Been scammed by a cake maker?

Why has she blocked her then??

I don't think she's set out to scam you. GO to her door and ask for the money back. No need to leave a bad review on her Fb page because of a mistake. Sometimes these things happen although she does seem to have handled this badly. She might be embarrassed about whats happened.

My guess is she has spent your money getting the ingredients and is now unable to reimburse you but is too embarrassed to say so she is sticking her head in the sand until she has figured something out.

I had this with a mechanic. Had been super helpful, used him several times. Then suddenly, after I'd booked car in and paid for parts, he blocked me (used to collect the car, rather than me taking it to him).

After a couple of years of service. No idea why. Never got my money back. Arse.

If your children are friends can you ask your child if they are aware of anything going on with the family. It does seem odd that you have used her a fair bit and know her and she has done this. Is it a proper business or does she do cake making on the side. I'm wondering if she doesn't have the money to refund you.

Do NOT let it go! That’s exactly what she’s hoping for!
I bloody would turn up at her door, too!! And demand a refund! Cakes are expensive, there’s no was if give this cheeky cow a penny of my money for nothing. Tell her you won’t post anything online if she refunds you straight away, otherwise you’ll leave a review.

I'd take the softly softly approach.
Message her saying
' just checking in to see all us well with you, I've lost you on fb somehow, and it's not like you not to respond to messages
Let me know if you need anything x'

That leaves the door open for her to say she's skint and will pay you back in a few days time ( which is probably the case).

Keeps communication open 🙂

People piping up about chargebacks: that only works on card payments, not bank transfers. FYI. If she transferred money from her account, the bank will not do anything.

As you have used her successfully before and your kids are friendly I would assume something has gone awry for her.

I would call or go to her door and say you are concerned as it doesn’t seem like her, given her past good service.

I would guess she has got herself in a terrible mess, spent the money and is now panicking.

How much money is it?

I would go to her door. She’s stolen your money effectively.

I think because she knows you and you’ve used her several times before with no issues, it’s unlikely that she set out to scam you. Obviously she hasn’t behaved brilliantly and I definitely wouldn’t use her again but I’d assume there’s something else going on here. Give it a few days then try to get in touch again. And if it comes to it then no it isn’t confrontational to knock on her door and ask her to arrange a refund.

Have you tried a phone call?
Something similar happened to me. I booked an event with a person I used before. She told me she couldn't accommodate the time after payment, I asked for a refund - no reply. I waited three days, then called her first thing in the morning. She was very apologetic and refunded me right there and then.
We get so many messages, things are easy to forget. Yes, even for a business. Call instead.

Put a note through her letterbox, asking her to call you.

Weird she deleted you esp if you were pleasant about the cock up

I'd give it a bit more time - you say she's not blocked you, so she's still getting your messages but just not replied yet?
Have you been understanding in all of your messages or just the first one?
If you've not heard anything after a few more days, I'd send one last message saying that if you don't get your money back you'll unfortunately be lost as a customer and you'll leave a bad review. She may change her tune. Hopefully it's something and nothing and she'll get the money back to you - especially if you've used her before and she offered you a refund straight away.

The deleting off FB is the real red flag here.

Keep messaging.
This is so poor.

Send your bank details over and say you expect the money to clear by monday.

You’ve used her before, and presumably know where she is based (do you collect the cakes from her?), so it’s not going to be a scam as such. Something may well have happened but it’s unlikely an attempt to steal your money.
I’d give it a few more days or a week, and then call her or go in person.
Certainly don’t start leaving bad reviews as you have no idea what has happened. There may well have been a death or illness or anything. Chances are she’ll refund you as promised. Possibly after another reminder.
Of course, if you contact her and she tells you no, then you should escalate.

If I really needed the money I'd definitely keep on at her. If I felt I did trust her to an extent I might ask for another cake of the same value. But she unfriended you which is not a good sign.

I would haunt her until my dying days until I got my money back 😳 but I would still be kind and give her the benefit of the doubt just in case it was a genuine oversight.

24 hours to refund or you will post on Facebook that you have been scammed

You have been very reasonable given her awful behaviour. Don't write off the money!

I would give leave it a couple of days, ie over the weekend. Next week I would get in touch again. I wouldn't forget it though.

Drop a note through her door, give her seven days to refund you, then take her to small claims court.