Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/22/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 7/2/24, I paid the Berkeley Forest School (***) $225 for the summer session and $275 for the fall session of the Forest Explorers Program via ******** Oct. 2024, I found out that our family needed to relocate for my husband's work and that we would be moving before the start of the fall *** program. On 10/10/24 (the day before the last day of the summer session program), I emailed ***** ******** (the *** Director and the teacher for the program) and shared we were moving and requested a refund for the fall course ($275) since we would no longer be living in the area and would not be able to attend the program. I did not receive a response. The next day during the last day of the summer class (10/11/24) I shared with ***** in person that I had emailed her about our move and asked if she would be willing to refund us since we would not be able to attend. She graciously agreed to the refund and also noted that she hadn't yet seen my email. I asked her if she needed anything further from me to process the refund. She shared nothing else was needed. On 10/21/24, I still had not received a refund, so I wrote a comment in Venmo on my payment to *** asking if they could refund me via ***** since that was my payment method to them. I did not receive a response. On 10/28/24, I still had not received a refund or response, so I sent ***** a follow up email and re-requested the refund via Venmo. I did not receive a response. On 11/9/24, I sent a text message to *** re-requesting the refund. I did not receive a response. I sent one more follow up email to ***** (11/28/24) and one to the main school email address (12/3/24). I did not receive a response. On 12/14/24 I emailed ***** and the *** main email and shared that I had tried to get in touch on many occasions and had not heard back. I shared that if I did not receive a response by Friday (12/20/24) that I would ask BBB to help me receive the refund we agreed. I did not receive a response.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/18/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  The Berkeley Forest School has not issued a promised refund of $1,040 and has become unresponsive to our attempts to reach them for the past three months. The refund was promised in writing by the schools owner and director, ***** *******, after we removed our daughter from their summer camp due to unsafe and illegal operating conditions. The Berkeley Forest School markets itself as a safe, enriching outdoor environment for children, but instead we found the camp was poorly run and understaffed to the point of being a true safety concern. The ratio of children to caregivers was below and in violation of California state standards, with only 1-2 adults watching 22 children ages 2-4 years old at any time. The school's website and handbook say the camp is for children ages 3-8 but there were several 2 year olds in the group, which require additional adult attention per California state law. Additionally, the location of the camp, which was not communicated before payment was made, was at **************************** in Berkeley, an open park on the ***************** with no safety fencing. This, coupled with the lack of proper adult supervision, made the camp extremely unsafe for children and we removed our child from the camp on the third day, after observing at drop off and pick up for two days and speaking with the director several times in person and over text and email about our concerns, which were not addressed. Once we removed our child from camp, the director promised a pro-rated refund equivalent to $1,040 in an email on August 29, 2024, but never issued the refund and cut off all communication afterwards. I have attached the email with the promised refund in writing as well as supplemental materials for context on the school's misleading marketing and its pattern of avoiding payments, and am happy to provide anything else I can that may be of assistance. Thank you in advance for considering our concern and any help you may be able to provide!

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/08/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Berkeley Forest School (BFS) has great teachers. We love teachers *******, ***** and *****. But if your situation doesn't fit the standard model of pay and attend with no questions asked or issues, you should read on.Our son, who is neurodivergent, encountered significant challenges in accessing the services provided by BFS. Prior to enrolling him, we diligently communicated his diagnosis and our concerns to the Director, *****, who assured us of her understanding and support. However, our experience has been quite different. Our attempts to recover a refund of over $2000 have been met with delays, unfulfilled promises, and ultimately, silence from *****.1/ Thanksgiving ? Camps Refund: On Nov 21, 2023, we formally requested a refund for the Winter '24 and Spring '24 camps. On Dec 27, 2023, ***** confirmed our eligibility for a refund without specifics. When discussed on Feb 6, 2024, since she was able to fill his spot, she proposed a $750 refund, which we have yet to receive.2/ Change of Attendance Refund: We sought an adjusted tuition after changing our son's attendance from three days a week to two days a week for the current quarter already paid. Despite our inquiry on Nov 8, 2023, it wasn't until Feb 6, 2024, that ***** proposed a refund of $1994, which we have yet to receive.3/ Our son withdrew from BFS on Feb 5, 2024, because it was not the right fit. The next day we initiated a 45-minute review with ***** of all payments made and monies owed. She asked for additional time to review. On Feb 23, 2024, she confirmed she would process our refund, and despite half a dozen reminders, we have yet to receive any refund.Having fulfilled all contractual obligations, we find it deeply concerning that the refund remains outstanding. The lack of transparency and oversight of the school's financial management raises serious questions about its integrity. Regrettably, our experience appears to be far from isolated, as other parents have shared similar stories.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/17/2024

  We appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns raised by a family regarding Berkeley Forest School. We are dedicated to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for all our students. At Berkeley Forest School, each child is valued and cared for, and we strive to provide accommodations that are always in the best interest of the child, their family, and the community.

  Regarding the refund in question, we have reviewed the situation. A check was issued to the family for the amount corresponding to the services that were not rendered. However, the refund was not for the full amount requested, as partial services were provided during the time in question. I see that the family opted not to deposit the check issued by our school, and expressed dissatisfaction with the refund process. I will reach out to this family directly and see how we can achieve resolution here. 

  The family has also mentioned a previous complaint by another family. It is important to clarify that the referenced case involved a request for a refund after the deadline for such refunds had passed, which is a different circumstance from the current issue.

  Berkeley Forest School remains committed to addressing any concerns fairly. We lean on our policies so that we can ****** a fair and positive relationship with all our families where expectations are clear. Thank you for your understanding and for allowing us the chance to clarify this matter.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/18/2024

   
  Complaint: 21684900
  
  I am rejecting this response because we have not received a check for any refund amount from Berkeley Forest School. 

  On Feb 23, 2024 ****** the Director, wrote to us that, "... Processing a refund is not instantaneous. There is additional paperwork involved, which I do not expect you to be aware of. I will be in touch when that is completed, and a check will be mailed to you.. ." Since that email we have received no communication that the refund has been processed nor that a check has been mailed. We have also not received any check physically nor electronically. 

  We look forward to resolving this matter and any justification for a refund amount that was not previously discussed on Feb 6, 2024 live on a phone call with *****. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************