Paid invoice in full - now being asked for more money

ruby_tuesday

Hi there,

I'm looking for advice as I have booked a bus as transport for my wedding day. The deposit of £100 was paid last July (2021) and a signed booking form with T&Cs was returned to the company and confirmed as received.

The full amount we then paid on the 19th January 2022, which was confirmed by the company as received and acknowledged that our invoice had been paid in full.

Last week, we received an email from the company advising us that the amount for the hire had increased and we would need to pay an extra 18% before the end of April. The company advised the increase is because of the following -

'We regret to advise you that we are conducting a price increase on our vintage hire services. This is due to the huge increase we have experienced in the vehicle running costs and across the business. Our hire fee will be increasing by 18% and this increase will take effect for all bookings with immediate effect.'

Any advice on whether we must pay this increase and what our rights are would be hugely appreciated. As you can imagine, with only a few weeks to go before the wedding, I am in no place to be able to afford extra charges at this point.

Many thanks in advance.

Ruby_Tuesday

pinkshoes

What does your contract say about any variations in price?

I understand diesel prices have risen, but how far is this bus going to drive??

A bus does about 4 mpg?? So a 20 mile journey will be about £40 in total?? So the increase will be no more than £10 in fuel?

Are there any alternatives available?

Olinda99

An airline ticket  contract, for example, does have provision for such things as fuel surcharge in the conditions of sale.

Does the coach company have such conditions? If not, they cannot just unilaterally alter the contract price.

In this case, if you don't pay, and they cancel the contract they they would be liable for any losses - for example, expenses you incurred in re-booking with someone else including any price difference.

As always, check with the T&C you signed.

MalMonroe

I think this sentence is relevant - 'confirmed by the company as received and acknowledged that our invoice had been paid in full.'

If they have acknowledged, in writing, that you have paid in full then how can they now come asking for more? They had a contract with you and now they want to break it. 

As pinkshoes has said, check the Terms and Conditions of that contract. 

I certainly wouldn't want to give them any more money when I'd already paid in full, even if it was only as low as 5%. It's most unbusinesslike of them to come back asking for more money. That's no way to run a business. The invoice has been paid. End of story.

If they say they won't provide the service without further payment (and they know they have you in a vulnerable position) I would say that I would have to cancel because that was not your original contract with them. If they break the contract you can sue them but they're probably depending on the fact that you'll be too busy and preoccupied to object to their demand.

In the first instance you could send them an email reminding them that you had an agreement to pay a certain amount and that they have acknowledged that their invoice has been paid in full so you are not in a position to give them any more. That really is no way to run a business. The fact that their running costs have increased has nothing to do with you. They should have provided for things like that before they quoted you for their service.

sheramber

I don't think anybody knew in January about the massive increase in fuel prices that was going to happen.

As said read the terms and conditions of your contract for any statement about potential increase in costs,

mikb

The phrase prices are increasing "with immediate effect" means from now, onwards. What you appear to be worried about is "with retrospective effect" ... Have they directly asked you for more money? Or are you assuming you need to pay more because of the wording of the email?

As the invoice is paid <shout> IN FULL </shout> then you simply thank them for letting you know, "and should I wish to book again with you in the near future, I will remember that prices have increased".

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

sheramber said:

I don't think anybody knew in January about the massive increase in fuel prices that was going to happen.

As said read the terms and conditions of your contract for any statement about potential increase in costs,

I think a term stating prices may increase would unfair as it only benefits one party. 

Stating prices may vary either way depending upon the circumstances might be valid if it was part of the terms (but I don’t know).

They probably hope most will just pay, worth pushing back OP and saying you don’t intend to pay any extra. 

If they insist probably best to pay and try to reclaim after the fact (as you no doubt have enough to do without trying to rebook elsewhere).

Thrugelmir

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

sheramber said:

I don't think anybody knew in January about the massive increase in fuel prices that was going to happen.

As said read the terms and conditions of your contract for any statement about potential increase in costs,

I think a term stating prices may increase would unfair as it only benefits one party. 

Expecting another supplier to match the existing price is somewhat unlikely.  Given the apparent reasoning behind the increase. There's input cost pressures across the board. Challenging times lie ahead for many commercial organisations who have't recovered from the financial impact of the pandemic yet. 

comeandgo

Well it’s absolutely obvious that costs incurred in transport have increased dramatically due to no fault of the operators.  If you feel you can push for the price negotiated prior to this war when you know costs are rising then go for it.  I think many people would look at the larger picture and not take the selfish route.

IvanOpinion

How far is the bus taking you and what was the total cost?
The world is a different place today than it was even a few months ago. Look at the T&C in detail and check if it definitely applies to your 'paid in full' booking. Check to see if there is any way of negotiating the price rise down since you are 'paid in full'.

But, the one thing to remember, goodwill works both ways. If you enforce contract conditions today then they may well enforce contract conditions on your wedding day.