Wedding Nightmare

moadeep

Hello all,

Last year in April we booked our wedding for this June in Greece. We were quoted a price of 3490EUR for the package of our choice with 20 guests. Today we have received an email from this company giving us the final billing from their brochure as 4350EUR. The final fee needs to be paid next month and there is no way we can afford such a hike. Wedding planning and saving is hard enough on its own without this additional stress. We are absolutely sickened by this potential hike of almost 900EUR from nowhere (our wedding planner had the audacity to say in the email there may be a slight price hike.

The terms and conditions state that "the charges are liable to change at any time, but changes will not affect orders in respect of which we have already sent you an email confirmation".

In out confirmation email the following statement was made - "You are booking the ****** wedding package at the value of 3490EUR for 20 guests and as discussed this can be adjusted closer to the time according to your number of guests"

We have sent correspondence in between where we have received confirmation that the situation with the Greek economy will not afffect us in any way.

All our family have now paid to go out to Greece and we have already paid 600EUR deposit so cancellation is really not an option. I need some good advice before I reply to the company. Where do we stand?

Thanks

meritaten

I think you need legal advice hun - none of us have read your contract!
read it carefully - very carefully and if you still think they are overcharging you - take legal advice.

Nicki

meritaten wrote: »

I think you need legal advice hun - none of us have read your contract!
read it carefully - very carefully and if you still think they are overcharging you - take legal advice.

Though the fact that you are paying in Euros rather than sterling, suggests that you may be dealing direct with a Greek firm rather than a UK tour operator, in which case Greek law rather than English law will apply. And if this is the case, you are quite unlikely to find anyone posting on a UK forum (or indeed most high street solicitors) who will have a clue where to start to advise you.

moadeep

The company is an English firm based in London. The one thing I am concerned about is the additional tax may be VAT although I think that should have been stated in our email confirmation. If thats the case we may need to bite the bullet and stick it on our credit card. Stressful times

meritaten

may I make a suggestion? you may find advice about wedding packages on Travel websites. or contact Consumer Advice - even if they cannot help you they may point you in the right direction!
I agree that such a huge hike in charges is worrying - and it needs investigation.

cheepskate_2

Op, If each person is paying for heirselves, then this is only 50 Euro each extra, not really much for everyone to chip in, if you cant get it back to the original.

Still way so cheap for 20 people. We used a wedding planner in italy and it cost us £2000 just for the civil ceromony.

Gigglepig

try to haggle?

newcook

moadeep wrote: »

In out confirmation email the following statement was made - "You are booking the ****** wedding package at the value of 3490EUR for 20 guests and as discussed this can be adjusted closer to the time according to your number of guests"

Id just quote them this - its the price that they agreed to!

fluffnutter

You could try posting on the Consumer Rights forum, moadeep. They know their stuff there.

pinkteapot

Have you tried calling the company and asking about it? Explain that your confirmation said X and can they explain why the price has gone up as your understanding was that once confirmed the price couldn't be increased.

Make a note of exactly what they say and go from there. It's possible it's a mistake after all...

fluffnutter

The way I see it... their T&Cs clearly state that charges can be increased but only if you've not yet received your confirmation email. You have your confirmation email clearly stating the original lower price.

That's your starting point, and it's job done (provided they play ball). They have to honour the lower price else they're contravening their own T&Cs, surely? Or am I missing something here?

Have you actually written to them/emailed them pointing this out?