Butterfly Learning Centre

At the end of May we gave Butterfly 30 days notice that we would be withdrawing our son from their daycare. In our original contract with Butterfly it clearly states that 30 days written notice must be given before withdrawing a child.

On a separate letter, they have a summer withdrawal policy which doesn't allow children who are entering kindergarten in September to withdraw from the program over the summer. They have this as a means to get around kids being pulled out for summer vacations ahead of kindergarten, for their planning purposes.

We weren't planning on withdrawing our son at this time. It was an unanticipated and extraordinary circumstance that had us make the decision to go down to one income, so we no longer have the means to pay for daycare. My wife had no recollection of this summer withdrawal policy.

So when we submitted our son's withdrawal notice, we were informed that we would also have to pay for July and August even though we would not be receiving any services for those months. We pleaded with the company's representative to try to explain the situation, but were only repeatedly informed that we signed the policy and that this 'is a not-for-profit organization' and that they can't afford to have a vacancy. Which I find hard to believe and was shocked that they would even mention considering they have the highest rates in the city and were in the middle of a massive renovation to their offices at the time.

We asked if they could help us out in any way, or if they could fill his spot with another child. Surely since there is such a long waiting list to get in to this centre they should be able to find someone. But no, we were told that once they got our notice they offered the spot the a child that would be taking the spot in September.

We didn't hear back from them until a collections agency called us on Christmas Eve demanding payment within 24 hours. We offered to pay half as was previously offered, but they refused.
Product_Or_Service: Daycare
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