Return of deposit from nursery

[beachavendrea]

Wondering if anyone can help. I put my sons name down at a nursery in feb it was implied we would get a place by may haven't heard anything from them.

I would like my deposit back. It's £50 and I knew it was non refundable but I honestly thought we would have a place by now. I contacted then twice to ask for my money back and they have refused. Which is a bit cheeky as all they did was put his name on a list!

Can I complain to ofstead? Or is this not the right place? Has anyone had a similar experience and had any luck?

Hi,
I would write again stating a date you want the money back by citing reasonable time to be offered a place etc. If no joy, ask citizens advice.
Don't bother with OFSTED they don't get involved in contractual / money issues.
Cheeky nursery I'd say. Have you managed to find a decent alternative childminder or less money grabbing nursery?

I decided not to put him in nursery at all in the end. It was just for two mornings a week so not really necessary.
I sent them another email today and will send them a letter tomorrow. I have also contacted citizens advice, hopefully they can give me some hints to make it sound more threatening.

They are very cheeky. The email they sent me this morning basically said we couldn't offer your child a place but we are keeping your deposit. I didn't really get their logic.

I think this is normal unfortunately. In effect it is a fee to go on their waiting list. Legally you have not got a leg to stand on, morally...... They don't need your business so I don't think you will get it back.

I doubt you will get your deposit back at all.

At my nursery we only brought in deposit recently, £75 when a place is offered/and you accept the place.

However lots of nursery do charge a deposit to go on the waiting list and this is because soooo many parents want to go on the list and when a place becomes available change their minds, which is fair enough for the parents but it's not great for the nursery. It is a business after all.

They may have implied a place would be available at point of application however nothing is set in stone and knowing how nurseries work (did you ask how long the waiting list was) they may have not been any movement which limited the amount of new places they could offer out, and lets not forget there would have probably been people in front of you.

Also when you paid your deposit did you ask them when you would get this back, did you sign anything to say you were paying a deposit, have you read any of their policies, i would have thought they would have a policy regarding the deposit.

You've received several emails basically saying that they are not going to give you the money back, you also choose to remove your child from the waiting list, and the consequence of that really is loosing your deposit.

It's just so cheeky! We were told they were 10 children on the waiting list total for various sessions and they were getting new staff in May so the implication was we would get a place then.

We have had no contact with them in 6 months and i know of children who have got in before us, i think because they wanted three morning s a week rather than two and I know of two children who had the exact spots we wanted and now no longer attend. i think they are just either extremely crap at admin or I suspect are chasing the big bucks.

I did sign something that said it was non- refundable and if i had changed my mind fine, but it's the lack of contact from them that makes me mad. It's like they've taken by £50 and laughed all the way to the bank.

I'll write them a letter and see if that helps.