What if someone wants to charge extra at the last minute?

Question

My fiancee and I booked the location to our wedding months in advance. We have a quote, in writing for the price of food, drinks, dancefloor, etc. The person in charge left the job and now a new, less pleasant person is our contact for the location. She claims the price of drinks and food have gone up since we booked the event, and we have to pay the higher price to have our wedding THIS SATURDAY.
What are our options, if any?

Answer 1

OUCH ! Not a pretty picture. This is what I would do.

You certainly do NOT want your wedding ruined on the count of this DOLT. Make no waves, pay the upcharge (upfront if you must) and make sure the wedding goes smoothly. Irritating this person before your wedding just might make your 'special day and presentation' less than the glamorous affair you had intended, and that's the LAST thing you want this Saturday.

Make notes of all conversations, what was said and when and by whom. After the day is finished, it's time to contact the ownership/general management of the facility and issue your complaint. Provide your original quote, and the bill for what was actually charged in reality. Don't make demands. Just tell them what happened and then stare at them until they say something to YOU.

This woman is damned near blackmailing you at this late notice, knowing full well you almost MUST concede to her demands. (And she's right. You MUST). But that doesn't mean you have to tolerate it after the fact.

A responsible GM/owner will overrule this woman and give you an appropriate refund.

Good luck and have a GREAT DAY this Saturday.

(BTW, don't bother to tip this 'wedding hostess" one red cent, no matter HOW good the service is)

Answer 2

If you have a written contract it is legally binding. If, on the other hand, what you have is just a price quote but you have no confirmation that you agreed to those terms and booked the place then you are basically out of luck.

That being said, as I try to explain to my kids, there is what is right, what is legal, and how things work in the real world. These are three very different things.

The harsh reality is in the real world you can put up enough of a fight so that the person in charge will cave in, but the will probably give you crappy service on your wedding day, you can just bite your tongue and pay the higher price and hope that karma gets them somewhere down the line, or you can take your business elsewhere.

Answer 3

I seriously doubt the price of drinks & food have went up much (if any). My opinion would be that since you were given the quote already, the new person in charge should honor that quote regardless. One a contract or quote is made, then it should be stuck to. It sounds like the new person is on a power trip anyways. Besides, that's no way to get any future business if you're (meaning the new person in charge) going to change something already promised/made/quoted. Since it's Tuesday, you might be able to find something last minute. Depending on how fancy/large your wedding is, you may have to pay the difference. If it was me, I think I'd do w/o or settle for something a little less rather than to be lied to and coerced into paying something I shouldn't

Answer 4

I worked in catering for a few years. That is soooo not what you signed up for. They are trying to push you into paying the new amount but if you signed a contract or signed a price quote that is what they need to stick to. Don’t pay them 1 dime more than you agreed to. Have your husband or someone who is very firm call, it shouldn’t be you, you have WAY to much to deal with and this time should only be remembered as a happy time. I’m sure that person has a supervisor, or the owner of the company. Let them know you’ll be taking it to the BBB. Complies like catering survive on word of mouth. Let them know that if they renege on the contract and try to charge you more than they agreed to you will be sure to spread the word. Also unless you booked your wedding 3 years ago, prices should not have gone up that drastically, and it is up to them to eat the cost not to try to Welch on the original contract and pass the buck to you.
PS HOPE you have a wonderful day. Remember don’t let these things take anything away from your special day. In the end the little problems don’t really matter.

Answer 5

Sounds shady. Even if it were a new owner or whatever, they should honor your quote, what crooks.
Ask this in the wedding catagory, they'll have more experience in this.
Good luck, all I can say is doesn't sound right and seems there must be some option-that's why you booked in advance, so you'd know exactly how much to come up with.
I wonder if you can threten to back out, they are depending on you to stick with your side of the agreement.
What ever happens, enjoy your wedding day, don't sweat the small stuff.

Answer 6

Both verbal and written contracts have legal standing in most jurisdictions - you don't say where you are.

I would either WRITE to them outlining your complaint, for breach of contract, and threatening legal action, or visit a lawyer and get their advice, and potential action on your behalf - if they will action this same day.

If you continue and the service is substandard, you have another reason for suing this unscrupulous business too, ending up paying less than the original agreed price.

With all this, I assume that the quote turned into a confirmed order, and that you have more paperwork than just the initial quote. Otherwise, it is their word against yours over what the original contractually agreed price is.

You must now proceed with everything in writing - make and send a summary of all further discussions back in writing to them, should you meet or speak over the 'phone.

The essence of the legal argument centers on your 'booking' contractual terms. I assume these did not vary from your original quotation, and I really hope, as mentioned earlier, that you have written details from the day of making the booking.

They could attempt to sue you for canceling, but you have a counterclaim against them, for breach of their contract.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 7

These types of YA questions are very difficult for anyone to answer. No one here has seen the contract. Are there any "clauses" in the contract? Monetary redress is always an answer AFTER the fact. What's more important; the wedding or a possible lawsuit that you may win? It could be a sizeable, very sizeable tort. Maybe in the year 2010 or beyond. Do you have a lawyer? If so, have the lawyer call them, not you. Good luck....

Answer 8

You have booked for the promised price, you are not to pay more then that they can't change your quote.

As for what to do... if they tell you they will not allow you to marry there; call the legal aid and get them in on it. If its a huge deal pay the higher price and sue later. This is all of course if you have the origional contract in writing as to what the quote was

Answer 9

If it is too late, you may have to eat the extra cost. If you do not have it, ask for help from friends and family.
Remember...Jesus said..."You have not, because you ask not."
A quote is just a ballpark figure unless you get a written promise. If you did, then you have legal precedent to bring action.
If not, after you are settled in together and things are back to normal, do email the parent company about the unpleasant treatment by the new person.
People with crappy attitudes should refrain from working in service industries.
Doodad

Answer 10

It sounds to me like the venue doesn't want to honour the contract they had you sign with them.
Most lawyers will give you a 30 minute consultation for free, I would start there.

It's very short notice, so I think that it doesn't speak well of this establishment, & it sounds like they are trying to chisel extra money from you. I think that it couldn't be good for them to have the entire community know that this is how they do business, & I would be in contact with local news with this story.

If it were me, I would say to them "we have a contract, & we expect you to honour it, & if you don't we'll take you to court".
It's the same position they would take if you called up at the eleventh hour & wanted to change the agreement.