PRICE CHANGED AT LAST MINUTE DESPITE TAKING DEPOSIT! What now?

wibbleman

Hi!

Here's a very brief out line of my situation.

It's about a wedding venue I have booked. We agreed various bits like food, drinks etc and have been paying off installments. The final payment is now due and under aweek before the wedding the venue has made a mistake which they (nor we) spotted.

It's all based around a food order and they are now asking for an aditional £1200.

Here's the time line

06/09/10 - Final quote sent
09/09/10 - Final payment figure stated
11/09/10 - E-Mail send point out mistake and asking for a further £1200.

They have agree'd to half the £1200 as a "goodwill" gesture. It's my opinion though that they should swallow the whole around.

Can anyone provide any further advice/opinion?

Best regards, MB.

wibbleman

The name of the mistake is around the food order.

We opted for a premium buffet as against a standard one. They forgot to add the price onto to final price. They realised this four days before the wedding and send a new final price.

I have the email trail.

The email send 09/09/10 states the final balance is now due, with the detailed information attached in a spreadsheet form. This had been in place and the price set for months. I take this as a contract.

Then a email sent 11/09/10 (but not read until 13/09/10) pointed out the mistake and it as re-sent with an adjust price. Putting an additional £1200 on the bill.


Regards

wibbleman

You make a fair point but to raise this problem under a week before the day we don't feel is reasonable.

The wording was for the premium buffet in all quotes/final prices but the first one (09/09/10) was at the lower cost. We assumed it was correct if I was honest.

So the premium buffet was detailed in both "final prices" the first it was down cheaper. The second the same products offered but for an additional £1200.

Essentially we didn't spot the mistake as we didn't know it was one! We are not knowingly trying it on, hoping they didn't notice.

It's just bitten us on the back side if I was honest and we don't have the £600 to give them!

The buffet food has been ordered, so they are saying we must pay it but we can't!

wibbleman

Just to be clear, there's no fast one - there's no deciet going on here on our part.

We were informed of the prices but their mistake was not spotted by us.

Bottom line is the money pot is empty - not sure what to do!

Thanks for your input.

pcombo

just get a standard buffet then surely the price originaly quoted will be the same.

wibbleman

Honest answer - NO.

We didn't know it was a mistake until the email early this week saying we were liable for an additional £1200 due to clerical error.

We were given the prices of the standard and premium six months ago.

We asked for the premium option and on the final breakdown recieved 9th Sept it stated the premium option at £12.50 per head.

Looking back that is in fact the price for the standard but this wasn't noticed by us.

HOWEVER the 11th September a new final statment was recieved as a new price of £22.50 per head.

So again the recap.

1. Prices were recieved six months ago in a price list
2. Quote/statments included the premium option at a cheaper price for months previous (looking back though old emails) until 11th Sept.

We've just been operating on the statements they send us so assumed we'd paid everything off as it was up until 11th Sept.

Thanks again

smcaul

Oh give it a break MrCEO, unless they were privy to the full price list prior to booking then it would be safe to assume that the price quoted is a final price - it may have had discounts applied etc, how would the OP be able to distinguish those!!!

I would think the venue does not have a leg to stand on, it could even be said that they were trying a "bait and switch" scam on the OP, go in with lowish quote, get it all finalised then at the last minute wallop up the price, knowing that the bride and groom will most likely pay the full amount to ensure the day runs smoothly!!

If it were me, I would be sending the venue a letter by recorded delivery, informing them that the quote was accepted, deposit paid so contract formed on those prices, and that if they did not conform to contract then I would be suing them!

I really can't see what they could do about it (the venue).

peachyprice

pcombo wrote: »

just get a standard buffet then surely the price originaly quoted will be the same.

OP has already been told that the food has been ordered so they have to have the premium buffet (see post#4)

Coopdivi

wibbleman, ignore MrCEO. He has been banned from MSE on many occasions and keeps coming back with new usernames spouting the same old drivel. He detests consumers with a vengeance and tries his very best to give misleading advice especially to new members.

I agree with smcaul but would advise you to speak with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

gordikin

I think MrCEO may have a point this time...despite all his history?

RadoJo

Well, I think someone may have been a little overzealous about deleting posts - now this whole thread makes no sense!

OP - as the clerical error was clearly on the venue's part, I would have thought it would be down to them to rectify the situation, but with the wedding so close, I can imagine that you are concerned about the potential ramifications on your big day, so I would agree with smcaul that you should state your position in a recorded delivery letter, perhaps follow it up with a phonecall, and stick to your guns.