Refused deposit for cancelling party

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I have cancelled the venue for my daughters party due to ccoronavirus . The party was meant to be this Sunday 22nd March. However they are refusing to give me back my £60 deposit. I automatically thought i would get it back as its unusual circumstances. Not sure what i can do. Any suggestions ? Thanks

Nothing. Deposits are usually non refundable. You cancelled it not them so you're not entitled to it back in eventhough cancelling it was the responsible thing to do.

That's the point of a deposit, you don't get it back.

If everyone was refunded all deposits for all cancelled events right now everyone would go out of business and the economy would collapse.

Dont think theres anything you can do. Its unusual circumstances but the venue were still prepared to hold the party. Theyll be totally within their right to keep your deposit.

The deposit was to secure the date so that if you cancelled last minute and they couldn’t fill - them at least they get something

I'm in that industry. We're not returning deposits. That's the whole point of them. You can more than likely rebook at a later date.

That's the point of a deposit, why would you think you would get it back?

You can't do anything. This is what a deposit is for and they are usually non-refundable.

I doubt they can claim on any insurance for their losses. They might use it against a rebooking later if you asked

You can’t do anything. Of course they’ll keep the deposit - that’s what deposits are for!

You don’t get deposits back, especially at such short notice

I'm assuming you cancelled and not them, so why would you get it back?

My church hall are giving me mine back, was only 20 quid though.

More to the point how many kids were attending on mothering sunday? Just out of nosiness. Or was it drop and run?

There would have been about 20 children plus thier parents, those are the ones that confirmed. Im cancelling because of the virus, surely they would have expected that anyway.

I had no other option but to cancel

It is expected. We are dealing with cancellations all day everyday.

Doesn't change the deposit policy.

It’s a tricky one as no one could have foreseen these circumstances. I think if the venue will be shut due to the virus when the party was arranged for then you should get your deposit back. If it’s still open then they’re probably within their rights to keep it unfortunately

That's literally what a deposit is! You don't get it back.

I had no other option but to cancel

That's fair enough but deposits are generally non refundable. That's not going to change.

Meh, they were in school til tomorrow what difference would two days make? Your choice to cancel. I wouldn't have expected a deposit back but a chance to reschedule would have been nice (god knows when to though!)

Jesus Christ people like you blow my mind.

Thats fine if i had cancelled for the usual reasons people do prior to this outbreak. They will be able to get a loan from the gov't and still take my money.

2 days make a big difference with this coronavirus. I wouldnt have wanted anyone to get ill.

Of course you don't get it back.. that's the point of a deposit.

likely I will be cancelling DD's party in July - I don't expect my deposit back. It's a small play gym where we go to toddler class, they're losing out enough.

The loan from the govt won't actually cover all their outgoings etc.
Plus, they may have turned away another booking for yours who wouldn't have cancelled their party so why should they miss out? Fair enough if they cancelled but you have