Grasslawn Children's Center Violated the contract, then kicked my child out when I complained Redmond Washington
My daughter was enrolled at Grasslawn Children's Center for one year (Jan-Dec of 2008). This past holiday season, the director (Gretchen) violated the contract by closing the center for 5 days instead of 3. Apparently, she thought that she and her staff deserved vacation more than all the parents did! When I brought it to her attention and suggested she change the shedule, she refused.
Instead, she offered to have someone open the center to watch just my child. I didn't think this was fair to the other parents, so I kept pressing her to do the right thing and let the other parents know in an official manner. She kept refusing, so I finally wrote a letter to the owner. His "solution" to the problem was to kick my child out, on New Years Eve, with only one day of notice.
So, here you have management that knowingly violated their contract, didn't fix the problem when called on it, and then punished the parent who complained. And this was such a simple problem, and so easy to fix! Can you imagine how they would handle things if the complaint was something more serious?
Yet another symptom of poor management is that they can't retain their employees. The staff turnover is very rapid - over the year we were there, every caregiver except one had left. Needless to say, I'm very happy to have found a much better place for my child.
Evelyn
Redmond, Washington
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Gretchen
Redmond,Washington,
U.S.A.
Our side of the story
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, February 25, 2009
Evelyn Chambers was notified via the center newsletter of our holiday schedule for December 08 and January 09 on December 1st 0f 2008. She asked about the additional closure days and I explained that we were closing because of a lack of need for care that day by most of our parents. I then told her that if she needed care for her daughter that day I would be happy to open the center and have a teacher available to her I also told her I would offer the same to any other parent in need of care that day. She sent many rude emails demanding that I open for the day. This was not necessary as the only customer having an issue with this was her and I had tried to offer her care for the two added closure days. She then sent a certified letter to the owner demanding I open the school or she would begin harassing the other parents trying to get them to complain. The owners decision was to dissenroll her before she caused more problems. As the contract Evelyn signed we have the right to terminate care at any time if we see fit. I am sorry for the problems this caused her and her daughter I only wish my offer to open the school for her would have been good enough. I would also like to let you know that we did compensate our families for the extra two days by giving each family a $100 credit that was used to cover the yearly enrollment fee.
Gretchen
Redmond,Washington,
U.S.A.
Our side of the story
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, February 25, 2009
Evelyn Chambers was notified via the center newsletter of our holiday schedule for December 08 and January 09 on December 1st 0f 2008. She asked about the additional closure days and I explained that we were closing because of a lack of need for care that day by most of our parents. I then told her that if she needed care for her daughter that day I would be happy to open the center and have a teacher available to her I also told her I would offer the same to any other parent in need of care that day. She sent many rude emails demanding that I open for the day. This was not necessary as the only customer having an issue with this was her and I had tried to offer her care for the two added closure days. She then sent a certified letter to the owner demanding I open the school or she would begin harassing the other parents trying to get them to complain. The owners decision was to dissenroll her before she caused more problems. As the contract Evelyn signed we have the right to terminate care at any time if we see fit. I am sorry for the problems this caused her and her daughter I only wish my offer to open the school for her would have been good enough. I would also like to let you know that we did compensate our families for the extra two days by giving each family a $100 credit that was used to cover the yearly enrollment fee.
Gretchen
Redmond,Washington,
U.S.A.
Our side of the story
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, February 25, 2009
Evelyn Chambers was notified via the center newsletter of our holiday schedule for December 08 and January 09 on December 1st 0f 2008. She asked about the additional closure days and I explained that we were closing because of a lack of need for care that day by most of our parents. I then told her that if she needed care for her daughter that day I would be happy to open the center and have a teacher available to her I also told her I would offer the same to any other parent in need of care that day. She sent many rude emails demanding that I open for the day. This was not necessary as the only customer having an issue with this was her and I had tried to offer her care for the two added closure days. She then sent a certified letter to the owner demanding I open the school or she would begin harassing the other parents trying to get them to complain. The owners decision was to dissenroll her before she caused more problems. As the contract Evelyn signed we have the right to terminate care at any time if we see fit. I am sorry for the problems this caused her and her daughter I only wish my offer to open the school for her would have been good enough. I would also like to let you know that we did compensate our families for the extra two days by giving each family a $100 credit that was used to cover the yearly enrollment fee.
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
IF THEY VIOLATED THE CONTRACT AND YOU SIGNED IT AND PAID THE ENTIRE FEE UPFRONT...
#5Consumer Comment
Fri, January 16, 2009
THEN YOU NEED TO SUE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE AMOUNT THAT YOU PAID.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A VIOLATION OF CONTRACT LAW THE WAY IT STANDS HERE.
BUT YOU NEED TO CHECK WITH AN ATTORNEY WHO IS LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE WHERE YOU LIVE.