Prom Dress Disaster

I would 100% not be paying for the dress.

I don’t know why so many people are willing to put up with awful service!

If you don’t make a stand - come next prom there may well be another girl who has her night ruined by the same problem.

In the email I would state the following facts:

• The dress was delivered late so you didn’t have time to do a proper fitting before the seamstress left
• The dress didn’t fit properly and your daughter didn’t enjoy her night as a result
• You understand there was a problem with the seamstress but they assured you it would be fine.

Tbh they didn't deliver what you wanted OR or when you wanted it.

You also didn't have an alternative for prom starting 2hrs later. I think this is important given you took it.

They brought it late ( 5pm)so you didn't have time to check it and you were under massive pressure to say it's fine.

I'd say it is their problem to suck up and I'd say they won't be surprised if you get in touch.

Excellent response.

I feel very sorry for your daughter. Whatever anyone else says about prom not being important, for a 16 year old who has looked forward to it for ages, seen older girls go before her, it really is. It’s her last real memory of school and she felt uncomfortable and unable to relax in a dress that didn’t fit.

In hindsight you should have got your DD to try on the dress there and then. Its really disappointing though. You should get a refund fof the whole cost never mind not pay the outstanding amount.

"I said it was fine and I could tighten it in with the corset"

I think any compensation you receive will be entirely goodwill.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable. I think you should email them and include some photos showing that it is too big and reiterate that it was delivered an hour after the deadline and that you didn’t have time to fully asses it. They haven’t fulfilled their side of the agreement fundamentally.

You obviously have a terrible memory for what it’s like to be a 15 year old girl!!!

The seamstress clearly took on too much work but I think you left it way too late for alterations. Even if they altered it to how you wanted it, it may still have needed altering further at the fitting. You didn't give yourself any wiggle room with this.

Your poor DD. I was at a (minor) event last week and my neckline was too deep and I felt super conscious and uncomfortable. I didn't realise it till I was at the event. That was totally my fault though. Id had ages to try on the dress.

You had planned it all out very sensibly but then they kept pushing the deadline out again and again, which you accepted our of goodwill (and desperation I assume. Who wants to go prom dress hunting the previous evening). Then they arrived later than even their already late time. I assume your daughter was freaking out at this stage wondering if the dress would arrive rather than being able to look forward to the big event. When it finally arrived the dress lady was in a hurry and you were in s hurry anyway as it was so late so you thought it was probably good enough enough you could make Do. It wasn't good enough and for no fault of yours or your daughter's she was miserable and uncomfortable.

I'm rehashing it here what happened because some people don't seem to understand why this service you received wasn't good enough.

I'd ask for at least a partial refund and then use that to buy your daughter something nice.

From a consumer law perspective you accepted the dress, contract fulfilled. You do not have any legal right to not pay for the dress or to return it. If you do not pay the agreed price for the dress you are the one in breach of contract. However, you may be able to negotiate with the supplier due to your bad experience. Many decent businesses do things "as a goodwill gesture" that they do not have to to ensure customers are happy and they keep their good reputation. I would suggest that you do not go in all guns blazing as you are not in the right here (legally), I would also resist the temptation to post anything on social media that could be viewed as libel. For those who are suggesting that you didn't have a choice but to accept it sorry, that is not how the law works. I know prom is a huge deal for the kids and it is such a shame that your daughter didn't have a good night but now I would go with "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar".

I agree it was stressful and chaotic, but doesn't change the fact that you accepted and used the dress for the occasion.

You say you thought you could pull it in tighter. Either you didn't attempt this and left it to the other (perhaps less capable) mother, or did attempt it but didn't notice it still didn't fit.

Personally, if I knew a week prior that the dress wasn't ready, I'd have had a contingency plan.

I would ask for a discount, they left no time for a proper appraisal of if the dress fit.
You paid for alterations then you pay to have the dress fit, what would they have done if you said no it doesn’t fit. They had not left enough time to fulfil their end of the contract- having said that, it has now been worn so I think handing it back is not an option.
I would offer part payment.

The Consumer Rights Act (2015) makes your rights as a consumer easier to understand and covers online shopping as well as goods and services bought in shops. If you've bought something and it's broken, doesn't work, or isn't what you'd expected, find out here when you can claim, and who can help you with your complaint.

Buying products

What are your rights?

You can make a claim for a refund, repair or replacement when the product you've bought (it could be an object or a service) doesn't meet these three standards:

Satisfactory quality: The product shouldn't be damaged or faulty when you receive it.

Fit for purpose: You should be able to use it for what the seller says it will do (its purpose), whether that's their statement when you buy it, or an answer to your question. For instance, a tin opener should open tins.

As described: It should match its description when you bought it. For example, something sold as made of metal shouldn't be mainly plastic, or clothes shouldn't be a different size.

If a service isn't provided 'with reasonable care and skill' or 'as agreed', the provider must bring it into line with what was agreed with the customer. If this isn't practical, such as when a haircut's too short, they must give some money back.

I agree with mzhz to a certain extent, its all a lot of hullabaloo causing unnecessary stress, I would have just bought a dress from a 2nd hand shop or off the peg etc

Speak to the owner directly if you can. Take photos of DD wearing the dress and show the issue. Whilst sad that the seamstress
collapsed (apparently) it’s not actually your problem, harsh as it may sound. I’d agree to pay for half and no more. My feeling is they will try and use it against you that you said it was ok when they delivered it, be prepared for that. But I’d push back if possible. Do you have anyone who could write an official sounding email on your behalf mentioning contracts and agreements etc.?

oh your poor daughter!
And I'm another one who doesn't believe the story of the collapsed seamstress. They had too much work on.

I think you need to email pointing out the dress arrived far too late, wasn't time for a proper try on and lace up of corset. It became apparent within short time of wearing that dress was gaping at the front and had to be pinned.
Therefore the dress DID NOT fit your daughter. Offer to return the dress.
Don't pay the rest as you daughter did not end up with a properly fitting dress.

We had a leavers formal (ball) when I left school in 1987 so not a new thing

Yes, we had one, and it was called a Prom, in 1992.

Problem is you accepted it and said it was fine

This

No, not this. Completely fucking incorrect.

How miserable are you!

We had a leavers formal (ball) when I left school in 1987 so not a new thing.
OK we didn't have limos, fake tans, etc. but we did all have dresses made and hair appointments etc

I still look at the photos and smile. It's a big deal at that age and it does matter!

Send it back OP no further payment required. Wording up thread is perfect.

Sounds shit. They should definitely offer a partial refund. The deadlines and the obviously fabricated excuse were ridiculous.

I don't know why people faff about with made to measure dress for a prom though, it's not a wedding, just get something off the peg.

This