Restaurant cancellation assistance please - £1300 due back

DoaM

You missed the part about the booking (seemingly) being made via Tock ... them being an intermediary may break the purchase chain and remove S75 protection.

theonlywayisup

Spank said:

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

I'm amazed nobodies berating the OP for spending £1300 on 4 meals

Because it isn't anyones business.  Berate?  Who do you think you are?

WTH? Don't gave a go at me I'm just pointing out that when people talk about spending money like this, some member's get on their high horse as tell them they shouldn't be spending money on expensive things.

Don't have a go at you.  Sorry I will.
People can spend their money on what they like.  Your comment was out of order.  There is no judgement or berating required. 
This is a moneysaving site.  Not a method of determining your spending habits. Or judging them.
Moneysaving is exactly that. Regardless of whether it is £1300 or £13.  The point is you shouldn't be ripped off. 
If you don't have anything of value to add then don't comment. 

JReacher1

You should tweet them. They seem to be responding to tweets. 

Sounds like they don’t have much staff and are working through the bookings and refunding. 

The fat Duck is probably the most famous restaurant in the UK so I’m sure at some point they will refund. 

Manxman_in_exile

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

I'm amazed nobodies berating the OP for spending £1300 on 4 meals

Because it isn't anyones business.  Berate?  Who do you think you are?

WTH? Don't gave a go at me I'm just pointing out that when people talk about spending money like this, some member's get on their high horse as tell them they shouldn't be spending money on expensive things.

Don't have a go at you.  Sorry I will.
People can spend their money on what they like.  Your comment was out of order.  There is no judgement or berating required. 
This is a moneysaving site.  Not a method of determining your spending habits. Or judging them.
Moneysaving is exactly that. Regardless of whether it is £1300 or £13.  The point is you shouldn't be ripped off. 
If you don't have anything of value to add then don't comment. 

I actually did think Spank's comment was made tongue in cheek - and I thought it was quite funny.  It's not an entirely unknown response on here that it's "a money saving site, why would you want to spend so much on xxxxx or pay somebody to do yyyyy?"  (I thought Spank was simply pointing out that this had happened yet, but I tend to try to see the best in people).  It's a bit like the the "John Lewis washing machine shrank my clothes" thread, where I'm struggling to tell whether people responding are having a not so subtle dig at somebody for having £800 of clothes to put in a washing machine, or are being genuinely sympathetic.

I don't think I could give any worthwhile advice to anybody who wanted to eat at The Fat Duck anyway.  (That's meant to be a joke... I think) 

windym_2

Thank you to all who contributed.

I sent one final email to say I was 'taking matters further' and had a prompt reply at 3am the following morning asking me to forward my cancellation form.  I did this and got an autoreply.  Two days later I had a generated 'cancellation email' from the Fat Duck.  Today I woke to a refund.  No apology for the fact they are nearly a month over the period allowed, nothing.

I've booked somewhere else.  I have already had a dozen or so emails about our planned visit where they are going to confirm AFTER lockdown.  

windym_2

macman said:

Good grief. So they charge £325 per head upfront just to make a reservation?
Section 75 may not apply, as not all Amex cards are credit cards, some are charge cards. OP, which kind is it? For example, a Platinum Amex is a charge card, a Rewards card is a credit card.
However, I believe that Amex will voluntarily match S75 protection on it's charge cards. anyway.

No they charge it as a deposit but it is the cost of the food,  the drinks are extra and in our case would likely have been the same amount again, with another 20% on top for tip.  It's my money, I know your issue wasn't with that, but this isn't a site for paupers - it is for help in all things moneysaving.  For me, not losing 1.3k was moneysaving.  Regardless of your situation, no-one wants to lose that. 

windym_2

JReacher1 said:

You should tweet them. They seem to be responding to tweets. 

Sounds like they don’t have much staff and are working through the bookings and refunding. 

The fat Duck is probably the most famous restaurant in the UK so I’m sure at some point they will refund. 

Thanks, we did FB, Twitter and Instagram (signed up to them all) but no response.  But thank you for your help.

windym_2

Manxman_in_exile said:

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

I'm amazed nobodies berating the OP for spending £1300 on 4 meals

Because it isn't anyones business.  Berate?  Who do you think you are?

WTH? Don't gave a go at me I'm just pointing out that when people talk about spending money like this, some member's get on their high horse as tell them they shouldn't be spending money on expensive things.

Don't have a go at you.  Sorry I will.
People can spend their money on what they like.  Your comment was out of order.  There is no judgement or berating required. 
This is a moneysaving site.  Not a method of determining your spending habits. Or judging them.
Moneysaving is exactly that. Regardless of whether it is £1300 or £13.  The point is you shouldn't be ripped off. 
If you don't have anything of value to add then don't comment. 

I actually did think Spank's comment was made tongue in cheek - and I thought it was quite funny.  It's not an entirely unknown response on here that it's "a money saving site, why would you want to spend so much on xxxxx or pay somebody to do yyyyy?"  (I thought Spank was simply pointing out that this had happened yet, but I tend to try to see the best in people).  It's a bit like the the "John Lewis washing machine shrank my clothes" thread, where I'm struggling to tell whether people responding are having a not so subtle dig at somebody for having £800 of clothes to put in a washing machine, or are being genuinely sympathetic.

I don't think I could give any worthwhile advice to anybody who wanted to eat at The Fat Duck anyway.  (That's meant to be a joke... I think) 

I didn't need tongue in cheek, I know I can't stipulate that but I've been around long enough. I'm glad I didn't see that comment then. 

windym_2

Sorry for so many post and updates, I can't do the multi quote thing for some reason (not a newbie!) but I do appreciate most of the comments and help.  All is well that ends well, the money has come back and we are settling on another venue.  

Manxman_in_exile

windym_2 said:

Manxman_in_exile said:

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

theonlywayisup said:

Spank said:

I'm amazed nobodies berating the OP for spending £1300 on 4 meals

Because it isn't anyones business.  Berate?  Who do you think you are?

WTH? Don't gave a go at me I'm just pointing out that when people talk about spending money like this, some member's get on their high horse as tell them they shouldn't be spending money on expensive things.

Don't have a go at you.  Sorry I will.
People can spend their money on what they like.  Your comment was out of order.  There is no judgement or berating required. 
This is a moneysaving site.  Not a method of determining your spending habits. Or judging them.
Moneysaving is exactly that. Regardless of whether it is £1300 or £13.  The point is you shouldn't be ripped off. 
If you don't have anything of value to add then don't comment. 

I actually did think Spank's comment was made tongue in cheek - and I thought it was quite funny.  It's not an entirely unknown response on here that it's "a money saving site, why would you want to spend so much on xxxxx or pay somebody to do yyyyy?"  (I thought Spank was simply pointing out that this had happened yet, but I tend to try to see the best in people).  It's a bit like the the "John Lewis washing machine shrank my clothes" thread, where I'm struggling to tell whether people responding are having a not so subtle dig at somebody for having £800 of clothes to put in a washing machine, or are being genuinely sympathetic.

I don't think I could give any worthwhile advice to anybody who wanted to eat at The Fat Duck anyway.  (That's meant to be a joke... I think) 

I didn't need tongue in cheek, I know I can't stipulate that but I've been around long enough. I'm glad I didn't see that comment then. 

I think you may have missed the point.  I was not being critical of you and I don't think Spank was either.  I read Spank's post as being surprised that no other posters had yet criticicised you for spending so much on a restaurant booking - because other posters do sometimes make such comments.  I think it was theonlywayisup who muddied the waters by immediately jumping to the conclusion that Spank was berating you and asking Spank "who do you think you are?".  theonlywayisup had literally misunderstood Spank's post.

Anyway, you've booked somewhere else which might be for the best - I suspect you'd need a good sense of humour to fully enjoy the dining experience at The Fat Duck - I certainly haven't and wouldn't!