DCP wants deposit refunded?!?!

[mimi]

Keep the deposit - you have the emails and the deposit which shows her intent. You were given many indications that this client was on board and you showed you were convinced she was a future client by turning away other clients. All proof she is in the wrong IMO morally and legally.

[jazmic]

I agree that you have sufficient written proof going back and forth between the two of you for you to keep the deposit. Good luck!

[gravy_train]

Loving all this support! Thank you! As a woman and a naturally giving person I struggle with putting my own needs first. This is part of what gives me the patience to be a great daycare provider, however as a business person I need to learn to stand up for myself and for what's right for me, my business and ultimately my family.

[apples and bananas]

I also require a 2 week non refundable deposit. However, a spot is not held until I have both the deposit and the contract together returned. If a client returns the deposit but not the contract, I don't cash the cheque until the contract is back.

A non refundable deposit is a funny thing. We can ask for it, but clients always want it back. Is it worth the frustration and fight? Is it worth someone telling someone else that I'm nickle and diming and not fair in my business? I don't know. I think word of mouth is my best advertising, I never want anyone to be in a position where they have anything negative to say about it.

[Momof4]

It's happened to me in the past that a family didn't start right away so I made a page called "Addendum to the Contract" and it specifically stated that the deposit and holding fee for each month are non-refundable.

Sorry you are going through such a bad time. We live and learn, especially in this business. There is always something to learn.

[gravy_train]

Yes, I have learned A LOT in the past few months! The biggest challenge for me is going to be letting go of the constant need to please everyone and make sure that I am making sound business decisions.

[playfelt]

This almost sounds like they had the child on the wait list for a space in a daycare centre or licensed care of some sort and then took a space with you thinking they wouldn't get in and then all of a sudden a space is now open and of course to hold that space they need to give deposit for last month and start right away all money they don't have right now so hoping you will just give them what they need to secure the other place. Nope sorry that is why we charge a deposit is so you can't leave us high and dry when you get called for the daycare centre space afterall.

[gravy_train]

This almost sounds like they had the child on the wait list for a space in a daycare centre or licensed care of some sort and then took a space with you thinking they wouldn't get in and then all of a sudden a space is now open and of course to hold that space they need to give deposit for last month and start right away all money they don't have right now so hoping you will just give them what they need to secure the other place. Nope sorry that is why we charge a deposit is so you can't leave us high and dry when you get called for the daycare centre space afterall.

yes, playfelt, it does seem like that. i sent an email incorporating many of the things we talked about in this thread. i hope that i struck a balance between compassionate and stern :-). i am hoping that they just maybe didn't see the whole picture - that this is my sole source of income and that their last minute decision affects my entire family. i'll keep ya posted as i have a feeling i will likely get some sort of response.

[momofnerds]

even if she didn't sign the contract she had every intent of coming thru your communications via email. copy and print them off incase they decide to sue you later on (you never know about people)

[gravy_train]

the saga continues! i emailed dcp in a manner that i thought was firm but compassionate and tried to explain how her last minute decision has effected me financially. she responded with an email claiming that i am unethical, and indicated that she has consulted a 'legal representative' (i am assuming this is a friend of hers who is a police officer). it's shameful, really. just admit that you were wrong, apologize and move on! some people have such a sense of entitlement and i have a really hard time with that.
at first i considered returning the money just because i hate the thought of anyone being mad at me and not liking me. now that i am a business owner though, i need to think about what's best from that standpoint. i'm still not 100% sure how i'm going to handle this, but the more i think about the way she is disrespecting me and my family the angrier i get!!!