Non refundable deposit

Surreychic

I booked and paid in full to attend a training course in Apr 2020 There was a deposit to secure the place but there was no mention of non refundable.  Now the course cannot go ahead, because of Covid 19, and originally they wanted to reschedule for June, then that was postponed also.  We have now been offered to reschedule for August,  pending circumstances, and offered a partial refund as they now state the deposit is non refundable as it was out of their control.  But this deposit is almost 25%on the full amount and it is not myself that cancelled and they cannot possibly know when this can be rescheduled.  Is this reasonable or fair?  

DoaM

Training course ... this sounds like a B2B transaction. If yes then there are no consumer rights, only the terms of the contract. If this is a consumer contract then the fact that they are the ones breaching the contract then they have no rights to retain any of the deposit. (This situation may allow them to deny any claims for additional losses, but that's all).

Surreychic

It isn’t B2B,  all marketed to Individuals (I am not connected to a business,  it’s a personal development course (spiritual). Yes not very spiritual refund)  there was no contract, just a PayPal invoice.  No mention of non refundable deposit until afterwards.   Plus the deposit is a substantial amount (£300) 

Undervalued

Surreychic said:

It isn’t B2B,  all marketed to Individuals (I am not connected to a business,  it’s a personal development course (spiritual). Yes not very spiritual refund)  there was no contract, just a PayPal invoice.  No mention of non refundable deposit until afterwards.   Plus the deposit is a substantial amount (£300) 

Well if a deposit was refundable under all circumstances it isn't really a deposit as it hasn't secured anything as far as the supplier is concerned!

born_again

Paypal non receipt dispute, maybe chancing your arm as they may simply say rescheduled and was non refundable.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.