About cancelling Valentines dinner?

[RedCarsGoFaster]

Booked a table (online) at a lovely restaurant for Valentines day. DH and I have been married 5 months, I thought it would be a nice surprise for him as we don't normally do much.

Received a call today, asking me to provide my credit or debit card details so they can store the details, put it against the booking (legit call, all checks out) and if we don't turn up they'll take £10/head fee.

Apparently their online system wasn't set up properly, and it should have asked me to do this when I booked a month ago. I said I'd call back....

AIBU to want to tell them to stick their booking? They've had 4 weeks to sort this out, and they contact me 6 days before the date. It's peed me off.

[Pipsqueak11]

whats the issue? i would have thought that is fairly normal for valentines day . why would you not ? sorry i dont get it

[Trills]

What are your chances of finding somewhere else you'd like to go?

On the night, will you wish you still had this booking?

[HarrietKettleWasHere]

I don't get it really OP.

[Phosphorus]

That would be a textbook case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[tissuesosoft]

The restaurant wouldn’t lose out though, they’ll just replace your booking

[Casmama]

I think you’re being churlish- just pay the deposit and enjoy your night.

[RedCarsGoFaster]

Yes to cutting nose off.... For me it's the expectation that I should be making up for their deficiencies. Its not my fault they didn't have this organised in January, and that they've left it so late to contact me.

I'm also not keen on a random call (albeit I checked it out) asking for my card details on the phone. That tells me that the person will be writing them down - what will they do with them?

[SavoyCabbage]

I don’t understand why it has enraged you so much.

[Somerford]

I don't understand why you have a problem with it. It should have been done when you first made the reservation but they've explained why it wasn't. They will expect it to be a busy night so they cant have the place booked up with the risk of people not turning up and costing them a fortune. Perfectly reasonable.

[Cabininthewoods69]

They are a buisness and therefore can't risk losing money. Just go and enjoy yourself. Look at this way, you were given 3xtra time to cancel without being charged

[Angrybird345]

I thought they aren’t alliwed to store the card details? They can take a deposit but not store them.

[edwinbear]

I think that's perfectly normal for dates like Valentines, Mother's Day etc.

[PurpleDaisies]

You’re overreacting.

[LizzieSiddal]

Yanbu
They should have told you about this at the time of booking.

I’ve never eaten in a restaurant where they’ve asked for a card before you even get there and I wouldn’t use one.

[Somerford]

Oh I've just seen your second post. I doubt you'll accept the responses so I'll leave you to your unnecessary rage. Have a wonderful evening.

[Lovelylovelyladies]

I honestly don't know what your moaning about?

[RedCarsGoFaster]

No rage, I accept I'm probably being unreasonable or at least over reacting.

[goose1964]

Look at it from the restaurant 's point of view , if they take a deposit there's less chance you'll be a no show. There's no guarantee that they'll be able to fill the table even on a busy night. Just think of it as prepaying for part of the meal

[Lunettesloupes]

Do what you want - if you’ve gone off this restaurant for whatever reason don’t go. Otherwise do.

[Thistlebelle]

A deposit to hold a table for a key night for restaurants (Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentines) is pretty standard.

I’m not sure why you have an issue giving your details over the phone, if they want to steal from you they could as easily do it when you pay on the night.

Besides surely you pay for stuff by phone regularly? Most people do.

Give them your credit card number if you want additional protect.

If you don’t pay the deposit you’ll lose your booking. It won’t bother the restaurant in the least.

[Allthewaves]

Just ring them back and give them the details yabu

[CheeseGirl4]

Restaurants lose huge amounts of money from no-show and late cancellation bookings where they've turned away other potential customers. I think it's perfectly reasonable for restaurants to ask for card details/ a deposit. You're being very unreasonable indeed.

[newyearsameme80]

They must be storing your details as they are only going to take the £20 on the 14th for a no-show.

[Pomegranatemolasses]

I truly fail to see your problem with this - you seem to be focusing on the 'six days before your booking' as a big problem. Just how long does it take you to get over an issue?

Restaurants lose a fortune over no shows. I think you're being really precious.

[Pomegranatemolasses]

Six days prior to your booking is not 'so late'.