is it unusual for a caterer not to offer a contract or final written aggreement/bill

shelovestobuystuff

I am a little concerned.I had been trying to get a reply from my caterer for the last 5 weeks re a paper agreement for me and at last I recieved an e-mail last night.I am glad they responded but not too sure about the content.Maybe I am just never happy,but I dont feel too safe going ahead with the catering without what we have agreed,menu,price,extras,timings etc written down and signed off.Maybe they just do things in a much more laid back manner up that end of the world but I am concerned that my wedding insurance will not cover this should anything go wrong,e.g they serve the wrong menu or dont turn up.


HI , this is R, N Assistant, N is actually in India
at the moment on holiday
But I can confirm that your starting time etc is all perfectly all right.
As far as we are concerned everything is booked and is all going ahead as
you have planned.
Do you actually need anything further in writing?
Please contact me with any further queries.
Thank you.
R

Horace

How strange.

How do you know what you are getting if they don't provide a contract? They should really state what they are providing, the time they are providing it and where plus details of any cancellation fees should god forbid the wedding is cancelled.

Minxy_Bella

I'd also add that you should read your contract very carefully when you do get it.

On mine, they'd charged me five hundred quid for a jug of orange juice!!!!!!!!!! Typo, apparently! LOL

lindaatno9

I would say very unusual yes. There has to be something to ensure all relevent parties know what's what. Even if it to state how many egg sandwiches are to be cut so both you know how many you are getting and the caterer knows how many to provide. Standard practice I would say.

tiamai_d

My family own a small catering business (run from our sammich shop) and we always provide a written contract of sorts. Just stating 'this is what you want, this is what we have agreed on, it will be delivered/ready for collection at this time, we are providing you with this equipment which we will or will not be wanting back, and this is how much it is all costing you less anything you have paid.

Horace

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

On mine, they'd charged me five hundred quid for a jug of orange juice!!!!!!!!!! Typo, apparently! LOL

That's a lot for orange juice - were the oranges handpicked and squeezed by dusky maidens:eek:

Also one wonders what someone with a catering business is doing clearing off to India on hols (one assumes that they have been gone for 5 weeks), surely you would take your hols in January as this would be the quietest time for caterers?. This firm seem to be mickey mouse if you ask me.

shelovestobuystuff

I did e-mail them back saying I just cant get used to how amazingly laid back they are in that part of the world about everything and maybe I am just an uptight city girl but I really would feel more comfortable with a paper contract to sign.
I asked them just to put everything agreed via various e-mails and phone calls together on one piece of paper for me to check and sign.
The owners are still in India and this is the assistant who doesnt want to do up a contract.Maybe if I just wait till they are back from holiday I will get a contract no problem.
This is the highlands remember,maybe they dont do contracts up there?Our holiday cottage we go to quite often doesnt do contracts or even confirmation either.I am just beginning to get used to the idea that the door is just left open for us and we leave the cash we owe on the mantlepiece when we leave.How laid back is that?

Horace

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

I did e-mail them back saying I just cant get used to how amazingly laid back they are in that part of the world about everything and maybe I am just an uptight city girl but I really would feel more comfortable with a paper contract to sign.
I asked them just to put everything agreed via various e-mails and phone calls together on one piece of paper for me to check and sign.
The owners are still in India and this is the assistant who doesnt want to do up a contract.Maybe if I just wait till they are back from holiday I will get a contract no problem.
This is the highlands remember,maybe they dont do contracts up there?Our holiday cottage we go to quite often doesnt do contracts or even confirmation either.I am just beginning to get used to the idea that the door is just left open for us and we leave the cash we owe on the mantlepiece when we leave.How laid back is that?

As the assistant has been left in charge whilst the owners are on holiday then there is no apparent reason why she/he can't prepare a contract. One wonders if this individual is turning away business because the owners are away? I would press for a contract and maybe start looking for an alternative in the meantime just in case.

shelovestobuystuff

I did press them for a contract and got a few more quotes in the meantime,none of which I can afford.
OH has just collected the contract from the post office,£1.17 to pay as they underpaid the postage.Cant wait to see if they got the details right.

Yes!Everything is perfect.It looks like the owner did the contract when he returned from holiday.