Great Foundations Montessori

Thank you for your correspondenceWe tak.e all complaints seriously and researched this matter to ensure our policies were followed and that our actions were reasonable At Great Foundations Montessori, we do not collect a non-refundable registration fee until we can offer enrollment to a family and they commit to enrolling their child on a specific dateOnce the family commits with the non-refundable registration fee, we commit to having space for their child on the agreed upon date In this case, we did not collect a registration fee from Ms [redacted] when she first joined the waiting list in June 2012, but we did collect her registration fee when, in December 2012, we offered, and she accepted, an enrollment date of April After visiting the school and receiving her registration packet in February 2013, Ms [redacted] decided to delay her son's enrollment until late summer if space became availableIn July we offered Ms [redacted] enrollment in August She accepted, completed her enrollment forms, paid the first month's tuition, then, approximately days prior to her start date, again decided not to start at our schoolWe returned Ms [redacted] 's tuition check, but declined to refund Ms [redacted] 's non-refundable registration fee We regret that Ms [redacted] feels that we did not fulfill our obligation for the registration fee, but she accepted enrollment on two separate occasions and we held those spots for her son, to the exclusion of others on the wait list, on both occasionsMs [redacted] was well aware of the non-refundable nature of the registration fee as she signed no less than six documents indicating that the registration fee was non-refundable and the non-refundable registration fee was required to enroll her child and guarantee a start date Sincerely, [redacted] Executive Director Great Foundations Montessori Woodbury Town Center [redacted] ***

Thank you for your correspondence. We tak.e all complaints seriously and researched
this matter to ensure our policies were followed and that our actions were reasonable.
At Great Foundations Montessori, we do not collect a non-refundable registration fee
until we can offer...

enrollment to a family and they commit to enrolling their child on a
specific date. Once the family commits with the non-refundable registration fee, we
commit to having space for their child on the agreed upon date.
In this case, we did not collect a registration fee from Ms. [redacted] when she first joined
the waiting list in June 2012, but we did collect her registration fee when, in December
2012, we offered, and she accepted, an enrollment date of April 2013. After visiting the
school and receiving her registration packet in February 2013, Ms. [redacted] decided to
delay her son's enrollment until late summer 2013 if space became available. In July
2013 we offered Ms. [redacted] enrollment in August 2013. She accepted, completed her
enrollment forms, paid the first month's tuition, then, approximately 10 days prior to her
start date, again decided not to start at our school. We returned Ms. [redacted]'s tuition
check, but declined to refund Ms. [redacted]'s non-refundable registration fee.
We regret that Ms. [redacted] feels that we did not fulfill our obligation for the registration
fee, but she accepted enrollment on two separate occasions and we held those spots
for her son, to the exclusion of others on the wait list, on both occasions. Ms. [redacted]
was well aware of the non-refundable nature of the registration fee as she signed no
less than six documents indicating that the registration fee was non-refundable and the
non-refundable registration fee was required to enroll her child and guarantee a start
date.
Sincerely,
[redacted]
Executive Director
Great Foundations Montessori
Woodbury Town Center
[redacted]

Review: My son has been on the waiting list for preschool at this company since July 2012 (2 yrs 1 month). I was offered a spot in Dec 2012 & thus paid a $150 registration fee. Two days later I called and declined the spot asking to go back on the waitlist as my son has finally stopped crying at his current preschool (after 8 months). This was agreeable, and they said they would not cash my $150 check, however they did.Approximately Feb 2013, I was again offered a spot which I intended to accept, but then ended up declined after meeting the teacher. I choose to go back on the waiting list for the next available slot. I was told, barring any unusual circumstances, I was first on the waitlist because I had already paid my registration fee. Then, they never called and would not return my calls. Approximately May 2013, I heard from a neighbor that they got into preschool there, and they had a friend who also recently started. At this point, although the School Handbook states the Reg Fee is non-refundable, I requested Ms. [redacted] (Owner/Director) refund my deposit on the grounds that they did not fulfill their obligations for the Reg Fee: they had available slots and did not offer them to me, but instead offered to others who had not yet paid a registration fee. She & the board refused.Further, at this point (Aug 2014), my son is now in Kindergarten and no longer needs a spot at the school.Desired Settlement: Refund of the $150 registration fee.

Business

Response:

Thank you for your correspondence. We tak.e all complaints seriously and researched

this matter to ensure our policies were followed and that our actions were reasonable.

At Great Foundations Montessori, we do not collect a non-refundable registration fee

until we can offer enrollment to a family and they commit to enrolling their child on a

specific date. Once the family commits with the non-refundable registration fee, we

commit to having space for their child on the agreed upon date.

In this case, we did not collect a registration fee from Ms. [redacted] when she first joined

the waiting list in June 2012, but we did collect her registration fee when, in December

2012, we offered, and she accepted, an enrollment date of April 2013. After visiting the

school and receiving her registration packet in February 2013, Ms. [redacted] decided to

delay her son's enrollment until late summer 2013 if space became available. In July

2013 we offered Ms. [redacted] enrollment in August 2013. She accepted, completed her

enrollment forms, paid the first month's tuition, then, approximately 10 days prior to her

start date, again decided not to start at our school. We returned Ms. [redacted]'s tuition

check, but declined to refund Ms. [redacted]'s non-refundable registration fee.

We regret that Ms. [redacted] feels that we did not fulfill our obligation for the registration

fee, but she accepted enrollment on two separate occasions and we held those spots

for her son, to the exclusion of others on the wait list, on both occasions. Ms. [redacted]

was well aware of the non-refundable nature of the registration fee as she signed no

less than six documents indicating that the registration fee was non-refundable and the

non-refundable registration fee was required to enroll her child and guarantee a start

date.

Sincerely,

Executive Director

Great Foundations Montessori

Woodbury Town Center