Non refundable deposit wedding venue

Undervalued

zwroberts said:

Sorry to be blunt, but if you didn't consider the deposit "reasonable" then you shouldn't have paid it and taken your business to a more "reasonable" supplier

A woman wants what a woman wants. 

Heinsight and all that. Didn't plan on a global pandemic putting us in a position where we'd be unable to afford it all. 

If they can justify the 2.5k as losses incurred then so be it, I just can't see it myself given the time frame of cancellation..?

I am afraid, unless the venue want to show goodwill, your chances of getting a refund before the date of the intended wedding are very slim.

If you have evidence that another similar wedding takes place there on that date, then you have a good case for a significant (but not full) refund. It not then you will have a big struggle to prove that they didn't make reasonable attempts to mitigate their losses. Despite what you seem to think, it is not unreasonable for them to look to you for their lost profit. You booked, you agreed to pay a 33% deposit and it is not in any way the venue's fault that you now need / want to cancel.  Sorry but that is the harsh reality.

zwroberts

I'm in no rush for a refund and accept the fact we will lose some money from cancelling. 

Its in their interest to re sell the date and I'm sure they'll have no problem in doing so given the vast amount of wedding cancellations this year... but maybe I'm too optimistic! 

photome

zwroberts said:

I'm in no rush for a refund and accept the fact we will lose some money from cancelling. 

Its in their interest to re sell the date and I'm sure they'll have no problem in doing so given the vast amount of wedding cancellations this year... but maybe I'm too optimistic! 

you also have to accept that they may come after more money if they dont rebook the date.
Lets hope they do rebook it and the refund you some or all of your deposit

RJLupin

Could you discuss options with them, and maybe still get married but reduce the extras?
You've paid £2500 already, and if you can assume you won't get that back, you may be able to still make use of the venue without it costing another £5000.
I don't know about your rights in this situation, but it is something to think of.
I do feel for you - the financial impact on most people and businesses is horrendous.
Best of luck in your marriage!

zwroberts

I've had a response today following my email..

'I have escalated your situation to the owner for his consideration. As we do understand that this has been a challenging time for all, we can refund your deposit minus an administration fee upon the rebooking of your booking dates...'


Looking positive. 

Aylesbury_Duck

They're doing the right thing.  You've just got to hope that someone makes a booking, ideally of the same or greater value.

Undervalued

zwroberts said:

I've had a response today following my email..

'I have escalated your situation to the owner for his consideration. As we do understand that this has been a challenging time for all, we can refund your deposit minus an administration fee upon the rebooking of your booking dates...'


Looking positive. 

Yes, assuming the current situation has resolved sufficiently by then for another couple to want to book.

burlingtonfl6

I can never understand why people don't understand what a deposit is.
The OP have changed their minds, so they're in the wrong.

Undervalued

burlingtonfl6 said:

I can never understand why people don't understand what a deposit is.
The OP have changed their minds, so they're in the wrong.

True although that applies to companies too.

What a deposit can't be is a penalty. What the venue can't (lawfully) do is just keep the deposit and make no effort to re-sell the date. However that is not very easy for the OP to police. The venue may quite genuinely have turned down several other possible bookings once the OP had booked. I suspect it is harder now, as couples will be cautious about what commitment they are making. If a replacement booking is hard to get the venue may well have to reduce its price and / or require a much smaller deposit. Equally they may have to spend on advertising. Even if they get a booking they can quite lawfully look to the OP to make up any shortfall and again it will be hard for the OP to audit the numbers.

unforeseen

zwroberts said:

I'm in no rush for a refund and accept the fact we will lose some money from cancelling. 

Its in their interest to re sell the date and I'm sure they'll have no problem in doing so given the vast amount of wedding cancellations this year... but maybe I'm too optimistic! 

They can probably sell the date itself but the problem is going to be the couple who book it getting a registrar. With only 8 months to go, if it is anything like my area, then registrars are fully booked up to a year ahead, especially because of all the ones rescheduled due to Covid.
This effectively makes the venue unsaleable. 
I assume that you had a registrar booked?