advice on getting a deposit back

melancholly

so did whoever is in charge of the pub right now know about the booking? i'm not sure that's clear. if they knew about it and were expecting it, then cancelling and getting a refund is tricky. if they knew nothing about it and are denying it existed, that's a different issue.

priceey

like i mentioned before, there is a massive festival that weekend

no one will be trying to book the room that weekend as there will be around 10,000 people milling about that area.

we were not booking the entire pub, just a small room off the side.

if anything, i don't think they would be able to hold it there that day, as the caterers would have an impossible task of getting near the place to bring our buffet.

they have not said your deposit is non refundable.

the brewery told us to take it out with the old manager, and the old manager tells us to take it up with the brewery.

they said they have no record of the deposit, but we do have a letter from the bar staff that took the payment that day.

surely the pub even thinking about taking the booking on the day of the festival is their fault?

hcb42

They can take a booking from anyone. If you have a letter of payment, then at least they have to honour the booking.

arcon5

priceey wrote: »

they said they have no record of the deposit, but we do have a letter from the bar staff that took the payment that day.

surely the pub even thinking about taking the booking on the day of the festival is their fault?

Your missing the point entirely. Whether they have records of it or not is a completely different argument.

They may have turned away other bookings since you secured it and paid a deposit.

If the pub took the booking on the same day as the festival is irrelevant. Whats very relevant is irrespective of the festival, if you turned up to use the room you hired - would you be able to? If they was unable to provide the service and they cancelled or if you turned up and they refused access to the room then you would have a case for having the deposit returned.

tomwakefield

priceey wrote: »

surely the pub even thinking about taking the booking on the day of the festival is their fault?

But it's you who has the issue with it, not them.

easyhost

priceey wrote: »

surely the pub even thinking about taking the booking on the day of the festival is their fault?

why cant the pub take a booking on that day?

as you stated "there will be around 10,000 people milling about that area" so a group of friends decided they will go to the pub on that day, but dont want to fight for a seat or table with 10,000 people milling about, so they club together to book the side room, this way they are guaranteed a seat and table, but cant as it has been booked for your christening, then you cancel, so the pub is left with an empty room.
normally these booked rooms have a separate bar and need to be staffed, so they would get a staff member in to run that bar and they need paying, you cancel so who pays that staff member. that's what the deposit is to cover.

DCFC79

Could you re arrange it for the follwoing week or is the festival still on

sorry but im intrigued if this pubs service isn't great what made your wife book it in the first place,

just out of interest whats this festival as i might see if i can go

pinkshoes

priceey wrote: »

no one will be trying to book the room that weekend as there will be around 10,000 people milling about that area.

we were not booking the entire pub, just a small room off the side.

If you've got a room booked, does it matter how many people are milling around??

I'd say go ahead with it, and write to the pub confirming the booking, and letting them know that you will be requiring X of their parking spaces for your guests due to the festival that weekend.

priceey wrote: »

if anything, i don't think they would be able to hold it there that day, as the caterers would have an impossible task of getting near the place to bring our buffet.

they have not said your deposit is non refundable.

the brewery told us to take it out with the old manager, and the old manager tells us to take it up with the brewery.

they said they have no record of the deposit, but we do have a letter from the bar staff that took the payment that day.

surely the pub even thinking about taking the booking on the day of the festival is their fault?

Who cares if the catering staff have problems getting near?! Not your problem, and make it clear in your letter to the pub what you're expecting of them.

Flyboy152

gordikin wrote: »

Why do you think you have a right to cancel and receive your deposit back?

What makes you think they haven't?

Flyboy152

tomwakefield wrote: »

Deposits of this kind tend to be non-refundable, unless they explicitly say otherwise, as their purpose is to provide some compensation for the inconvenience and financial loss caused by you cancelling the booking.

You can chase it up if you want, but I think the law would be on their side, so you'd be relying on goodwill.

Deposits are refundable, irrespective of what the business think they like to say. They only moinies they are entitled to withhold are any provable and reasonable costs incurred.