Private venue hire - bogus damage charges

_Persephone

Hi all,

It's been a while... I was hoping for some advice on a matter please.

I recently hired a venue for my 30th birthday. I paid a £250 deposit, refundable on the basis I met my minimum bar spend. They initially asked me for £1750, but I haggled this down to £1600.

The bar provided DJ equipment, and over the course of the night, my friends (all established DJs) played sets. I made my bar spend, £1670 in fact.

I was previously told that my deposit would be refunded the following Monday, but had nothing. By Friday I emailed asking when I could expect it back, to be told that my party broke the mixer at the party and this would be taken out of my deposit. They attached an invoice for a service to the CDJ (a separate piece of equipement) that looked bogus. You can't tell what the invoice is for as everything is spelled poorly, there is no company information, VAT number or telephone number, and when I looked at the address given on Google earth, it was a residential address.

I have checked with all my DJs who say the equipment was fine - and they are willing to call up on my behalf to speak to the venue.

I have a strong feeling the venue are trying it on - no one contacted me to tell me we had broken anything until I asked them about my deposit, although the manager is saying to me the sound engineer came the next day (a Sunday) to look at the equipment (why) and told her both buttons on the CDJs were broken. I also think it's suspect that even though the invoice is for £193.00, they are charging me for the difference between the bar spend they originally wanted, and the bar spend I actually got - over the course of the night they did keep alluding to the fact mine was lower than everyone else's.

I just don't want to let the matter go on principle. I could also do with the £250 back. They haven't paid me anything as yet, although they say I am entitled to £100. Can I take them to the small claims court?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ectophile

_Persephone wrote: »

Can I take them to the small claims court?

If you think they owe you money, then the answer would be "yes". Whether or not you would win is up to the judge.

If you're going that route, start with a Letter Before Action first.

rosie_78

Hi

What does your contract state (assuming you have one with the venue).

Can you copy the exact terms of the breakages policy down?

comeandgo

A business does not need to be vat registered until turnover reaches a certain amount and many businesses use their home address and business owners don't have to pass any spelling tests. If company is ltd you can get more info from companies house.

Exile_geordie

What CDJs were they? Some are built better than others.

What mixer? Same as above

_Persephone

comeandgo wrote: »

A business does not need to be vat registered until turnover reaches a certain amount and many businesses use their home address and business owners don't have to pass any spelling tests. If company is ltd you can get more info from companies house.

Thanks for the info. Of course I know that spelling isn't a pre-requisite, but I was getting at the fact that the invoice doesn't look authentic at all.

Exile_geordie wrote: »

What CDJs were they? Some are built better than others.

What mixer? Same as above

They were Pioneers, not sure of the model, probably 700s?

This is what it says on the invoice:

Apparently there is no damage to the mixer, but the fact that they got it wrong and this invoice seems to be for a service just seems to me like they are trying it on.

The terms and conditions say:

spacey2012

I would move straight to a letter before action with an invoice attached for the deposit.
Moving hard and fast making it very clear you are not having any of this usually gets a result.

_Persephone

I am going to get my friend to call up and speak to them to tell them the buttons were fine when we left, as a last reasonable attempt to discuss it beforehand, then perhaps go in with the letter?

In the mean time, I have noticed they have refunded £100 into my account.