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Can council charge full fee for cancelling unconfirmed booking?
EugeneB
Posts: 51 Forumite
Sometime ago booked a wedding ceremony with a Newham Council which I haven't paid for yet.
Today I called then trying to cancel it but they are saying that because of a late cancellation I still have to pay the full fee.
They have this in the original T&Cs:
In their cancellation policy they have:
Again, from my perspective I'm fine to forfeit the payment I never made.
Or does that mean that I've entered a contract to pay those regardless?
Today I called then trying to cancel it but they are saying that because of a late cancellation I still have to pay the full fee.
They have this in the original T&Cs:
So from my perspective booking hasn't been finally confirmed.These fee must be paid within the following 15 pays or the booking will not be confirmed.
In their cancellation policy they have:
Where notice has been given, full payment must be made for the ceremony within following 15 days.
Payment must be made in full for provisional ceremony bookings at the time the reservation is made.
...
Where the participants either do not show or request a change within 16 days of the ceremony day, the full payment will be forfeited.
Again, from my perspective I'm fine to forfeit the payment I never made.
Or does that mean that I've entered a contract to pay those regardless?
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Comments
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Are you really cancelling a wedding ceremony with 16 or less days notice?!Where the participants either do not show or request a change within 16 days of the ceremony day, the full payment will be forfeited.
That's quite shocking to be honest...
I'd just like to put a spin on this.... you say that the booking was "unconfirmed" and you are trying to use the Ts and Cs to argue this. Now.... by the same logic, this also means that the council would be perfectly entitled to turn round to you ON THE DAY and tell you to go somewhere else!
You following?
The booking WAS confirmed. The fee/deposit paid was £0, and you paid that in good time.
If you are cancelling within 16 days then I'm afraid it really does appear that you are liable for the full balance. The only legal thing you could argue is that the venue could find some other business to take your place, but at such short notice I don't think that would be possible...
Maybe wait for someone with more experience in consumer law though, I may have missed out something
Alternatively, feel free to contract a lawyer. 0 -
Well, I'm not particularly happy about cancelling on a such a short notice myself.stuartJo1989 wrote: »
But in my mind I was reading "must be paid within the following 15 pays or the booking will not be confirmed" as "if you won't pay, we can give your booking to someone else".0 -
When did you book, and what was the date of the ceremony to be?
If the 15 days to pay overlaps the 16 days before ceremony, then you cannot cancel so still have to pay.
Why did you not pay initially?Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)0 -
Well, I'm not particularly happy about cancelling on a such a short notice myself.
Ah fair enough, sorry to hear.But in my mind I was reading "must be paid within the following 15 pays or the booking will not be confirmed" as "if you won't pay, we can give your booking to someone else".
Well, the question is were you asked to make ANY sort of payment as a deposit?0 -
When did you book, and what was the date of the ceremony to be?
If the 15 days to pay overlaps the 16 days before ceremony, then you cannot cancel so still have to pay.
Why did you not pay initially?
I originally made this 'unconfirmed' booking on 13 October, but I don't follow, what is the logic with overlapping?0 -
stuartJo1989 wrote: »Well, the question is were you asked to make ANY sort of payment as a deposit?
No, nothing like a deposit, just the full fee for the entire thing.0 -
When did you book, and what was the date of the ceremony to be?
If the 15 days to pay overlaps the 16 days before ceremony, then you cannot cancel so still have to pay.
Why did you not pay initially?
Even so, the Ts and Cs state:
"Where notice has been given, full payment must be made for the ceremony within following 15 days."
So the question is, was notice given? Seems like full payment is only due IF the council give notice.
If they gave notice and OP refused to pay = strong case for OP.
If they haven't given notice = weak case for OP.0 -
stuartJo1989 wrote: »Even so, the Ts and Cs state:
"Where notice has been given, full payment must be made for the ceremony within following 15 days."
So the question is, was notice given? Seems like full payment is only due IF the council give notice.
If they gave notice and OP refused to pay = strong case for OP.
If they haven't given notice = weak case for OP.
Well, Notice have been given on the same date (and paid for separately), relevant text from the 'contract' (although it looked more like an informational page since there was nowhere to sign it):I acknowledge the Notice fee(s) of £70. Please note that this is a statutory fee and is NON refundable. Should you decide to change the venue, then fresh Notices and fees will be required.0 -
The reference to giving notice is talking about the legal action of giving notice for marriage. ...nothing to do with any cancellation notice0
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The reference to giving notice is talking about the legal action of giving notice for marriage. ...nothing to do with any cancellation notice
I'm a bit puzzled, which notice are they referring to in the cancellation policy then?
'Notice' being 'notice for marriage' consistent with '15 days to pay' in both T&Cs and Cancellation Policy.0
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