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Hula Groove Wedding Band - Threatened court action!

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Comments

  • unholyangel
    unholyangel Posts: 16,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Takoda wrote: »
    Well, well, well. Mr Richman doesn't want MSE members to be able to check whether or not there has been a booking after all for the 28th December. The plot thickens. It cannot be a coincidence that in the last few days he suddenly decided to change his website. ;)

    I did actually check the 28th december and it was available. So they were still advertising it. If they considered themselves to have a booking for that date with the OP, it should have been unavailable.

    So i dont really see how they've actually lost anything.

    IMO the corrections made to the T&C's and the change of the way the website works signals that the band knows their booking process wasnt without fault and that their stance isnt as concrete as they tried to claim - otherwise no modifications would have been necessary.
    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
  • Personally I think the band have a cash flow problem.
  • shellsuit
    shellsuit Posts: 24,749 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    edited 15 August 2010 at 1:29AM
    edgex wrote: »





    The OP has not paid a deposit, therefore not made a booking, or secured a booking

    Exactly.
    GEEGEE8 wrote: »
    I really don't see how a contract has been formed? Therefore I can't see them taking it any further.

    Agree totally.
    agmoore wrote: »
    Takoda,
    Nothing has been paid. The band are suspending legal action until the actual date of our wedding 28/12/10. To quote from said email..

    "If the band do not receive another booking for the same date then the full cancellation fee will be due and legal action will be pursued if payment is not forthcoming.

    If the band do in the meantime receive another booking for 28/12/2010 the cancellation fee will be reduced to the level of any actual loss incurred by the band."


    Ultimately we want an instant end to this, but it is clear this is something that will not be dropped by the band.

    Whoever posted that it's cast a negative vibe is absolutely right. Again, it is a shame that we will remember this for all the WRONG reasons.

    agmoore, ignore him/them. They haven't got a clue.

    They have threatened and bullied you, which is something a respectable company would not do.



    If it were me, I'd tell 'em to jog on!!


    Just had a look at their website and it says this..

    How much desposit do I pay to secure a booking?
    We require 25% of the full fee at the time of booking. The balance can then be paid by direct transfer of cheque a week before your event or in cash on the night.

    So you can't SECURE a booking without paying a deposit, (not a desposit, Richman!! :cool:).

    If you can't secure the booking without giving a deposit, exactly where is the contract formed if there is no booking>???

    Some people have gone all round the houses on this thread.

    There is naff all this company can do.

    They're changed their mind again now and said to agmoore that if they can fill the date, there won't be anything to pay (even though there is nothing outstanding to pay anyway!), and what's the betting that they will get booked on that date soon, to save face??

    I'm getting married in 7 weeks and go on a few wedding forums and if I see any thread asking for advice on wedding bands, I will be sure to tell them who NOT to use.
    Tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty...
  • Equaliser123
    Equaliser123 Posts: 3,404 Forumite
    I did actually check the 28th december and it was available. So they were still advertising it. If they considered themselves to have a booking for that date with the OP, it should have been unavailable. .

    They've said that they would try and readvertise it and if they cannot get a booking or take one at a reduced cost, pursue the OP at that point.

    To be fair to them, they are obliged to mitigate their loss.
  • unholyangel
    unholyangel Posts: 16,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    They've said that they would try and readvertise it and if they cannot get a booking or take one at a reduced cost, pursue the OP at that point.

    To be fair to them, they are obliged to mitigate their loss.

    Yes but this was prior to them changing the site. When they were still saying the OP had a confirmed booking and were liable. So "readvertising" doesnt even come into it if they were still advertising the date all along.
    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
  • Takoda
    Takoda Posts: 1,846 Forumite
    Yes but this was prior to them changing the site. When they were still saying the OP had a confirmed booking and were liable. So "readvertising" doesnt even come into it if they were still advertising the date all along.

    Yes, good point.

    You mentioned that you'd checked availability - have you done that since they changed the website or did you do it before? I checked before the change but haven't since.

    The worry now for other couples is that the 'enquiry' where they have to fill in their details in order to check availability COULD be taken by this manager as a firm booking. Which is worrying.
  • agmoore
    agmoore Posts: 77 Forumite
    Takoda wrote: »

    The worry now for other couples is that the 'enquiry' where they have to fill in their details in order to check availability COULD be taken by this manager as a firm booking. Which is worrying.

    My partner and I are deeply angered that we must now forget about this episode and that it ends on their terms.

    They say (conveniently), that they have a confirmed booking (god help 'em) for a NINE piece on 28th December 2010.

    No apology, no token gesture of good will to my fiance who has had many sleepless nights throughout this. I was due to pick up our wedding bands on Tuesday, but pending Court Summons I decided to keep the money but Mr Richman was trying to bully us and fleece us out of £1575

    To our end, the damage has been done. No court settlement would resolve this; we have never been threatened with court action especially from a non-event.

    I know that this message has been circulated around a few of the wedding forums; during our 'dispute' we had also contacted the Office of Fair Trading and BBC's Watchdog. Fortunately, the matter is under review with them and we feel we have a duty to ensure that no other couple receives the same sterling level of customer service that we had to endure.

    Again, during the last week we have been in contact with Grazia (magazine) and The Independent on Sunday (Newspaper). - We noticed that they both give testimonials on the bands website and feel they may want to reconsider their position.

    It’s safe to say that Hula Groove review is clearly not a good one. I honestly did not expect as much interest in this post, and for that thank you. If we now help other couples not to make the same mistake that we did it would be job well done. I can only imagine how many innocent people this bully has threatened, something which must stop!

    Thanks for all of your help; from the both of us it really has been invaluable over the past week.

    x
  • Takoda
    Takoda Posts: 1,846 Forumite
    agmoore wrote: »
    My partner and I are deeply angered that we must now forget about this episode and that it ends on their terms.

    They say (conveniently), that they have a confirmed booking (god help 'em) for a NINE piece on 28th December 2010.

    No apology, no token gesture of good will to my fiance who has had many sleepless nights throughout this. I was due to pick up our wedding bands on Tuesday, but pending Court Summons I decided to keep the money but Mr Richman was trying to bully us and fleece us out of £1575

    To our end, the damage has been done. No court settlement would resolve this; we have never been threatened with court action especially from a non-event.

    I know that this message has been circulated around a few of the wedding forums; during our 'dispute' we had also contacted the Office of Fair Trading and BBC's Watchdog. Fortunately, the matter is under review with them and we feel we have a duty to ensure that no other couple receives the same sterling level of customer service that we had to endure.

    Again, during the last week we have been in contact with Grazia (magazine) and The Independent on Sunday (Newspaper). - We noticed that they both give testimonials on the bands website and feel they may want to reconsider their position.

    It’s safe to say that Hula Groove review is clearly not a good one. I honestly did not expect as much interest in this post, and for that thank you. If we now help other couples not to make the same mistake that we did it would be job well done. I can only imagine how many innocent people this bully has threatened, something which must stop!

    Thanks for all of your help; from the both of us it really has been invaluable over the past week.

    x

    Wow I had no idea that they were asking for so much!:eek: That must mean that the original bill must've been for about £2000.

    I almost cried when I read about you not collecting your rings. I think your story kind of touches a nerve with some of us and that's why we feel so strongly about it. :)
  • agmoore
    agmoore Posts: 77 Forumite
    Takoda wrote: »
    Wow I had no idea that they were asking for so much!:eek: That must mean that the original bill must've been for about £2000.

    I almost cried when I read about you not collecting your rings. I think your story kind of touches a nerve with some of us and that's why we feel so strongly about it. :)

    Yes it was, not really 'moneysaving' I know which is why we decided to cancel.

    The OH is at her dress fitting now, no doubt she's told the bridal shop too.
  • Equaliser123
    Equaliser123 Posts: 3,404 Forumite
    agmoore wrote: »
    Yes it was, not really 'moneysaving' I know which is why we decided to cancel.

    The OH is at her dress fitting now, no doubt she's told the bridal shop too.

    Glad it is sorted. Told you nothing to worry about.
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