Advice Needed....

PrincessDonna2009

Hello Everyone

Just rang our wedding venue today to get the price's for the kid's meals, as we was not told what they would be from day one. Manager has told me that all there prices on the function food have gone up, our main course has gone up by £2 per head and evening buffet £1 per head....I am like well why has it gone up, apparently because of VAT increase!

We had already paid a deposit to secure the venue, but had no contract from them, as they do not supply one. Can they do this without notifying us first?

We are on a really tight budget and cannot afford for the prices to go up and we do not have any spare money, we may need to borrow some money off our parents, which they will not be very happy about!

Our wedding is soon, so cannot change the venue as all invites have been sent out and come back, what do I do?

Help!

SplanK

the only thing you can do is discuss this with them really

Did they not give you an indication of price increases? Ours gave us an estimate of an increase of 3% a year (for us, 6% as we were quoted on 2010 prices and our wedding is in 2012)

Do you have anything in writing that locks to cost to a set price? We got the 6% increase in writing and work on the maximum figure.

Anything in the contract that allows them to adjust the price as and when they like? I think there is in ours - again hence the estimate given to us is subject to a possible 6% increase.

whitewing

How much extra will you have to pay and what was the original price and how many guests?

Seems silly that they couldn't quote you an exact cost tbh as they know when the wedding is.

PrincessDonna2009

I do not want to put detail's of my guest numbers over here...

Just let me say it is going to cost us an extra £300 in total on top of the amount. When we met up with them the first time back in early January, we was total there may be a slight increase due to VAT, but was told should only be about 50p on top of the prices they gave us, they gave us their leaflet...

We have no contract and no way of getting out of paying the extra....so I suppose we are going to have to find the extra! I am really stressed and upset as it feel's like everything is going wrong at the moment

floss2

Speak to your local Trading Standards team - look under Council in your phone book or google them. They should be able to help you.

PrincessDonna2009

I don't want to go that far! Just want some advice from fellow MSE forum members, don't forget this is the venue where I am having my wedding reception and evening do, don't want to get into squabbles over something not that major compare to other things

Thanks for the advice anyway

floss2 wrote: »

Speak to your local Trading Standards team - look under Council in your phone book or google them. They should be able to help you.

SplanK

ok - if there is no contract signed, and no written quote.... does it give you any prices in the leaflet?

As I say, go and arrange a meeting with them, go armed with a spreadsheet with the costs you were advised when you first got the verbal quote (im really suprised there is nothing written down!... maybe they have something in your file with them?) and see if you can come up with some sort of compromise OR if they wont budge, allow you to pay the remaining money 2-3 months after the wedding to ensure you dont over stretch yourself due to the sudden, unexpected increase in cost.

Remember, it was only a 2.5% VAT increase as well. Even on 4k (at 17.5%), it works out at around £85 extra!

The way I have worked it out is:

(((Total sum at 17.5% VAT / 1.175) / 100) * 2.5 = How much extra you should pay

SO if it *IS* just the increase in VAT then it should be no way near £300,

geoffken

Jesus.

If you REALLY do not have a spare £300 then you really are starting your married life on a shoe string!!!!!!

Not a good omen!!!!

Hollie84

I dont understand why u have not signed a contract? once we had agreed the venue and paid a deposit we was sent a contract to sign

PrincessDonna2009

We are not starting married life on a shoe string, we have loads of spare money after the wedding, it's because my partner get's paid from his job every month and there we have already have his September wage budgeted into the wedding budget and therefore he will not get paid again until end of October in which we have to live during October, so all his wages can't go across, hence no spare money. After we get married we have around £800 spare a month after bill's etc....

Thanks for the advice, glad I have had to explain myself!

geoffken wrote: »

Jesus.

If you REALLY do not have a spare £300 then you really are starting your married life on a shoe string!!!!!!

Not a good omen!!!!

PrincessDonna2009

Because the venue does not do a contract, it is only a local pub!

Hollie84 wrote: »

I dont understand why u have not signed a contract? once we had agreed the venue and paid a deposit we was sent a contract to sign