Cancelled christmas party

lucylucky

harringr wrote: »

The same scenario has just happened with our planned office party (20 people) - it was due for this coming wednesday and we had a phone-call today from the restaurant saying that too many people had cancelled so they were cancelling ours too. We've been told the meal has been rescheduled to 21st January and that there are no refunds. It's already looking highly unlikely that many people will be able to make that day. I'm eager to see how the op gets on and what our options may be.

Your options are very simple.

Ask nicely for your money back
Then demand your money back.
Then threaten with court action.
Then pursue restaurant through the courts.

They cancelled not you, so they should be returning your money.

Phase

They have failed to meet their contract obligations. What is more to debate? If they are unable to fit these people in, they should have scheduled better or not oversold seating.

If the terms and conditions are unfair, they can easily be contested. The law is there to protect the consumer, not help businesses to exploit the consumer.

elisebutt65

We just had the same, but the restaurant 'asked' us if we'd like to reschedule or have our deposit refunded.

Lucky we can all go out on the 4th which is still fairly festive and we're not back teaching until the 6th

Zandoni

I suppose the one thing we have all learned from this, is that it's best not to go to restaurants that demand such large deposits.

spookyshimmyshake

spoke to the Manager earlier in the week to see if he would reconsider and no luck......he is still insisting that he will not give our money back. kept waffling on about the snow being an act of god!!!!! Watch this space!

Does anyone know of a restauranteurs ombudsmen?

dmg24

spookyshimmyshake wrote: »

spoke to the Manager earlier in the week to see if he would reconsider and no luck......he is still insisting that he will not give our money back. kept waffling on about the snow being an act of god!!!!! Watch this space!

Does anyone know of a restauranteurs ombudsmen?

There isn't one. Send him a letter before action, and if he still won't play issue a small claims action.

DVardysShadow

spookyshimmyshake wrote: »

spoke to the Manager earlier in the week to see if he would reconsider and no luck......he is still insisting that he will not give our money back. kept waffling on about the snow being an act of god!!!!! Watch this space!

Does anyone know of a restauranteurs ombudsmen?

I think you are being a little to gentle here. You don't ask him to reconsider, you tell him what your rights are and what his obligations are. Then you write a letter, instructing him to repay you, because HE cancelled the booking and failed to deliver and then you take him to the small claims court. The more you ask him to reconsider, the less likely you are to see your money.

Zandoni

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I think you are being a little to gentle here. You don't ask him to reconsider, you tell him what your rights are and what his obligations are. Then you write a letter, instructing him to repay you, because HE cancelled the booking and failed to deliver and then you take him to the small claims court. The more you ask him to reconsider, the less likely you are to see your money.

Agree 100%

I would go into the restaurant again and speak to the manager, tell him that you have spoken to your party and that you have all agreed that another date is not suitable. Advise him that the only acceptable course of action is a complete refund.

If he still refuses tell him that you will be using the small claim courts to recover your money, then go home a write your letter before action.

Then https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

I'd also name the restaurant if I was you, is part of a chain, have you spoken to the owner?

spookyshimmyshake

Its not part of a Chain and Im not sure if i can name them without getting into trouble. We want to make sure that we take the correct route.
We are thinking of going to BBC Watchdog.

dfh

Best thing is court Action. BBC Watchdog is not a statutary body.