Nursery owes us hundreds, claim furious parents
Families claim deposits were not repaid – but owners allege online smear campaign
ABIRMINGHAM nursery is embroiled in a row with some parents who claim deposits they paid to secure their children’s places have not been refunded or were delayed.
But San’s Day Nursery, in the Jewellery Quarter, say they’re the victim of an online smear campaign and have contacted their local MP.
A spokesman admitted there had been delays but, “as far as he was aware”, only one payment is outstanding. The majority of complaints flagged-up have been settled by San’s, say bosses.
But one couple, Huzefa Khozaim and Inese Griere, allege San’s owes them £800. Their daughter Nicole joined the nursery in 2017 aged three and left in 2019.
They are not the only ones. Other parents have complained online to nursery director Sanita Jhalli of long delays before receiving their deposits.
The “security deposits” – the equivalent of one month’s fee at the nursery – are paid to ensure a child’s place at San’s. The nursery’s terms and conditions state: “£1,000 refundable upon leaving (providing four weeks’ notice given) per calendar month, payable by the (1st) day of the month to which they relate.”
Mr Khozaim, a store assistant manager, has approached his MP Liam Byrne and is attempting to pursue a legal online claim.
The 33-year-old said: “First, I was told I’d get the money tomorrow, then in a month, then I was told times were difficult. It just seemed to be excuse after excuse. Then the owner stopped taking my calls. In the end, I got so fed-up my family took up the matter for me. I’m just angry. I lost my job in 2019 and really need the money.”
After Mr Khozaim vented his frustration online other parents stepped forward and posted their experience.
One posted: “I lodged a money claim via the HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Sanita paid me back once she knew about this action. I was just glad it was finally over as it had been exhausting. They just don’t seem to care what hard earned money means to parents. My deposit was £1,000.”
Another stated: “Had a similar issue with getting our deposit back.
Took at least eight months, but required daily phone calls and the threat of legal action.”
Another said: “Sorry to hear of so many others in this situation.
“It took us eight months to get ours back. In the end I went to one of the other directors instead and he sorted it out. But we experienced the same excuses, fobbing off etc. I would support any kind of action if anyone knows a formal route to challenge them, especially if you are still missing money.”
Dawn Harrison, whose daughter Georgie attended San’s from 2016 to 2019, described her battle to get cash returned as “incredibly frustrating”.
Georgie left San’s in September 2019, and her mother had her deposit
returned in December of that year.
She told the Post: “The money was always promised, the deadline kept on being extended.
“It was incredibly frustrating because no one would not admit there was a problem. There was excuse after excuse, always something – waiting for money from parents, government funding had not come, cheques hadn’t been cleared.” A San’s spokesperson blamed the comments on a smear campaign by disgruntled ex workers. He stressed: “We know what we have to do.” Mr Khozaim will get paid this week and, to his knowledge, that was the only outstanding debt, said the spokesman. The pandemic has caused a major shortfall in government
funding, he pointed out. The company has gone further on Google reviews. In March last year, it posted: “Our establishment’s policy clearly states that any internal complaints should follow our protocol and allow us to take your complaint seriously. “There have been a number of occasions where disgruntled former staff have taken matters in to their own hands and have made unconfirmed accusations and complaints that have no relevance and proof, but to purely cause our establishment issues and also cause defamation of our character.
“What we would like to say is there are proper ways to conduct such complaints, especially within the Nursery and OFSTED guidelines.”