Refunding a deposit

[Suzie_Homemaker]

A family enrolled with me back in November. They emailed their contract, forms and a one week deposit, that I use as their last payment when two weeks is given to terminate care. Their son was to start care next week Monday. I just got an email saying that they changed their mind and would not enroll with me because her husband lost his job in December. He just got a job, but due to distance they decided to stay at their present daycare. I am confused as what to do with the deposit. Do I have to refund it? Please help

This come down to wording you used.

If it deposit for "daycare service" or "daycare" then you have give it back because you never provided service. If it deposit "to hold place for child start care no later than {date}" then you did hold the place, and you not have return deposit.

Even if you put "non-refundable" in contract or on receipt, you would still have return it unless you clear on documents and receipt that it is to hold a place and not for the actual service of child care. Esp as you say it normally applied to final week of care, that show you normally give back at some stage.

My receipt say "Fee to hold X place in daycare to begin no later than start date. Non-refundable."

My contract say "To hold a future place for your child, a fee equal to one week of care, signed contract and all paperwork is required. Please be clear - if you change your mind, I have lost income by holding the place for your child and the fee will be forfeited. If you start as agreed and remain in the daycare for longer than 12 months, then a credit equal to the fee will be applied to your final week of care, providing proper notice has been given. There is no credit for those who leave before 12 months, who change their mind before starting, or who delay their original start date."