Early Learning Academy

I was sued by Ela Erickson owner of Early Learning Academy Pre School in downtown Jersey City. On April 2013 my wife and I signed a contract to enroll our child for the ²⁰¹³⁄₂₀₁₄ school year that would start in September. When my wife took my daughter to preview a 15 minute music class in April 2013 they were both treated like not being wanted there, they were ignored by the head teacher and also felt they were unwelcomed being there.
After being treated like they were unwanted, ignored and unwelcomed a very negative review was found online later that evening.
After discovering this very negative review and being treated the way we were by the head teacher we decided to pull our daughter out. I gave them 3 ½ months notice before the school year started. I tried getting my two months deposit back but was not successful. When I called Elizabeth Erickson the owner of Early Learning Academy in Jersey City about getting my deposit back I was not able to reach her for two days. She did finally send me an email two days later saying that I was harassing the school. Instead of addressing my concerns about getting my refund in that email she was confrontational with me. She stated that I had called ten times one morning and was harassing the school. I replied that it was not true but she continued to tell me via email that my behavior was abusive. She was very rude and unprofessional. I couldn’t believe how a lady who owns a school could be so aggressive towards me. After all I was very polite with her.
On June 2014 I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau hoping they would help me get some of my money back. A month later Ela Erikson sued me.
My wife and I were sued for the remaining balance of the year which is the other 10 months. She already had the first two because she never returned any of my deposit. This sum totaled $ 12,000. The lawsuit stated that they provided all services and satisfied all obligations and as a result of the breach of contract incurred damages. I don’t understand how they could have provided all services since my child never attended the school. I don’t understand what kind of damages Early learning Academy suffered since she took $ 3,100 from me and didn’t give me a penny back. Ela Erikson had plenty of time to find a replacement since I gave her 3 ½ months notice.
I want to point out the PROBLEM that I had with the CONTRACT and why Early Learning Academy in Jersey City sued me. As per the contract when you sign it you are responsible for the ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. The only option you have out of this contract is due to circumstances such as relocation, job loss, divorce, and etc., unlike other schools in this area. When you go to others schools in the area you can usually get out of the annual contract if you give them notice. You also can’t give them notice of early withdrawal prior to the beginning of the school year which usually begins in September. The school has the option to cancel the contract at any time it wants but you can’t. This contract gives the school many rights over you. The school has the right under the contract to make you responsible for the entire year and you can only cancel under certain situations which I just mentioned. If you don’t like the school you still won’t be able to get out of the contract. If you don’tg comply with their early withdrawal options they have the right to collect from you the balance of the remainder of the year.
The lawsuit was served upon me on 8÷4÷14 shortly after I filed my complaint with the Better Business Bureau. It was settled on 9÷15÷14. Her collection lawyer was harassing me with mountains of paper work until I hired my own attorney. The paper work they sent me had a lot of tricks and traps in them. One of them was that they wanted me to sign that I was indebted to the school for $ 12,000. Elizabeth Erickson decided to settle with me as soon as I hired my own attorney. All I wanted was half of my $ 3,100 deposit which I though was very FAIR. I asked her very politely for half of my money back. She made my family go though an enormous amount of stress and in return I got nothing back from her not even an apology.

Really expensive considering the return! I don’t how other parents are adjusting to the costs of this daycare. It’s crazy how they structure their fees and shortened operating hours, for more money?
It is not worth paying to get on this waiting list then to be admitted only to be disappointed by shortened operating hours.