Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  11/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I would like to have your assistance in resolving a conflict between me and Edmonds Montessori. My twin daughters were enrolled in the Montessori for the ***** school year but we left before the end of the school year because my concerns that were brought up in ******* were never adequately addressed including issues of safety, respect towards my children, and that the children were locked indoors for extended period of time (esp. since WA law requires that preschools provide outdoor time). We decided that it would be in the best interest of our children to withdraw them from school.I was contacted by the Montessori on 6/20/22 regarding an unpaid invoice for the amount of $2535.00, which they agreed to reduce to $1998.25. The payment plan was mutually agreed upon for $333 for the remainder of the year (6 monthly payments). The first check was sent in July and the second in August. After the August payment was cashed, I received the an invoice that claimed the balance of $1869 ($2535-$666). I asked for correction on this but never heard back. She did mention the payment being "late" but never mentioned in that email, nor any other a due date, and when I informed her the check was sent on the 20th, she did not say it was supposed to be in by the 5th of the month and this was not discussed in any of our correspondence regarding this debt, so it is my understanding that it was never late. I received a letter from collections company on 9/24 and asked for clarification and had also reached out to the Montessori when my Sept. payment sent ~9/12 was not cashed to see if it had been received. Since I did not hear back on either, I assumed that the check was lost and cancelled it on 9/25. I have sent her the entire balance of $1,332.25 asking for this matter to be closed being as our agreement only stated monthly payments would be made and my payments were sent each month. Also she tried to impose a penalty in August after receiving the August payment. I was never in breach

  Business response

  11/30/2022

  November 29, 2022
  
  To Whom it May ********************************************************************************** I am writing in response to a complaint received by the Better Business Bureau from *********************. **************** alleges that her debt owed to Edmonds Montessori was referred to ********************************* in violation of our payment agreement. We respectfully disagree with these allegations, as the steps taken by Edmonds Montessori are consistent with the procedures and expectations provided in the Tuition Agreements entered by ***************. Further, Edmonds Montessori has made multiple attempts to provide alternative methods of payment options, including a reduced payment plan and waiving fees.
  
              Below is a summary of the timeline of events and processes established by Edmonds Montessori in regard to its debt collection procedures:
  
  09/15/2021: Tuition Agreements signed by **************** for her children, JW and LW, which outlines the payment plans available and policies for enforcement of delinquent accounts. The Tuition Agreements clearly provide a due date of the first day of each month, and a late fee is assessed if payment is not received by the fifth of each month. See Attachment A.
  04/19/2022: **************** did not provide a notice of withdrawal as required by the Tuition agreements. Edmonds Montessori reached out multiple times to determine why JW and LW were not in attendance. See Attachment B.
  06/20/2022: Past Due Invoice sent to ****************. See Attachment C.
  06/21/2022: **************** responds to the Past Due Invoice, citing an inability to pay and requesting a payment plan. See Attachment D.
  06/29/2022: Edmonds Montessori responds to ****************** request for a payment plan by offering a reduction in late fees, a credit of nonrefundable registration fees towards the balance owed, and a monthly payment plan for the remainder due. **************** responds and requests a payment plan to begin in July 2022. See Attachment E.
  08/20/2022: **** apologies for not sending an August payment; Edmonds Montessori requests ongoing, open communication and offers suggestions to avoid late fees in the future. See Attachment F.
  08/22/2022: August invoice is sent to ****************. See Attachment G.
  08/25/2022: **************** disputes the amount owed. See Attachment G.
  09/12/2022: No payment is received for September. One week after the late fee is assessed, the account is referred to *********************************. This action is consistent with the policies outline in Attachment A. See Attachment H.
  
              *************************** 5th passed, it became clear that **************** did not intend to make payments in a timely manner. My attempts to receive the payment due from her in a timely manner were unsuccessful and was told to get off her back (See Attachment F)when suggesting checks be pre-delivered so we could deposit them on the first of each month. As such, the account was referred to ********************************* on September 12 when a payment was not sent by the first nor fifth of the month. Edmonds Montessori is no longer involved in the collection of this debt owed due to ****************** continued noncompliance with the terms of the Tuition Agreement, despite multiple attempts made over the course of several months to provide accommodation.

  Customer response

  11/30/2022

   
  Complaint: 18348464
  
  I am rejecting this response because: a specific deadline was never brought up after I signed that agreement which was for my tuition as an enrolled family. Even in August when I mentioned that there was no due date, it was not mentioned nor was this agreement brought up at that point. If it was important to the school to have a payment by a specific date, I would have expected them to bring it up at some point during the 2 months I had to make payments or prior to deciding in August that they would charge the full amount by sending an obscure invoice that had no context (or due date).
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

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