Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask my unwell friend to contribute to our restaurant cancellation fee?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My friends and I had a restaurant reservation, but on the day one of them, who is a type 1 diabetic, was unwell. We had to cancel the table, which came with a £25 cancellation fee. I was happy to absorb this as it was out of her control, and didn’t say anything to my friends. A couple of weeks later, I checked my credit card statement and there was a £100 charge from the restaurant - the cancellation fee was £25 per head, not per booking. Paying £100 myself seems very different from paying £25. Should I ask my friends, including the one who was unwell, for the money or do I let it slide?

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elsien

a bit late now, but did you discuss the three of you going without the fourth rather than cancelling completely?

Were you made aware of the cancellation policy and charges at the time of the booking? Wondering if there is scope to query this with the restaurant if it wasn’t made clear.
Otherwise, yes, I do think you should split the cost between you.

carfan2

Speaking from experience of booking meals for a group of friends, the latest of which is next week, I request an email from the restaurant with their deposit requirements and pass this on to my friends. They know well in advance that if they cancel after a certain date, they lose their deposit. Ironically enough, it was me that had to cancel a table of seven last December due to illness but fortunately it was before the restaurant's cut-off date.

The OP does not say if he knew of the cancellation fee beforehand but he does say he cancelled on the day of the booking which makes it difficult for the restaurant to fill the table. Possibly he could have gone with his other friends to the meal, unless, as in my case above, his friends were travelling a fair distance for a special occasion.

This is a good example for others to bear in mind so they can act accordingly should it happen to them.

Marineboy81

in fairness your friend not going didn’t stop you. If only one person cancels in a large party then my experience is that they don’t take that persons deposit. I think the charge should be shared by all but maybe at the risk of causing a rift. I’d just let people know and say that next time you need to collect deposits or at the least everyone should pay if they dont attend and the deposits are lost. Personally if I were your friend I would pay my share this time too…. Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised.

keithyno.1

Yes I think each member of your party, including the person who was unwell, should stump up the £25 each - why should YOU have to pay the full cost?

But were you not made aware of this £25 per person cancellation policy when you made the booking with the restaurant? If not it sounds like sharp practice on their part and I'd certainly raise it with them and look to get it refunded. If they refuse to, take it up with your local Trading Standards department.

Hummybee

yes, make them all aware and ask for the contribution.

primrose_penguin

I think that is a bit much for the restaurant to charge and would challenge them on it if they did not make it plain it was £25 per person instead of £25 per table. I am sure if you had all known the 3 of you would have gone for the meal instead, as that is a big amount towards it. It was kind of you to take on what you thought was a £25 charge without asking your friends for a contribution, but if I was you, if your challenge to the restaurant is refused and they won't budge I would tell all your friends exactly what you have told us, I am sure if they are true friends they would not expect you to pay their share, unless of course the decision to cancel the reservation was yours,

DoingMyBest1

A good friend would happily give you the £25 cancellation fee if you asked. So don’t hesitate to ask.

Nelliegrace

Difficult. Would you have gone for the meal without the friend if you had known of the £100 penalty?

We had to pay for the meal booked for our friend who had dropped everything to drive miles to help someone out. We did not see why the small restaurant should loose out, so paid it willingly. Had we thought of it a doggy bag would have been useful to have an excellent meal ready for her to re-heat.

ripongrammargirl

I am horrified that a restaurant charges a cancellation fee (can, sort of, understand if it’s Christmas or something similar)- what a money making scam- as this doesn’t happen at Toby carvery (other carveries are available!). I wouldn’t eat anything to the value of £25 per person cancellation fee- a gastric bypass is a wonderful thing!!!
I’m intrigued as to why you would have cancelled the meal for all of you just because one of you was ill? Seems a bit strange as that’s like saying the poorly person is the one who holds you all together as a group, which I’m sure is not the case. You should have gone. The restaurant (is it The Ritz or some other overpriced place?) should have it in writing what the cancellation policy is for you to read, but if they have not made it clear then I would try and reclaim on credit card. Anybody saying that they need to charge for loss of a table booking but then the venue charges £25 EACH for cancellation means, to me, that this is a popular and expensive place so they could easily get a new booking. Problem solved, but just making more cash out of sick people. You need to explain what has happened to your friends as it is not just your responsibility to pay for this. If they refuse to pay up then that sums up what kind of person they are and should you still be friends?
In any case, you should not have cancelled the table but you should have been informed of what the policy was. I would also avoid this and any other rip off restaurants in future. There are a lot of struggling but excellent cafes/pubs/eateries out there that would value your business without scamming you out of cash for telling them you need to cancel.

oldtrout

Hindsight is a wonderful thing … should have, could have, would have etc.

I would tell the 3 friends of the situation with the £100 cancellation fee, apologising that I wasn't aware the restaurant policy at the time was £25 each. I would also explain that I will be contacting the restaurant to see if anything can be done to reduce the fee as it wasn't made clear at the time of booking. See how your friends react. I'm sure true friends would agree to contribute.