GenTech Refusal to refund despite cancellation Chicago Illinois

I registered my 12-year-old son for a week-long day camp with GenTech, scheduled from August 3-7, 2015. I made three payments, through PayPal, between April 30 and May 26 totaling $380.  

On July 21, the Executive Director, Debra Thompson, told me by phone that camp was cancelled due to low enrollment and to expect repayment within the week; however, when I communicated with her staff via email, I was told I would not receive a refund until August 31. GenTech claimed that it had closed the month of July prior to July 23 and could not generate any refunds until the end of August. 

When I did not receive payment on August 31, I contacted Ms. Thompson by phone. She claimed cash flow problems and promised a refund by September 4. When I did not receive a refund on that date, I sent an email on September 5 asking for written commitment of a refund by Friday, September 11. 

I then received multiple email and telephone communications stating that GenTech could not commit to a firm date, claiming that the company had been operating without cash for weeks, and giving me no time frame within which to expect the refund they acknowledged they owe me. I informed GenTech that if I had not received a refund by September 11, I would open a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and take further steps. I received no refund or contact on that date, so opened a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. GenTech did not dispute my claim and promised me a firm refund date by September 21.

On September 18, I received an email from GenTech asking me to request a refund from my credit card company. I contacted my bank to confirm that the payments had been made via PayPal and was directed to contact PayPal, where I submitted disputes for the three separate payments. PayPal subsequently informed me that the 60-day time limit for refund requests had elapsed. I tried to contact GenTech to inform them of PayPal’s response, but emails are now bouncing back marked undeliverable and no one has returned my call. 

I have escalated my PayPal dispute to a claim and have submitted a dispute claim to my bank. My next step will be to reopen the complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I submit this report in the hopes of helping others avoid this unfortunate experience.