Non returnable deposit

Cornish_Nige

Hi

My son was intending to get married in September next year and booked up a "wedding event" at a big hotel. He put down £500 deposit but the relationship went pear shaped and now there is not going to be a wedding - not unhappy about that as she was evil.

Anyway he has asked for his deposit back and they told him that the terms and conditions he agreed to state any deposit is non returnable.

I have spoken to them as well and they insist that as he signed his agreement to the T's and C's that there is no refund possible.

I believe that even if conditions are put in like this that consumer law applies in any case like this - not the written conditions.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of situations like this and can advise ?

Thanks.

Esqui

It's very unlikely you'll get it back. He has pulled out, not the wedding company, and as such has broken the contract he has with them.

pcombo

Cornish_Nige wrote: »

Hi

My son was intending to get married in September next year and booked up a "wedding event" at a big hotel. He put down £500 deposit but the relationship went pear shaped and now there is not going to be a wedding - not unhappy about that as she was evil.

Anyway he has asked for his deposit back and they told him that the terms and conditions he agreed to state any deposit is non returnable.

I have spoken to them as well and they insist that as he signed his agreement to the T's and C's that there is no refund possible.

I believe that even if conditions are put in like this that consumer law applies in any
case like this - not the written conditions.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of situations like this and can advise ?

Thanks.

Tell me what is the whole point behind a deposit? Because it seems to me like you dont know.

A specific date was booked at the venue, they have reserved that so know other person can book that same day, For all you know other people might have wanted to book and the venue have lost out on revenue.

DCFC79

Could you still not hold a party there albeit without the wedding. Lol here we go again with the deposits.

Optimist

£500 seems a large deposit, it really depends upon the 'loss' suffered by the hotel and given they have a year + still to go before the planned "big occasion" I find it difficult to see that they will have lost such a large amount. In which case this may well be deemed a penalty and as such would be unenforceable under English law.

Your choice go to Citizens Advice who have been known to do good work and might be able to get your son a portion of the said £500 back or send a letter before action and let them justify their costs before a judge.

pinkshoes

Agree with Optimist. £500 is a HUGE deposit, and given they have 14 months to find another booking, then they should only be deducting any costs (i.e. re-advertising, admin) then returning the rest.

What did the contract say about future instalments being due?

pcombo

pinkshoes wrote: »

they should only be deducting any costs (i.e. re-advertising, admin) [STRIKE] then returning the rest[/STRIKE].

£500 will cover that.

mountainofdebt

Sorry guys but for a deposit to secure a reception venue £500 is pretty much standard.

A hotel wanted a similar sort of money from OH and I when we booked a dinner / dance at a hotel in the middle of the wedding season and I was fortuante enough to get them to accept a much lower deposit as I argued that the event would happen even if both OH and I dropped down dead.

Googlies_2

pcombo wrote: »

Tell me what is the whole point behind a deposit? Because it seems to me like you dont know.

If you don't think he know's why the hell are you asking him?

real1314

pcombo wrote: »

Tell me what is the whole point behind a deposit? Because it seems to me like you dont know.

A specific date was booked at the venue, they have reserved that so know other person can book that same day, For all you know other people might have wanted to book and the venue have lost out on revenue.

But the hotel can now re-sell that day.

Tell me, what's the point of having laws if hotels don't abide by them? It seems to me like you don't know (sic).

The hotel should attempt to re-sell, and should refund the £500 less any costs/losses relevant to the change of booking. :cool:

pcombo

Googlies wrote: »

If you don't think he know's why the hell are you asking him?

Was being sarcastic.