paid a $200 holding fee for October and November. I asked the mom to bring the son part time in December I had him three times all month. Every time he cried the whole time he was with me. So I asked if she could bring him more to get him use to me and the other kids ECT. (First time in daycare) I knew she had her mom how is retired watch her son most days when he wasn’t with me. So come January I mentioned he may benefit from being partime as in come every second day for a short time them after a week or two start full time. Well I got am email back demanding her deposit back and stating she has found other form of care for her son. In the contract she signed it states holding fees are non refundable. And seeing how I did not say I will not care for him that she was the one taking him out of my daycare I did not feel inclined to refund her. In the email I sent it also states I would still take him full time in January and after a month of letting him learn to self sooth and learn I cannot be holding him all day he will learn to adjust but I prefer a gentler method of introduction and worry this will cause unnecessary stress to her child.
Great start to the new year:mad:

My guess is Grandma is taking him full time. And no she does not get her money back.

If she had emailed you a month back I would be inclined to refund fees as it gives you time to replace the Jan. spot. But in this case (no notice), totally agree with you! Sounds like child will be with grandparent.

Thank guys:) I was thinking the same

I tend to agree, he is probably with grandma. No way should you refund the deposit. That is why we ask for a deposit in our contracts. She is out of luck and you dodged a bullet! Advertise and replace !

No refund .... Tell her to refer to page x in your contract that states deposits are non refundable.

If she keeps insisting on the refund come right out and explain to her that this scenerio is exactly why daycare providers need to have a non-refundable policy. Once a contract is signed we stop advertising and interviewing for the space. To suddenly change their mind just before care starts leaves you starting again to advertise/interview and the deposit compensates for lost income during the reinterview phase. The mom needs to know that what she is doing is not acceptable and while there is nothing we can do about it it will show mom that she entered into a legitimate contract and needs to take the process seriously.

I also think he is with grandma. I would simply copy the contract she signed, hightlight the section stating there are no refunds and e-mail it to her.

I would also include a short note telling her you are sorry things didnt work out but you wish her the best.

I also feel that this isn't so much a negative way to start the new year but a positive one; You stood your ground and adhered to your policies as well as dodged a bullet in having to deal with a potentially difficult child.

Hoping you fill the space soon!

I would also be inclined to keep the deposit.

However, I may have handled everything up to this point differently. I do not believe that transition days work. I think it's much easier to start cold turkey. I think transition days confuse the small one. They're here one day then not the next then suddenly a few days later they return, then all of a sudden they're full time? Kids need consistency and thrive on knowing what comes next. For a child to come some of the time, but not all of the time just makes starting full time more difficult on them.

I would not have suggested she go part time come Jan 3rd as that was not what was agree'd upon. As a parent I may think that you don't want to care for my child and want to pull immediatly like this client did.

I'm not saying you're right or wrong, I just think that perception is everything. In a parents eyes they are the only ones that know what's best for their child. When we suggest that we are the ones that know best, they get their back up. She may have been offended that you suggested a different schedule then what was origionally set out.

All that being said... you are still entitled to keep the deposit, just be careful of how you are preceived to this client before you go to battle with her over 200.00 bucks.

I agree that the deposit is yours too, I also agree that trial days totally confuse a child and in my honest opinion the only person they benefit is the mom. I'm a cold turkey girl too and have only ever had ONE child in all my years not adjust (and to be honest I believe its because they attachment parent at home and I don't do that here)

I would explain to the mom that the reason we take holding fees and deposits is for this exact situation. You now have to advertise, interview and will lose the income for Jan because she pulled at the last minute. I think you dodged a bullet with her. It was only a matter of time before Gramma became the daycare provider!