TLDR: Triple check your start date, go out of your way to make sure they've sent you any paperwork they need, ask for a supervisor if they won't attempt to rectify their mistake .
I would not use Kindercare in the future because of their poor communication and I hope that people in the future do not have issues like I had.
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In July 2022 when I was in my second trimester of pregnancy, I sent in an application and $200 registration fee for this daycare. I asked for a start date in April 2023 and they agreed that was likely. Later I got an email that there was a new director. When my baby was born, I emailed the new director to say, yes we still want that spot. No response after a few tries. After calling the center, I learned there was another new director. She and I communicated and she told me in writing that she confirms my spot for April. No mention of paperwork or next steps except that I could come for a tour if I wanted. It was December so I figured she'd ask for the extra paperwork closer to the start date. In February I reached out to her to ask about paperwork. No response. I learned from a friend that they have yet another director so I got her email and asked about next steps. She told me there's actually no April spot. This was very worrisome since I was going back to work in April. The July/August start date they offered would not work for me because we would moving out of the area.
She declined giving back the $200 since it's not technically used to the "hold" the spot.
I understand that the 200 is not a guarantee of a spot but after they told me I had a spot how would I as a first time parent know if there was even more to do? Even now I don't see what more steps I could have taken to ensure that they kept their word. The director basically agreed with me and said they dropped the ball but would not give me a refund when I asked a second time either. After asking to speak to a supervisor she agreed to send the $200 back. Whatever she did didn't work so when I reached out about the status she connected me to a support team who was able to send me a check.
All this to say, I had to be very, very proactive to get any information or anything moving along.
Also to clarify, after the first email communicating a director change, the subsequent changes happened without any notification.
One more thing - at least one other parent I know was promised an April spot and then told there isn't one.
Now I think and hope these issues won't happen when there's a consistent director. I understand that this is not the fault of the current director. I think it's appalling that they can put parents in this position without childcare by their own mistake and then not even offer to refund money deposited. I would not use Kindercare in the future because of their poor communication and I hope that people in the future do not have issues like I had.
I gave 2 stars instead of only 1 because I do think some parents/kids have a good experience there and the people I spoke to were at least polite. read more