Viole's Venue Nightmare!

frannyann

I thought I'd start a thread for Viole who is having a problem with her venue, this terrible venue already tried shafting one of us MSE B2B, so we need to support Viole to fight this toe rag too!
Here is Viole's story!

Viole wrote:

If you want to hear the sorry tale go and get a cuppa and prepare for a long read! DD her OH and I (MOTB) went to venue in Jan. Subjected to his sales talk and discounts for signing on day and fell for it. (It is a pretty place). Also said that dep. would be refunded if we changed our minds, subject to date being resold. Got home, realised that we had not got what we had set out for and cancelled within 3 days. Rang and wrote to ask if we could have money back straight away and told no. Took advice and told that under unfair terms and conditions in consumer sales act, tradesman only entitled to keep such costs as he can prove he has incurred as result of cancellation. Wrote again, month later get reply saying he will refund if date is resold if I signed agreement. Took advice again, told not to sign but to pursue original tack. Heard nothing. Month later, came to our attention that a prospective bride had been told date was taken. Occurred to me that venue may still have our names on date. More advice (beware of advice!) told to sign and return venue's agreement. Heard nothing then , lo and behold, get to hear of another bride whose been told date is taken. DD, OH and I decide we'll save venue trouble of posting refund, we'll go and pick it up. Get to venue and see her. When we say we hear date's gone, without looking at a calendar, she says it's still available. We asked why this prospective customer had been told otherwise and she said it was a mistake. We said we knew of at least one other "mistake". We wondered why she knew straight away when we asked that the date was available but appeared to be making mistakes when other people asked? We also wondered how many other mistakes have been made all the while making it less and less likely that date will be rebooked. Despondent now because can't give DD money I had saved for her wedding!

Hope this is okay viole? x

frannyann

As per the advice given on Beks thread, maybe its time to think about small claims court?

rene2b

omg!is this the same venue as beks?can u pm me the venue please x

fly_dragon_fly

omgosh! i really thought it was just beks he had screwed over! i cant believe he has done it again!

i am so angry!

jackieglasgow

maybe all references which may disclose the venue should be edited out until Viola gets some sort of legal advice, we don't want to mess up Viola's case, or put MSE at risk of litigation. Might be an idea for anyone who has posted to delete any mention of the venue which may reference it in some way? Hopefully those of you who have posted here already or still do do so will realise what I mean!

Saint_Chris

OMG so he's still at it......................i hope that you have the success that beks has had.

good luck

EllBee

Good on you frannyann for starting up this thread for Viole. You just can't believe that this man is still doing this and I'd guess Beks and Viole are just 2 of many other people who are being ripped off.

Its a shame a thread naming the venue can't be set up as I'm sure there would be other people going through a similar experience who would put in a search for it. Obviously, for reasons stated by other posters, this isn't possible. Unfortunately, because the venue must remain anonymous, many more unsuspecting couples will be booking this venue totally unaware of the problems that may be lying ahead. Its heartbreaking!!!

viole

Thanks for all support. Will probably seek more advice before doing anything else, even though I've had conflicting advice in past! It would be nice to hear from any other B2B's if they have recently been told all Saturdays in September have been taken but obviously I can't name venue. I really don't want to see this money go straight into his pocket for doing absolutely nothing. I wonder what we would legally be entitled to for £2500 - hosting a dinner for a charity perhaps???

Horace

I was talking to a lawyer on Friday and we were talking about venues (in relation to something else). He told me that if a venue refused to refund money and yet had sold the date to someone else then they should refund the original person because they are not out of pocket having sold the date to someone else...a court would view it that the venue is being greedy (he has come across a case of venues not refunding when they have resold the date but he wouldnt give me more information).

I am doing what I can to spread the word about this venue but unfortunately not all brides use a wedding planner so there is only so much that can be done. I had thought of ringing up the superintendent of registrars at the council concerned to see if there was a way of getting the licence revoked.

Viole - keep all your documents and notes of any meetings you have had with them and I suggest that you too see a solicitor or take them directly to the small claims court.

I cannot understand why any business person in their right mind would blatently lie to prospective customers - its not good for business or maybe he is so arrogant to think that bad reviews mean nothing as long as he gets money in his pocket.

Does this venue have any Michelin or AA stars? (don't choke on your cuppas when I mentioned Michelin stars..its not possible with the food they serve) but I am thinking that if the venue has a star rating then you could get in touch with the board who has given the stars to let them know what it is like.

frannyann

I have edited my posts. AND I just noticed a 'remove your thanks' button, fab!

Horace

I have sought further advice from one of my mentors today and she advised that you contact trading standards and the superintendent registrar at the council to get the venue licence revoked (I understand that this is very hard to do as they seem to wash their hands of responsibility once the licence has been granted).

As a reminder to others - never hand over a cash deposit pay with your credit card, cash deposits have a tendency to disappear and its less likely that you will get a receipt.