My client, the bride for 9/18/21 cancelled via Email about 12 days ago. I replied to confirm that she was indeed cancelling, or if there is a chance she could post pone to another date. She said it is cancelled - "The Wedding was called off"
So, it is not due to death, or the Pandemic. The wedding was just called off.
I have not spoke to the bride or heard from her since. The mother paid the deposit via credit card on PayPal about 5 months ago.
The Father left me a voice mail earlier tonight. He wants to talk with me about getting their deposit refunded.
My agreement is clear about the $350 deposit being non refundable, and explains that it can be transferred to an agreeable open date any time up to 120 days after the original date or before the original date.
The date is pretty far out...still over 13 months out. However, with the way this pandemic is going, I may not re book it. Saturday in September of next year.
Should I stick to the agreement they agreed to and tell FOB their only option is to transfer to a new date, or throw a party on the same date to keep me working, or wait to see if I can re book the date with another client before I am able to issue a refund?
OR Should I just refund it because they asked? Or should I refund part of it, and charge them a "cancellation/date restocking" fee.
So far, in the past 2 months I have issued 2 refunds. Both were Pandemic cancellations due to the shut downs, and uncertainty of being able to have their events at all. This is different in the sense that it is 13 months away. Things could be fully re opened by then, so the Pandemic/Shut Down/restrictions are not at play with this one. At least not at the moment.
In terms of working with the bride. Only a meeting at a bridal show, a phone call, and an agreement was signed. No time spent on meetings or working on pre prep for their event since it was so far out.
So, it is not due to death, or the Pandemic. The wedding was just called off.
I have not spoke to the bride or heard from her since. The mother paid the deposit via credit card on PayPal about 5 months ago.
The Father left me a voice mail earlier tonight. He wants to talk with me about getting their deposit refunded.
My agreement is clear about the $350 deposit being non refundable, and explains that it can be transferred to an agreeable open date any time up to 120 days after the original date or before the original date.
The date is pretty far out...still over 13 months out. However, with the way this pandemic is going, I may not re book it. Saturday in September of next year.
Should I stick to the agreement they agreed to and tell FOB their only option is to transfer to a new date, or throw a party on the same date to keep me working, or wait to see if I can re book the date with another client before I am able to issue a refund?
OR Should I just refund it because they asked? Or should I refund part of it, and charge them a "cancellation/date restocking" fee.
So far, in the past 2 months I have issued 2 refunds. Both were Pandemic cancellations due to the shut downs, and uncertainty of being able to have their events at all. This is different in the sense that it is 13 months away. Things could be fully re opened by then, so the Pandemic/Shut Down/restrictions are not at play with this one. At least not at the moment.
In terms of working with the bride. Only a meeting at a bridal show, a phone call, and an agreement was signed. No time spent on meetings or working on pre prep for their event since it was so far out.