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

Simon_the_saver_2

First approach the restaurant saying you think #25 is reasonable, #100 is not. Ask for their response by email. If they stick to #100, particularly if they point to T&C you should have seen, forward their email to your 3 friends. With luck (and good friendship) they'll front up their share…

highlander58

In this order I would:
1, Challenge restaurant as above. They already have your money so more likely to get credit off future meal than refund.
2. Dispute the credit card charge under Section 75.
3. Appeal to friends’ good nature, to share the cost. But not worth falling out over. You can’t expect them to pay for your mistake.
4. Next time - read the cancellation policy & tell the others. As said above - can’t see why you all needed to cancel.

Tim11111000111

I think my starting point would be that you and your friends were acting as a group - you presumably all agreed to book this restaurant, and all agreed to cancel. The fact that you happened to be the name on the booking shouldn't mean you are responsible for covering everyone else's cancellation fee.

However, there is potentially some nuance. In particular, was everyone aware of the cancellation fee, both at time of making the reservation and cancellation? If they weren't, would they have acted differently if they had been aware, e.g. choosing a different restaurant, or going with just the three of you?

I do also think there is merit taking up the fairness of the cancellation fee with the restaurant. For a start, it seems clear that the fee was not made sufficiently clear, given you didn't realise it was a fee per person until you received the card statement. Even if the wording was clear and you just misunderstood, it is potentially an "unfair term" under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and therefore unenforceable. That's a whole long discussion - it boils down to whether or not £25 per person is a reasonable estimate of the loss suffered.

bikaga

I would just be open with my friends - saying that there was a £25 cancellation fee which you absorbed (I assume they know that already), but it turned out to be £25 per person which you had missed. They'll probably offer to pay their share, or cover your next bill for food (I'm assuming this wasn't a cheap restaurant).

Also check the restaurant page. Maybe they made a mistake like a new person multiplying a flat fee for a cancellation by the number of people on the booking - I've never heard of a cancellation fee that high!

Personally, as a type 1 diabetic, I'd make damn sure to pay my part of any cancellation fee. Being unwell because of T1D happens, but it's no different from someone getting a flu or falling off their bicycle. In future, maybe consider asking restaurants if you can reschedule rather than flat-out cancel and state someone's unwell, and you may be able to avoid fees because they know they'll still make ££ off you and someone being sick is different from a group being flaky.

Jemma01

You should ask each person to pay their £25, your unwell friend is only responsible for themselves. You 3 could have gone!

Your other friends might argue not being aware of the policy since they didn't book, and that it was your fault not reading the policy, and the fact they would have still gone had they known about the fee. I personally would pay you the £25, but honestly if they refuse I don't blame them, you made the decision to cancel on behalf of everyone.

DiscountDiva63

I generally tend to avoid booking restaurants where they potentially fine you for last minute cancellation, I just don't want the risk.

twopenny

I don't know why you should cancel the whole group because one wasn't able to make it. Even if they were the central one. Always get them a treat to make up for it.

Shame for the person who was unwell but the rest of you were ok. And presumably it was a last minute cancellation? On the day. The restaurant shouldn't have to loose the custom you requested

But presumably it was an expensive meal booked to have a cancellation like that. So many ifs and buts.

Yes you should let your friends know and give them the chance to pay. It will make them more cautious when booking and cancelling too.

BikingBud

Seems, by most comments, businesses are required to suck up the loss of custom and the missed opportunity to sell their food and beverages.

I feel the comparison with Toby is somewhat wide of the mark, a generic location providing factory food where people often drop on spec vice a restaurant with limited covers and limited to no scope to accept last minute bookings, what time did the OP cancel?

You might get a sympathetic hearing from the restaurant but why didn't you confirm he cancellation cost when you cancelled. I would certainly inform the other group member of the issue and strongly suggest the costs are distributed that might be fractious but if you don't raise it then you will be short.

ZeroSum

Id query with restaurant as looks like a mistake on their part. Imagine if a party of 10 & one pulled out, theyd diddle you for £250. If restaurant stand their ground, then can try & s75 it, also could goto local media & shame them as its a complete micky take to change cancellation fees for people who actually turned up & paid for a meal.

Keruge

Charge your friend if you want to lose her friendship.

I would be leaving a negative review and never visit the restaurant again so they lose out on a lot more than a free £100 and I would let them know it too.

TBH I rarely eat out at restaurants and would only book on the day or day before.

In future, perhaps have your friend around for a meal you cook.