Received deposit BUT waiting on signed contract - argh

[mickyc]

Curious how this would work for you ladies. If she has the money but no contract and family tells her 2 days before start date they changed their mind do they just forfeit their deposit or do they owe more? If she has both money and contract signed and same thing happens does it change things?

[Fireyesblue]

Curious how this would work for you ladies. If she has the money but no contract and family tells her 2 days before start date they changed their mind do they just forfeit their deposit or do they owe more? If she has both money and contract signed and same thing happens does it change things?

Technically, its kind of a grey area depending on how we wanted to go about it. Since she hasn't actually signed and delivered the contract she hasn't signed off on the fact that the deposit is non-refundable, therefor, I would be inclided to return it back (unless of course, I had something in writing: email or text where she had acknowledged that this was non-refundable which in my case there was not).

This is exactly why I added to my contract that there space would not be held or secure without BOTH contract and deposit which is to be delivered to me within 3 days. I was away for one week and accepted the etransfer with the expectation of it being in my mailbox upon my return. Having said that, in future I will really be enforcing that all documents including deposit are at the same time! UPDATE: I did email to remind her that her spot wasn't fully secure without the contract and that if I didn't hear back and have the contract by end of day today, I would have to assume she was no longer needing the space and I WOULD be returning the deposit (crappy!) but fortunately, that lit the fire and it was dropped off within the hour of the message

[Fireyesblue]

Also, I added to my handbook recently, that if they chose to not start care they forfeit their deposit and any other monies pay. That this was now a "holding fee" and care must commence in order for it to be applied. I have been burned a few times. Signed contract and deposit... they forfeit should the opt to not start care.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Curious how this would work for you ladies. If she has the money but no contract and family tells her 2 days before start date they changed their mind do they just forfeit their deposit or do they owe more? If she has both money and contract signed and same thing happens does it change things?

I require both to hold a place and that information given in e-mail when contract sent.

But, if I ever was in this situation, I would keep deposit. As soon as I have deposit, I always provide receipt. If in person, receipt given immediate. If deposit come from EMT, then receipt scanned and sent electronically. I not take cheque.

On receipt, I state money is "Non-refundable fee to enrol *child name* in daycare to start no later than *start date*". Because it not deposit for child care service, and it clear it not for a service, if they cancel when no service given, I not have refund. Enrolment has happen before child comes and if the change mind, they lose money.

They not owe more. They just lose what paid.