ComplaintsforHappy Beginnings LLC

• Initial Complaint

  11/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Dear *****/Sir,I am writing to express my concerns and request a resolution regarding the egg donor service I contracted with your agency, Happy Beginning.> About the Transactions:1st Installment: USD ***** on Oct. 25, 2023 2nd (Final) Installment: USD ***** on Oct. 27, 2023 ***************************** committed to introducing an egg donor and finding an alternative if the initial arrangement was canceled.> Nature of the Dispute: Prior to signing the agreement, I was informed that the donor preferred to be a known egg donor. I specifically contacted Happy Beginning to understand this arrangement and was assured that a video meeting was part of the process, not a screening, and that the donor would not reject me based on this meeting. Based on these assurances, I proceeded to sign the agreement and make the necessary payments.However, following the video meeting, the donor chose to withdraw. This decision seemed to be influenced by my review of her publicly available profile information. I would like to clarify that my actions were based on the understanding that such information review was permissible, considering the donor's choice to be a known egg donor. She had provided details such as her educational institution and field of study in her profile. To verify this information, I accessed her school's website. My intention was not to intrude upon her privacy but to confirm the information provided within the parameters she had set by being a known donor. This misunderstanding underscores the lack of clarity in the agreement regarding the boundaries of information sharing.Given that the premise of our agreement that the donor would not reject the arrangement was not upheld, I believe it is fair and reasonable to request a full refund.> Whether or not the business has tried to resolve the problem: Despite my efforts for a peaceful resolution, the agency refused to refund or propose any alternative solutions after their breach of our agreement.

  Business response

  11/28/2023

  Dear **********

  I did review your case with my team and the information that you have listed in the complaint is not entirely accurate. While the donor did agree to have a known cycle there was not a contract with the donor completed prior to you meeting her as this is not something that is completed until the donor has been screened by your clinic. *** contract is what outlines the parameters of a known donor cycle and what contact you have. *** donor was very taken back that at the time of the zoom meeting when you had mentioned to her that you had already researched her and knew everything about her including viewing pictures of her on her social media accounts. This is not typical behavior for an intended parent using an egg donor, and the donor felt like she was being stalked and this was not within what she felt like would be a known donor cycle. A known cycle is typically the intended parents meeting the egg donor via zoom, then certain contact information revealed to the intended parent during the contract phase so the parent may reach the donor in the future for health-related updates regarding any potential children born from the egg donor. ***** from Happy Beginnings did reach out to you to discuss this and discuss that we would apply your agency fee to the use of another egg donor and that a conversation should be held about what is appropriate conduct when establishing a known donor cycle. You did sign the agency agreement completely acknowledging that the agency fee is completely non-refundable but if at any point the donor was unable to proceed the agency fee would be applied to that of a new egg donor. We are still more than happy to find you a replacement donor. Our office has not heard back from you since ***** reached out to you letting you know that was the agency policy which you signed and acknowledged in the agency service agreement. We are more than happy to assist you with finding a replacement donor and would be more than happy to discuss in greater detail the type of arrangement you would like with the donor moving forward so we can appropriately prepare the donor prior to the zoom meeting. I have included the clause from the agency service agreement signed by you.

  5. Refund Policy
  a. *** customer acknowledges that the Agency Fees are considered earned and non-refundable
  except as outlined herein.
  b. *** customer acknowledges that the $2,000.00 initial deposit of the Agency Service
  Coordination Fee is non-refundable.
  c. *** fee for the Reproductive Attorneys varies and is non-refundable once the initial draft of the
  anonymous ovum donor agreement has been provided to the Customer via email. *** fee paid
  to the Ovum Donors attorney may vary and is also non-refundable once contracts have been
  reviewed with the donor. (If your clinic will not allow the use of the Standard Agreement this does
  not apply)
  d. All funds disbursed from the trust/expense account for the Ovum Donors medical screening,
  psychological screening, travel costs, oral contraception pills, or other expenses related to the
  preparation and/or completion of the Ovum Donation cycle are non-refundable at any time.
  3 *** purchase of this policy is Mandatory. This policy is for $100,000 in coverage which will cover any complications that could arise from the Ovum Donation
  process or retrieval.
  4 *** Service Provider has arrangements with the law firms of Levy Law and *************************** to accept referrals from the Service Provider to represent its
  customers at a reduced rate. If the Customer elects to utilize the legal services of one of the stated law firms then the legal fees vary at a reduced price for
  the draft/review for the Intended Parents and for the Ovum Donor review. Furthermore, the Attorney's Fees for the Customer are to be paid directly to the
  law firm. *** Service Provider will not be a party to the Anonymous Ovum Donation Agreement but will abide by any terms and conditions negotiated
  between the two parties, as permitted by law. If Customer elects to waive the right to attorney representation thereby utilizing the standard egg donation
  agreement (and approved by the ********* clinic) provided by Agency this will be at no additional cost to the Customer. If an alternate attorney is selected
  by Customer, any legal fees associated with the drafting and negotiations of the anonymous ovum donation agreement shall be the responsibility of the
  Customer and shall be paid directly to the law firm selected by the Customer.
  Doc ID: ****************************************
  Page 4 of 9
  e. In the event that it is determined that the selected Ovum Donor is unable to complete the ovum
  donation cycle and the cycle is cancelled without One (1) ovum retrieval procedure completed
  for any reason regardless of Ovum Donor starting injectable medications; the Agency Service
  Coordination fee would be applied to a new Ovum Donor. *** entire Agency Fee would be
  applied to a new Ovum Donor minus the cost for any travel expenses paid out of pocket up to
  date, Psychological Screening, Accident and ********************** (if applicable), and
  Background Check on a new Ovum Donor.

   

   

  Please feel to reach out to me directly and I would be happy to assist you further moving forward.

   

  Kindest Regards,

  *********************-Director

  ************************************************

  Customer response

  12/05/2023

  Complaint: 20926474
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  1. In your response, you mentioned that I claimed to 'know everything' about the donor. I would like to clarify that my actual words were that I knew 'a lot' about her. The use of 'everything' is a significant exaggeration of my statement and could potentially misrepresent my intentions. Ensuring accurate and fair communication in this discussion is crucial.
  To elaborate, my research included reviewing information on her laboratory's homepage, followed by a ****** search that led to her Instagram accountsone for personal business and another for social engagement. I had an open discussion about this with her.
  Considering she identified herself as a known donor and shared details like her major and school, I did not consider my actions inappropriate. The absence of explicit laws or social regulations against such research, coupled with the importance of childbearing and the agency's disclaimer about the accuracy of donor information, led me to believe that verifying her background was necessary.
  2. A key issue here is not just the refund policy outlined in the agreement, but also the assurance you gave me that the donor would not reject the match after the Zoom meeting. This assurance influenced my decision to sign the agreement. However, the donor did reject me post-meeting, which, in my view, invalidates the initial premise of our agreement. This is the primary reason behind my request for a refund.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************

  Business response

  12/05/2023

  Dear **********,

   

  The donor is the one who felt uncomfortable with you based on the conversation that was had in the zoom meeting with her. Given you had never spoken to the donor before she felt very uncomfortable that you had researched her life, viewed her personal information on her social media accounts. She felt this behavior was out of line and it made her feel very uncomfortable.   Per the terms of our agency service agreement if the donor decides not to proceed for any reason or does not pass medical screening, we will find you a replacement donor at no additional agency fee. This is a complete outline of what you signed and agreed upon within the agency service agreement. We are more than happy to find you a replacement donor so you can move forward. If you decide that you do not wish to proceed forward with a replacement donor than we will offer you a 50% refund of the agency fee paid, or the entire amount can be applied to a new donor for up to a one-year period of time. Please let me know if there is anything further I can do to assist you.

   

  Kindest Regards

  *********************

  Refund Policy
  
  The customer acknowledges that the Agency Fees are considered earned and non-refundable except as outlined herein.
  
  The customer acknowledges that the $2,000.00 initial deposit of the ************** Coordination Fee is non-refundable.
  
  The fee for the Reproductive Attorneys varies and is non-refundable once the initial draft of the anonymous ovum donor agreement has been provided to the Customer via email. The fee paid to the Ovum Donors attorney may vary and is also non-refundable once contracts have been reviewed with the donor. (If your clinic will not allow the use of the Standard Agreement this does not apply)
  
  All funds disbursed from the trust/expense account for the Ovum Donors medical screening, psychological screening, travel costs, oral contraception pills, or other expenses related to the preparation and/or completion of the Ovum Donation cycle are non-refundable at any time.
  
  In the event that it is determined that the selected Ovum Donor is unable to complete the ovum donation cycle and the cycle is cancelled without One (1) ovum retrieval procedure completed for any reason regardless of Ovum Donor starting injectable medications; the ************** Coordination fee would be applied to a new Ovum Donor.  The entire Agency Fee would be applied to a new Ovum Donor minus the cost for any travel expenses paid out of pocket up to date, Psychological Screening, Accident and ********************** (if applicable), and Background Check on a new Ovum Donor.

  Customer response

  12/08/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************

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