COVID & WEDDING DEPOSIT - ARK ROYAL VENUE (LONDON)

sheikhb

Hi everyone

We have booked a wedding venue in January 2020 for a wedding in August 2020, but due to COVID, things got messy….!

The company - ARK ROYAL VENUE T/A SMM(UK) LTD (Company No. 09439491) have been very difficult to say the least. I got the company number from company house search as they do not publish this info on their documents or website, which I believe is a legal requirement. They are also failing to confirm the company number.

Every time we called for clarifications in terms of what’s happening, their representative (or could even be their owner MUHIB RAHMAN pretending to be someone) kept encouraging us to send email to request to ‘cancel’ to info@arkroyalvenue.co.uk. We suspected that it is some sort of legal trap for them to keep the money, but nonetheless sent emails asking for clarifications/assurance, but had no response (7 June 2020, 18 June 2020). A google review implies that they have been doing this for other customers.

We eventually had a reply from MUHIB RAHMAN on 19/08/2020 to our email of 17 Aug 2020, just 6 days or so before the actual wedding’, claiming deceptively that we have cancelled, with what seems like copy and pasting from different sources T&C and offering part refund or re-schedule the venue. We have already made it clear on 18/06/2020 in writing that we are not in position to delay any further, which he of course ignored and ignoring.

We have replied and highlighted clear points and gave him 7 days to refund or we take the matter further. The fact of the matter is, not only Ark Royal Venue have you shown unprofessionalism/dishonest tactics, but more significantly we feel Arc Royal are in breach of contract of not providing any services. Ark Royal Venue have not provided any pre-wedding services i.e. food tastings, choosing deco and so on as per the contract. Ark Royal Venue representative confirmed verbally that they will not be able to provide the service on the agreed date per contract - for 500 guests (he claimed 150 people can be accommodated – not sure how).  How can they provide a service even for less guests when they have not been in touch to arrange pre-wedding services in any case?

MUHIB RAHMAN’s response been the same, and of course ignoring all our points and making things up more to keep the money. He will not provide full refund. We have responded again.

MUHIB RAHMAN’s approach has been one of deception and ignoring facts with the intent of keeping the money illegally and immorally. He deceptively trying all approach - claiming that we have cancelled, when we did not. Claiming cost incurred for even pre contract (i.e during sale) “arranging viewings, tours of the venue, preparation of contracts’’ – presumably he would have sent us an invoice if we did not choose his venue? Of course, he is claiming cost incurred of ‘…answering your queries, consultation in respect to decor suppliers, food tasting, chasing deposits etc.’ which never happened! They have been ignoring emails until recently when we requested full refund, and never even called us. Some of his arguments are mind boggling – sheer stupidity. For example, he even claimed that once contract is signed, they are locked into a contract. If that is the case, why not respond from day one. Why leave it to the last? Why not arrange the weeding as per contract? Can you legally arrange wedding for 500 guests during the lock down? His rep claimed that they will be able to accommodate 150 people, is that as per government advise?

The partial refund that Arc Royal have offered is not only devoid of any facts and immoral, but has no legal standing whatsoever when they in breach of contract, and especially when they have not incurred any costs! The only thing that you have done so far is hard sale to take our money, kept it in their bank account and tried/trying to keep it using all sorts of tactics! 

We will escalate the matter to CMA and may end up taking them to small court (deposit paid by Bank Transfer so chargeback and section 75 will not apply). Wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and can advise how to get our refund?

Can we report them to

(1)   Trading Standards (Tottenham or registered company address area London E1)?
(2) Company House – not publishing or confirming their company number?

Thanks

Aylesbury_Duck

sheikhb said:

Hi everyone

We have booked a wedding venue in January 2020 for a wedding in August 2020, but due to COVID, things got messy….!

The company - ARK ROYAL VENUE T/A SMM(UK) LTD (Company No. 09439491) have been very difficult to say the least. I got the company number from company house search as they do not publish this info on their documents or website, which I believe is a legal requirement. They are also failing to confirm the company number.

Every time we called for clarifications in terms of what’s happening, their representative (or could even be their owner MUHIB RAHMAN pretending to be someone) kept encouraging us to send email to request to ‘cancel’ to info@arkroyalvenue.co.uk. We suspected that it is some sort of legal trap for them to keep the money, but nonetheless sent emails asking for clarifications/assurance, but had no response (7 June 2020, 18 June 2020). A google review implies that they have been doing this for other customers.

We eventually had a reply from MUHIB RAHMAN on 19/08/2020 to our email of 17 Aug 2020, just 6 days or so before the actual wedding’, claiming deceptively that we have cancelled, with what seems like copy and pasting from different sources T&C and offering part refund or re-schedule the venue. We have already made it clear on 18/06/2020 in writing that we are not in position to delay any further, which he of course ignored and ignoring.

We have replied and highlighted clear points and gave him 7 days to refund or we take the matter further. The fact of the matter is, not only Ark Royal Venue have you shown unprofessionalism/dishonest tactics, but more significantly we feel Arc Royal are in breach of contract of not providing any services. Ark Royal Venue have not provided any pre-wedding services i.e. food tastings, choosing deco and so on as per the contract. Ark Royal Venue representative confirmed verbally that they will not be able to provide the service on the agreed date per contract - for 500 guests (he claimed 150 people can be accommodated – not sure how).  How can they provide a service even for less guests when they have not been in touch to arrange pre-wedding services in any case?

MUHIB RAHMAN’s response been the same, and of course ignoring all our points and making things up more to keep the money. He will not provide full refund. We have responded again.

MUHIB RAHMAN’s approach has been one of deception and ignoring facts with the intent of keeping the money illegally and immorally. He deceptively trying all approach - claiming that we have cancelled, when we did not. Claiming cost incurred for even pre contract (i.e during sale) “arranging viewings, tours of the venue, preparation of contracts’’ – presumably he would have sent us an invoice if we did not choose his venue? Of course, he is claiming cost incurred of ‘…answering your queries, consultation in respect to decor suppliers, food tasting, chasing deposits etc.’ which never happened! They have been ignoring emails until recently when we requested full refund, and never even called us. Some of his arguments are mind boggling – sheer stupidity. For example, he even claimed that once contract is signed, they are locked into a contract. If that is the case, why not respond from day one. Why leave it to the last? Why not arrange the weeding as per contract? Can you legally arrange wedding for 500 guests during the lock down? His rep claimed that they will be able to accommodate 150 people, is that as per government advise?

The partial refund that Arc Royal have offered is not only devoid of any facts and immoral, but has no legal standing whatsoever when they in breach of contract, and especially when they have not incurred any costs! The only thing that you have done so far is hard sale to take our money, kept it in their bank account and tried/trying to keep it using all sorts of tactics! 

We will escalate the matter to CMA and may end up taking them to small court (deposit paid by Bank Transfer so chargeback and section 75 will not apply). Wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and can advise how to get our refund?

Can we report them to

(1)   Trading Standards (Tottenham or registered company address area London E1)?
(2) Company House – not publishing or confirming their company number?

Thanks

What a pity you didn't do some due diligence about all this before handing over a load of money by bank transfer!

Just take them to court as you plan to do.  Reporting them to various entities is all very well but surely you just want your money back, so at this stage, just concentrate on the letter before action and ensuing court case (if they don't return your deposit).

Sandtree

There was far too much rant in that post to read it all...

Firstly, it would be SMM(UK) Ltd t/a Ark Royal Venue... t/a stands for "trading as" so the legal entity name goes first and the brand name second.

1) You can report whoever you want to trading standards, if they are interested, will do anything about it is a totally separate matter

2) No, a) this isnt something Companies House would police and b) I am not aware of any legal requirement for company numbers to be published... they are more belts and braces as a company name must also be unique at any point in time.  Websites if they are transactional must identify the legal entity but their website isn't, they do have a potential issue of gathering personal data via a webform without identifying who the data is going to etc but that would be an ICO area of interest not Companies House. Contracts similarly only need to identify the parties and whilst normally for companies this is easiest done with a company number there is no legal requirement for it to do so.

sheikhb

Thanks guys,

Aylesbury_Duck -  Need to research further in terms of how to take them to court, but they have not confirmed company number but advised to as below - so send this address instead of registered company address?
"For your information all formal correspond should be addressed to:

The Manager

Ark Royal Venue

51 Meridian Way, London N9 0AR."

Sandtree -  I thought it was a requirement to publish the company number (can't post link - gov website under: Running a limited company '), it is not even on the contract their contract ( I guess I am wrong)

davidmcn

They've provided the company name and it takes seconds for you to look up the company number if you wanted it, so I'm not sure what point you're making here - the fact they haven't published the number doesn't give you any extra rights.

Sandtree

Looks like rules were changed in 2015 to say communications now must include additional details like company number or face a fine of up to £1,000. Doesn't say who polices it though and not sure the police are going to give two hoots if you tell them a company's letter head didn't have their company number on it.

sheramber

Sandtree said:

Looks like rules were changed in 2015 to say communications now must include additional details like company number or face a fine of up to £1,000. Doesn't say who polices it though and not sure the police are going to give two hoots if you tell them a company's letter head didn't have their company number on it.

I think it is Companies House who enforce it.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/495/pdfs/uksiem_20080495_en.pdf

sheikhb

sheramber - This is what I thought from my involvement with a money transfer business I dealt few years back, who was eventually closed down!  These are side issues anyways along with other action would be taken as they deserve, for making things up/saying one things on the phone, trying to trap people (see review below - exactly what they tried us to do to send cancel email) and now unnecessarily escalating the matter  but more importantly, whilst it easy to search, how do you know who you taking to court for sure, its the company number, right? If you win and they don't pay - where do the bailiff go and collect the money? Hence, my question.

In any case, need to research how to take them to court including claiming costs. Any help on that matter would be helpful i.e claiming for incurred costs, our arguments, etc.

Sandtree

sheramber said:

Sandtree said:

Looks like rules were changed in 2015 to say communications now must include additional details like company number or face a fine of up to £1,000. Doesn't say who polices it though and not sure the police are going to give two hoots if you tell them a company's letter head didn't have their company number on it.

I think it is Companies House who enforce it.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/495/pdfs/uksiem_20080495_en.pdf

Interesting to see that template in general, though it was 8 years before the act came into force.

Companies House will certainly enforce the other part of the legislation which changed the protected words, allowed accents etc in company names for the first time etc. Local Authorities are also listed as enforcement agents and I would suspect them much more likely to be enforcing the correct wording on letter heads etc.

bapostar

Hi Sheikhb,

Did you ever get your money back from SMM?

born_again

bapostar said:

Hi Sheikhb,

Did you ever get your money back from SMM?

Last Active

24 August 2020 at 10:27AM