Church deposit - my rights?

natsbabe · 18 April 2011 at 2:26PM

Hello all

I'm looking for some advice!

We paid a deposit to our church over a year ago to get married, since then they have increased the price of the wedding and are saying we now have to pay the extra. I always thought that a deposit secured the day, service etc at the price at the time?

Any help would be apprecited !

nomoneytoday · 18 April 2011 at 2:34PM

How much is the extra?

natsbabe · 18 April 2011 at 2:38PM

It's £20, which in the grand scheme of things isn't excrutiating - it's more the principal of the matter :-)

gordikin · 18 April 2011 at 2:42PM

Do you have a contract/terms and conditions? Could it be something to do with the VAT increase?

natsbabe · 18 April 2011 at 2:48PM

All i have is a receipt to say we have paid the deposit and a leaflet that the church gave us! It isn't vatable either. I've just always thought that a deposit secured the price at the time and at the time we booked they had no idea that this price was going to increase now.

bingo_bango · 18 April 2011 at 2:59PM

A deposit is consideration given in return for goods or a service. Once taken from you, both parties are in a legally binding contract. If the agreed term at that time was that you paid £100, then that is what you should pay. Such bilateral contract terms can only be changed with the agreement of both parties, and you appear to be unwilling to do so. You can refuse the change in terms and withdraw. Or you can take the church to a local court and have the contract enforced.

That said, are you really going to run the risk of not being able to find a church available on your most special of days (:cool:) for the sake of £20? Look on it as one less takeaway between now and then. Would you forego that so that you could get married?

natsbabe · 18 April 2011 at 3:08PM

Thanks, no I won't be going as far as court for £20, think I will just swollow my pride and pay the £20 if they still insist on it for a nice easy wedding where we want it. It's not worth picking the second best church just to save £20 is it I suppose! Lol the H2B may take some convincing to forego his takeaway for a weeknd.

bingo_bango · 18 April 2011 at 3:11PM

You'll just have to make it up to him

pmduk · 18 April 2011 at 3:41PM

You might want to stress to the church you won't accept any further price increases from them.

ellay864 · 18 April 2011 at 3:49PM

Could it be to do with registrar fees? In Chruch of England the vicar can do the legal bit but that's not the case with all churches and the registrar is effectively booked separately (even if the church takes care of it). Registrar fees generally are based on what they're set at for that year - we booked ours in 2009 and paid deposit but we will have to pay the price that applies for 2011