Starlight Ranch - Jim And Diana Baird (owners) will not return our deposit! Littleton Colorado
My husband and I paid Starlight Ranch/Jim Baird a $275 deposit in July 2007 and started paying board for our horse. We were actually saving our spot, since our horse did not arrive from out-of-state until the beginning of September.
In December we decided to move him to a different facility, due to the conditions at Starlight. We left a written 30-day notice, as required by the contract, on December 10th.
On December 11th, I spoke to Jim Baird on the phone about an unrelated matter. He then offered to waive the 30-day notice requirement, and prorate our remaining time if we wanted to leave early.
On December 18th, I left written notice that we would be leaving on December 20th. The prorated amount to be returned to us for the rest of December would be $97.57. Plus the $275 deposit, Jim Baird owes us $372.57.
After two months passed and we did not receive the money owed us, my husband called Jim on his cell phone on February 21, 2008. He gave Jim our address again, confirmed the amount with him, and Jim said he would send it. The following day, we mailed a letter to confirm the phone call, certified and return receipt requested. Jim's wife, Diana Baird, signed for the letter on February 23, 2008.
By March 10th, we still hadn't received anything, so we sent another letter, again via certified mail with return receipt requested. This time the letter noted that if we did not receive our deposit and prorated amount within two weeks of the letter's date, we would file complaints with the BBB and online. Jim Baird signed for the letter on March 14, 2008.
As of March 26, 2008, we have not received a penny. Starlight Ranch still owes us $372.57. This entire time, we have heard absolutely nothing from them, except for when my husband called Jim on his cell phone. It doesn't seem like Jim Baird/Starlight Ranch EVER intended on returning our deposit!
Katharine
Englewood, Colorado
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Katharine
Englewood,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Jim Baird of Starlight Ranch lies to the BBB!
#6Author of original report
Wed, April 30, 2008
After two letters and a phone call, the BBB finally made contact with Jim Baird, the owner of Starlight Ranch, who still owes us $97.57. In his response to them, which appeared to have been sent via email, he claimed that the deposit was returned to us on April 1, 2008. THAT'S A LIE! The check was dated April 15th, and we received it April 17th. IT WAS ONLY MAILED AFTER THE BBB'S SECOND NOTICE WAS SENT.
His response also claims that since I "did not clean the stall and leave it in the same condition" as it was when I arrived, the cleaning fee is justified. However, the contract DOES NOT require that the tenant clean the stall before checking out; in fact, the contract clearly states that regular cleanings are included. IT'S A FULL CARE FACILITY! This makes cleaning the stalls the responsibility of Starlight Ranch, NOT the tenants.
Of course, the fact that the so-called "cleaning fee" is exactly the amount of what he said he'd prorate, right down to the penny -- not to mention that he confirmed the amount owed in February on the phone with my husband, with no mention of any cleaning fee -- makes it pretty clear that the charge is fabricated. I believe that Jim Baird made it up to punish me for taking the case to the BBB and forcing him to return our deposit.
Katharine
Englewood,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird now charging us a fake cleaning fee!
#6Author of original report
Thu, April 17, 2008
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird returned PART of the money they owed us. Today (4/17/08) we received a check made out for $275, the amount of the deposit owed us.
As for the rest, the $97.57 Jim Baird agreed to return to us if we wanted to leave early... Suddenly we have been charged a hokey $97.57 "clean fee." This fee is listed NOWHERE in the contract -- in fact, the contract clearly states that the monthly board INCLUDES regular cleanings! So how can we be charged a cleaning fee in the exact same amount as the prorated cost for the period we weren't there?
On February 21, 2008, Jim Baird had confirmed on the phone with my husband that the amount to be returned to us was $372.57. He never mentioned anything about a cleaning fee then, and he never answered the letters or contested the amount when we attempted to contact him afterward.
I should also mention that Starlight Ranch/Jim Baird only returned the $275 AFTER we filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and AFTER the BBB contacted them TWICE about it.
Katharine
Englewood,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird now charging us a fake cleaning fee!
#6Author of original report
Thu, April 17, 2008
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird returned PART of the money they owed us. Today (4/17/08) we received a check made out for $275, the amount of the deposit owed us.
As for the rest, the $97.57 Jim Baird agreed to return to us if we wanted to leave early... Suddenly we have been charged a hokey $97.57 "clean fee." This fee is listed NOWHERE in the contract -- in fact, the contract clearly states that the monthly board INCLUDES regular cleanings! So how can we be charged a cleaning fee in the exact same amount as the prorated cost for the period we weren't there?
On February 21, 2008, Jim Baird had confirmed on the phone with my husband that the amount to be returned to us was $372.57. He never mentioned anything about a cleaning fee then, and he never answered the letters or contested the amount when we attempted to contact him afterward.
I should also mention that Starlight Ranch/Jim Baird only returned the $275 AFTER we filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and AFTER the BBB contacted them TWICE about it.
Katharine
Englewood,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird now charging us a fake cleaning fee!
#6Author of original report
Thu, April 17, 2008
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird returned PART of the money they owed us. Today (4/17/08) we received a check made out for $275, the amount of the deposit owed us.
As for the rest, the $97.57 Jim Baird agreed to return to us if we wanted to leave early... Suddenly we have been charged a hokey $97.57 "clean fee." This fee is listed NOWHERE in the contract -- in fact, the contract clearly states that the monthly board INCLUDES regular cleanings! So how can we be charged a cleaning fee in the exact same amount as the prorated cost for the period we weren't there?
On February 21, 2008, Jim Baird had confirmed on the phone with my husband that the amount to be returned to us was $372.57. He never mentioned anything about a cleaning fee then, and he never answered the letters or contested the amount when we attempted to contact him afterward.
I should also mention that Starlight Ranch/Jim Baird only returned the $275 AFTER we filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and AFTER the BBB contacted them TWICE about it.
Katharine
Englewood,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird now charging us a fake cleaning fee!
#6Author of original report
Thu, April 17, 2008
Starlight Ranch/Jim and Diana Baird returned PART of the money they owed us. Today (4/17/08) we received a check made out for $275, the amount of the deposit owed us.
As for the rest, the $97.57 Jim Baird agreed to return to us if we wanted to leave early... Suddenly we have been charged a hokey $97.57 "clean fee." This fee is listed NOWHERE in the contract -- in fact, the contract clearly states that the monthly board INCLUDES regular cleanings! So how can we be charged a cleaning fee in the exact same amount as the prorated cost for the period we weren't there?
On February 21, 2008, Jim Baird had confirmed on the phone with my husband that the amount to be returned to us was $372.57. He never mentioned anything about a cleaning fee then, and he never answered the letters or contested the amount when we attempted to contact him afterward.
I should also mention that Starlight Ranch/Jim Baird only returned the $275 AFTER we filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and AFTER the BBB contacted them TWICE about it.