Wedding deposit witheld

ekkygirl

SugarSpun wrote: »

They could attempt to sell their date on ebay - one of the hotels did that recently. They probably wouldn't get the full amount back, but they might get something at least.

Will the hotel not refund them if someone else books the date?

No the hotel are keeping the money even though they have already sold the date and taken another £1800 deposit from the new bookers, This is what I think is unfair. It is in their contract but this still doesnt make keeping all of the money reasonable, when all they need is the admin costs.

Kavanne

I had medical issues which meant I was forced to cancel our wedding. They wouldn't give my deposit back. I signed the contract at the end of the day. Not my or their fault I am now ill... but a goodwill gesture would have been nice so I could have afforded private treatment. But oh well, made my bed.

floss2

ekkygirl wrote: »

No the hotel are keeping the money even though they have already sold the date and taken another £1800 deposit from the new bookers, This is what I think is unfair. It is in their contract but this still doesnt make keeping all of the money reasonable, when all they need is the admin costs.

If the venue have already taken another deposit for that date, then I think another £50 on a solicitor's letter is worth it......the suggestion earlier that 15% would be a fair cost is a good one, and a well-meant phone call to either their head office or to the local newspaper (especially in the current economic climate) may also be in order.

Can I just say though, we probably didn't need all the information you've given, as others may have made an unfair judgement of your friend's son & fiancee and their families' situation. £1800 is a fair chunk of money to lose, no matter what your financial situation.

nadnad

i know you didnt want smart *** comments and to be honest i never usually get riled by other peoples posts and would never normally post such as i did - however these people obviously arent too worried about losing this much money and if they arent then i dont know why you are bothering. It bugs me that two idiots dont have the sense to check the basic relevant facts like the size of a venue before paying such a huge deposit - but then as you've said they can afford to lose the money and arent bothered so i guess its not a big surprise -more money than sense obviously.

i think you'll find i was the first one to try and help you, and i felt it was unfair of the hotel and felt sorry for the couple - until you posted that they didnt care about the money - which made me wonder why did I even bother to try and help!! - and why are you trying to help a couple that arent helping themselves?!

Kavanne

ekkygirl wrote: »

They do have wedding insurance so if they get ill they will be covered though

Haha don't be so sure. Check the exclusions.

Horace

ekkygirl wrote: »

They do have wedding insurance so if they get ill they will be covered though

I doubt the insurance would cover them with regards to the venue especially as they 'changed' their mind. I am not saying that they will try and claim but if they were stupid enough to put down nearly £2000 as a deposit then they may just try it on and make a claim. It must be a fantastic place if the deposit was £1800 though - if you could let me know where it is, then I may consider adding them to my own portfolio.:D

SugarSpun

I think the hotel might be in breach of contract if they've taken another deposit on the day. The deposit holds the room until full payment is due - which probably isn't just yet, if the wedding's still a while away.

Legal advice might just work, especially since to all intents and purposes the hotel have deliberately double-booked.

MORPH3US

Name and shame them on here.....

If your friends have paid the deposit then they have the place booked.... if the hotel has already taken another booking on that date then they have dropped a b0llock...

Tell your friends to go back and say "ok, we have cut our numbers down now so we'll be ok for the date we have booked"

The hotel will say "sorry, we have let someone else book it now" and your friends can say "tough, we booked it first and paid a deposit.. either give our deposit back or else the booking is ours (and we'll be reporting you for fraud to the police if you don't)..."

M