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Original poster

Entertainment ruined my sons party

111 replies

Feys · 01/09/2024 21:25

Hello I need some advice
I booked entertainment for my sons 1st birthday. This consisted of a bouncy castle, ball pit, light up numbers and balloon arches. And tables.
This company was supposed to arrive at half 12, they didn't show up until almost 4pm. By which time most of my guests and their children had left. The party that I had planned for so long had been ruined.
She still wants paying the full amount. Am I wrong to refuse?

OP posts:
StSwithinsDay · 01/09/2024 22:05

How far did she have to travel to get to you?

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 01/09/2024 22:07

they were booked for 12.30.
they were 3.5 hours late, after the party.

pay nothing, get your deposit back, take them to small claims if they won’t return it.

Echobelly · 01/09/2024 22:07

No the service was no use to you as it arrived after the party finished, they're trying their luck but don't let the push you.

IANAL but I can't imagine they could pursue you through the courts for payment of a service that was never provided.

arethereanyleftatall · 01/09/2024 22:11

I wonder if she's doing this bonkers thing to panic/gaslight you in to not claiming big time off her.

SD1978 · 01/09/2024 22:13

I'd pay nothing- if the set up time was 12.30 and the party was finished by the time they arrived, they haven't fulfilled their contract. I'd tell them to stop contacting you and feel free to pursue it legally.

Sunshineandtequila · 01/09/2024 22:14

Op did you let her set up and use her services? I’m assuming you did. Of this is the case, ask for a discount. However if you want answers on here you should give the full story.

Matronic6 · 01/09/2024 22:16

Of course you shouldn't pay. Make sure you give a very honest review as well.

Gremlins101 · 01/09/2024 22:19

Of course don't pay her.

6pence · 01/09/2024 22:20

Tough. No service, no pay.
Didn’t you just laugh when she asked and say “pay for what exactly?”

AlohaRose · 01/09/2024 22:24

What time was the party? Surely by 4 pm it was actually over? I wouldn't even have let her into the venue when she arrived so late!

Howdull · 01/09/2024 22:28

Sunshineandtequila · 01/09/2024 22:14

Op did you let her set up and use her services? I’m assuming you did. Of this is the case, ask for a discount. However if you want answers on here you should give the full story.

This.

OP did you let her set up the equipment and did some people use it

PrimalOwl10 · 01/09/2024 22:28

What happened when she arrived op
I would have turned her away and not paid her at all.

Goldbar · 01/09/2024 22:33

She's got a cheek. I'd be straight online leaving a review to warn off other customers.

I'm so sorry your DC didn't get the party you'd planned.

Purspectiveplease · 01/09/2024 22:42

Do you have the term and conditions of the contract? It probably says in there.

BarbaraHoward · 01/09/2024 22:43

I wouldn't be paying a single penny.

Juicyfroott · 01/09/2024 22:46

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Youcantcallacatspider · 01/09/2024 22:49

Don't pay and move on. It's dissappointing but much more for you than your baby who let's be honest is going to have zero memories of it and would probably have been happier playing with a paper bag. You'll have plenty of parties to stress about once your child is actually old enough to care about them OP so just let this one go and chalk it down to experience and have a laugh with baby about it when they're older. Happiest of birthdays to the little one! Hope they still had a wonderful day xx

Jk987 · 01/09/2024 22:53

What did everyone do between 12:30 and 4? Hasn't the guests left by then?

Beautiful3 · 01/09/2024 22:56

I wouldn't pay her either.

Cherrysoup · 01/09/2024 23:03

No, se gets nothing. Childrens’ parties are time sensitive, you’ve sent out invitations and the entertainment was hours late. Zero payment.

PulpFaction · 01/09/2024 23:05

I would also be asking for the deposit back and take her to small claims.

SC is easy. I have done it twice now.

Dotto · 01/09/2024 23:07

She obviously forgot. Don't pay. She won't take you to the small claims court.

pinkfleece · 01/09/2024 23:19

Of course you don't pay her - but 1st parties are entirely for the parents, so don't worry about the effect on your son.

SamAndAnnie · 01/09/2024 23:29

Feys · 01/09/2024 21:51

I messaged her at 12.50 asking what time she would be with me to set up and she said she was stuck in traffic having just left to come to me.

Show quote history

I call bullshit. She hadn't just left to come to you. She'd fucked up the booking and was elsewhere. She had to wait for that to finish, then pack up and get to you.

You're way too nice. If someone is 20min late for an important booking like that they wouldn't be getting a text asking what time they were coming to me, that's far too laid back and gives the impression you can be flexible. They'd have got a text asking where they are and and why weren't they here at 12.30pm as arranged. If the reply said they'd only just left 20min after they should have arrived they'd be getting a very angry response, told not to come and to refund anything I'd already paid. Then I'd leave a bad review.

SamAndAnnie · 01/09/2024 23:31

Actually I'd have called them to out them on the spot and not give them time to formulate a reply like text does. You can sometimes also tell information from what you can hear in the background. Bet if you'd called you'd have heard a children's party in full swing.