Corporate Event company cancelled events and not offering refunds

Merkyfitz

Hi there, I am wondering if someone can offer me some advice on how to handle this please.

My partner has booked numerous events with a corporate event company who offer hospitality events: Ascot, London Theatre Trip and Meal, London show and Meal.

For Ascot he agreed to transfer to next year.  When the theatre trip was cancelled by them, they stated they would as an exception allow us to use credit against a new booking.  At that time, I asked if they would transfer some of that credit to cover an outstanding balance for another future booking.  This request was denied as they said they would only allow it to be used against brand new bookings - which seems somewhat unfair in the circumstances.

Now their credit control dept is asking us to settle the balance for the London show scheduled for October despite the chances of this being cancelled are quite high with the recent changes to theatre pilots etc.  I am getting more and more concerned about the fact they hold a significant amount of money, and we have no guarantees that they will 'ride the coronavirus storm'.  I find it quite unacceptable that they continue to ask for money when events have been cancelled and we have a credit.

We don't seem to be alone in this situation Trust Pilot has number of unhappy customers (not allowed to post link).

Any advice you can give would be much appreciated.
Regards, MF

Jeremy535897

You could quote the CMA guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds

unholyangel

Jeremy535897 said:

You could quote the CMA guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds

Its for corporate events so likely to be b2b contract (consumers rights won't apply). 


OP does the contract exclude the right to set off/right to offset? If not, I suggest you exercise that right. 

Merkyfitz

Thank you I will take a look at the contract and right to offset.  

I did have the CMA document to review.  Although it is a Corporate Events company, my partner doesn't have a company any more or self employed.  They haven't checked to see if it does exist and who they are forming a contract with - so to all intents and purposes he is a consumer?  Or is that wishful thinking???

Cheers, MF

Jeremy535897

Merkyfitz said:

Thank you I will take a look at the contract and right to offset.  

I did have the CMA document to review.  Although it is a Corporate Events company, my partner doesn't have a company any more or self employed.  They haven't checked to see if it does exist and who they are forming a contract with - so to all intents and purposes he is a consumer?  Or is that wishful thinking???

Cheers, MF

I had understood it that your partner was a consumer rather than b2b, hence my link. If the company chooses to allow anyone to contract with them, and a consumer does so, consumer protection should apply. If there was some misrepresentation though, that would not be the case.

Thrugelmir

Have you read the contract that's been entered into, i.e. the terms and conditions of trade.
If he's a consumer than he should have sought advice before placing the order which by default agrees to the T&C's. .