Party cancelled and I have been refused a refund...

Sarah_90

I had booked and paid (deposit by debit card and remaining amount by credit card) a bar to hold a party which was then cancelled due to the virus.  The bar offered to move the party to another date which I have said wouldn't work and that I would like a refund.  The bar have apparently contacted their insurance and have been told that they're unable to provide a refund due to the virus being out of their control.  What are my rights and am I entitled to a refund?

elsien

What does it say about refunds in the booking terms and conditions?
Just because the company's insurance won't pay up doesn't automatically mean the customer isn't due a refund but it does depend on what was agreed when you made the booking. And whether the bar will still be in business to claim it from. 

Grumpy_chap

Your contract is with the bar and you should be entitled to a refund - the newsflash article at the top of this page "watchdog to investigate coronavirus cancellation policies" gives more details on that.

Whether the bar can or cannot claim on their insurance is between the bar and the insurance company.  You are not a party to whatever agreement the insurance company has.

Sarah_90

This was made via a booking form online and then went on to discuss by email.  No terms and conditions were ever exchanged.

Potbellypig

If it's not refunded then LBA followed by Small Claims Court.

onwards&upwards

Sarah_90 said:

This was made via a booking form online and then went on to discuss by email.  No terms and conditions were ever exchanged.

The T&Cs were probably buried on the website somewhere, but no point looking now, because they could have changed in-between. 

I agree, letter before action, then money claim online. 

John_

Who cancelled the booking, you or the venue?

Sarah_90

John_ said:

Who cancelled the booking, you or the venue?

The venue.  They held on as close to the date of the booking as they could before cancelling.