Wedding venue deposit

bluevinylmaster

Hi


I have paid a £400 deposit for a wedding venue. This was a deposit for 1/3 of the price which was £1200. We did not sign a contract and when they did produce a contract we did not sign it as we thought the terms were out of order so we decided to cancel. The venue will not return the deposit as they say that it is used to secure that date (which is September 2015). We cancelled in March 2015 after we refused the contract. Are they allowed to keep this money?
Anyone's advice would be greatly appreciated

arbrighton

THey probably said to you at the time that this deposit would be non-refundable?

What terms did you think were out of order? THat contract probably specified what would happen to your deposit if you didn't proceed

bluevinylmaster

They took my deposit of £400 and I then continued to pay another £400 (which I got back) after that second instalment they produced a contract and raised the price from £1200 to £1700 because we wanted more guests to attend (they had totally got our number of guests wrong to begin with), which of course we were not happy with. When we asked why? it was said because of insurance and we would also have to pay a £250 insurance deposit although it states in the first price of £1200 that the insurance was included in that price. We queried the insurance and asked to see it in black and white, then they informed us it was not the insurance but just extra money because of wear and tear for extra guests.

arbrighton

If there were more guests, price would be higher, that's logical, and did you check they had the numbers right?

I've just received the invoice for our reception and had to point out one invoice was listed twice.


Insurance/ not is a separate issue and that does sound like they were unclear with you.

But you should have checked before placing the deposit whether or not it would be refundable, and in what circumstances.

gadgeteer_2

By paying a deposit you've in effect made a commitment. If the shoe were on the other foot, you wouldn't accept the venue's excuse of saying "Well I know you paid a deposit but since you didn't sign a contract we gave your date to someone else!"

Ditto with the guests really. If you order four dishes at a resturant, they bring you three, you correct them and deliver four then you'd expect to get a bill for four meals right?

Lastly the insurance deposit sounds like you'd get it back if there's no damage caused. If so then whilst a little annoying it wouldn't be a dealbreaker to me.

bluevinylmaster

Thanks for the responses. I got some legal advice as this is not about the money to me just more about the way I feel I have been 'miss-informed' by the venue. Apparently there were no terms and conditions produced when we paid the deposit so there was nothing in writing stating what that deposit is for. I agree from the post about if the shoe was on the other foot, so I know they have a point - it was just the way the venue went about it that frustrated me. I'm chalking this one down as a bad experience although I will ask for my deposit back if someone books those dates in the meantime.
Thanks