Getting screwed by daycare

J

JCMhorn

< 25 Posts
From the beginning: March 2004 - my daughter is 11 months old and my wife and I are looking for a daycare that offers 2 days a week. We find Westlake Childcare for a deposit of $350 and $35 a day ($280 per month) and you have to give one months notice to cancel. Seems reasonable. Well we only take her 3 times and arent very happy with her care. Example: We came to pick her up early and one teacher was watching 15 kids outside on the playscape and our 11 month old daughter was behind the teacher playing with small rocks. Anyways we tell the teacher we dont want to bring her anymore and she says we have to do a written letter, so we do that. Well then they wouldnt give us back our $350 deposit because we didnt give one month notice. Fine, I'll pay for one month ($280) and not bring her. They say no, they'll just keep our deposit. I argue that it doesnt make sense but dont get any sympathy. Whatever. I ask if "thats its?" they say "yes" ... I think "great, no more talking to them" ......

Fast forward to today ... I get a letter in the mail from a collection agency stating I owe $790 in late fees and services provided. I'm very confused and call the daycare and am told I do owe all this. After a little back and forth, I'm getting no where. I dont get how they didnt ever inform me I owed this money and how it took 7 months for me to find out.

Does anyone have any advice?
 
I may be completely wrong here, but you don't have to pay them jack. Who the **** are they to demand money from you? It's a daycare, not the IRS. I would tell them and the collections agency to get bent. The collections people will call and send you letters, but do what my boss does and simply ignore them. I know this post was zero help, but good luck with your problem. And I'm serious about thinking you don't have to pay them a dime. Did they have some kind of ******** contrtact that you had to sign? Even if they did, you weren't happy with their service, so you have a legit argument.
 
I had the same problem with giving notice recently. There is no state law but some places will throw that **** into the contract and paperwork that you sign.

I would harass their asses every day. I would say that you are going to report some violations that you noticed to the state. If you do some research you can find a few things that can give them serious headaches like at that age I think the state requires the 11:1 ratio at all times and any other possible violation.

When you're dealing with people like this, you have to be ruthless. I have learned to cover my *** in situations like this. I rarely give out my actual SSN to anyone.
 
I don't know about it being reported on your credit, but I would fight it tooth and nail. I just don't see how they have any real recourse to get you to pay. Your kid was there only 3 times.

On a side note, I would post your problem on the Quaks' Board. You will get more views and replies over there. We come to this board for ideas on fixing our broken **** and getting marinade recipies.
 
State VERY clearly your reasons for you dissatisfaction, namely as said above inappropriate staffing. State clearly that you terminated the contract nearly immediately and conformed with the instructions given by the company representative in writing.

Look at your contract carefully.

Decide right now how pissed off you are! TAPE ALL CONVERSATIONS.

Play nice one last time with the owner via registered letter. Then go for the jugular, call child protective services, lodge complaints with any agency you can, HEALTH DEPARTMENT is usually a wonderful place to start with daycares. the food service inspection folks in particular who BY LAW must resond to complaints.

HINT: Next time tape record ALL of your conversations any time you have a dispute involving money......
 
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