Wedding Venue Cancellation

MisterBrico

Hi there guys,

Just looking for some advise around cancelling the venue for my wedding.

Me and my fiance have decided to postpone our wedding due August 2014 as we are having troubles so do not want the pressure or god forbid to get married then divorce.

We paid a £500 to our wedding venue which I accept I will lose but in the cancellation terms (which admit-ably I payed no heed to) it says as we are less than a year from our wedding they require us to pay 25% of our booking fee.

Now I am loathe to pay this because this venue will have no problem filling that slot especially at the price we managed to arange it for, and whilst I know we signed it is there any grounds not to have to pay anything extra because it seems daft that they can get the money off us AND fill the venue.

Whilst I know I would never want it to go so far if it did go to court I'm under the impression they could only sue me for their actual loses/damages which if they fill the venue (which I know they can for the price we got!) would be nothing.

If you could please advise guys, I'm going through a rough patch and losing another few hundred quid would not help my mood haha

arcon5

What about asking them if they'd be willing to put the booking on hold and apply the credit in full to a future date?

They'd be entitled to their costs, including admin fees, re-advertising costs, potentially any difference in profits - can't be far of the £125 you'll loose tbh

MisterBrico

Apologies, 25% of the total booking is £875 of which £500 has already being payed in deposit, leaving us £375 off.

We were thinking of asking them to postpone it but wanted to know my options if they could not.

jwruk

MisterBrico wrote: »

We were thinking of asking them to postpone it but wanted to know my options if they could not.

Pay the £375.

halibut2209

First of all, ignore the post above

Then read this

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/42873192#Comment_42873192

MisterBrico

Thanks halibut,

While I am reasonable and will let the £500 slide I just did not want to be coughing up more to line their pockets.

Feel a fool for missing that in the stickies but thanks for linking.

bris

It may be classed as a penalty so no they can't do it or they might depending on circumstances, in fact they may not even be able to keep the whole £500 deposit.

When you cancel a contract the party that recinds that contract is liable for the other parties losses in this case the profit they would make from the night in question in this case £875.

But the other party must mitigate their losses, in this case by re letting the venue. If they can relet the venue for the same price then they have no losses and must return the original £500 deposit, less any reasonable expenses they have by doing so. If they have to relet at a lower price then they can keep the difference between what they get and what you have already paid, but as you say they will have no problem getting the same price so all is not lost.

What you should do is wait until it is relet then ask for your deposit back, which they will refuse, then you can find out what they got and how much they owe you, if necessery a small claims court will make them reveal the details.

unholyangel

bris wrote: »

It may be classed as a penalty so no they can't do it or they might depending on circumstances, in fact they may not even be able to keep the whole £500 deposit.

When you cancel a contract the party that recinds that contract is liable for the other parties losses in this case the profit they would make from the night in question in this case £875.

But the other party must mitigate their losses, in this case by re letting the venue. If they can relet the venue for the same price then they have no losses and must return the original £500 deposit, less any reasonable expenses they have by doing so. If they have to relet at a lower price then they can keep the difference between what they get and what you have already paid, but as you say they will have no problem getting the same price so all is not lost.

What you should do is wait until it is relet then ask for your deposit back, which they will refuse, then you can find out what they got and how much they owe you, if necessery a small claims court will make them reveal the details.

I think you're confusing revenue with profit.

bris

unholyangel wrote: »

I think you're confusing revenue with profit.

No, why would I be? Your post doesn't make sense.

unholyangel

bris wrote: »

No, why would I be? Your post doesn't make sense.

You said they'd be entitled to their profit - which is correct. Then went on to state that in this case, the profit is £875. Which is the entire fee - hence its not their profit.