Deposits

[TheDuchess]

My son starts nursery next week so we visited today for his settling in session.

I had some questions about payment etc and queried when I would have a reduction in the bill to account for the £100 deposit I paid. I had assumed it would come off the final bill if all was OK.

Amazingly I was told that the deposit (called as such on the enrollment form) was in fact a reservation fee so would not come off the bill.

I showed her my copy which clearly stated it is a deposit. The owner shrugged and said that isn't what is meant by a deposit in the nursery world!

I was really upset because really I feel they have been dishonest and misleading. I feel I cannot now leave my son with them.

Am I being unreasonable? I know I am bound to feel wobbly about leaving him, but this feels wrong to me. The place smells of wee too, and there were some other niggles which I probably would have overlooked had the owner not been so stroppy over the deposit.

AM seeing a childminder tomorrow for possible place...but work starts next week and I am unhappy with my arrangements. What to do?

I don't think you are being unreasonable but unfortunately I think it is the standard practice. My son is leaving nursery to start school and 4 years after he started with the nursery I am now being told that my 'deposit' was in fact an admin charge.
Sadly I suspect that if you don;t take the place you won't get your money back.

If you are unhappy then leaving your son there is not the right thing to do. It is hard leaving them anyway and if you have some doubts already it will make things much much worse

Good luck with the childminder

thanks...not sure if I'll have to pay for the first month or not. Surely a deposit is what it is?

DS's deposit was to secure his place and it was £300!!! we get it back when he leaves nursery

YAB (a bit)U as deposits are usual especially with very popular nurseries, but if you are having doubts anyway then it isn't the place for your DS

Sounds dubious to me

I paid deposits and they came off the final term's fees

Trading Standards should be able to help if you decide you want to try and get it back

rubyslippers - they are now calling it a booking fee not a deposit which is different to the contract. If they'd been upfront at the start I would not have a problem. It just feels dishonest at worst and sloppy at best.

Am going to ring trading standards as suggested.

A contract term should IMO

if they have changed their terms and conditions then that is poor
good luck with trading standards - they are usually very good

Thanks. Have fingers crossed about the childminder. She sounds great and is around the corner

I got my deposit knowcked off my final months bill. That is out of order, you could take it to small claims.

I saw a deposit as a security for the nursery against you not giving proper notice.

A deposit is a deposit ie should be returned and mine have been so far however if you just don't turn up you will be liable for fees for the notice period (6 weeks at mine) so way more than the deposit.
Good luck with your decision.
(the only thing I would add is I really wobbled about leaving my dc in nursery this time but it has all worked out fine I thought I didn't like the nursery but what I really didn't like was the thought/need to leave!)