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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:
Kittybluecat · 01/09/2024 23:38

You paid her didn't you?

Moveoverdarlin · 01/09/2024 23:41

Feys · 01/09/2024 21:58

12.30

Show quote history

Surely you would have told her not to bother coming though long before 4pm?

At 12.35 I would have rang and said ‘just double checking you are on your way as you are 5 mins late and I’m paying you a lot for this.’

At 1.30pm I would have rang and said ‘You’re an HOUR late, where on earth are you?’

At 2.30 I would have rang and said ‘Honestly Mrs Party Planner, it’s a one year olds party, it only goes on for two hours. Don’t bother coming. Party is nearly over and it’s been completely ruined.

At 3.30pm I would have rang and said ‘DO NOT COME. PARTY IS OVER. I WILL NOT BE PAYING YOU.

It all sounds very strange.

Bumcake · 01/09/2024 23:42

Of course don’t pay, the party was over before she got there.

DreamW3aver · 01/09/2024 23:52

Youre not being very communicative about what happened, might a lack of communication been a factor?

Obviously the party wasn't starting at 12.30 so what were the timings, how far was she coming from, had there been an accident/road closures, what happened when she turned up? A full explanation would be usuful

lazzapazza · 01/09/2024 23:53

On the face of things no you should obviously not pay. However the fact you are even asking this leads me to think that you have not given us the full sequence of events.

What actually happened when she got there? Did you verbally make an agreement that she was still okay to provide the equipment four hours late?

I don't understand why you let her set up rather than telling her to clear off.

Moveoverdarlin · 01/09/2024 23:58

If she was booked for 12.30pm and didn’t get there much before 4pm how far was she coming? I assume you didn’t use a local company? You could go from Birmingham to Devon in that time.

Ohthatsabitshit · 02/09/2024 00:08

So did they set up at 4? What was the point of that if the guests had gone home?

Hankunamatata · 02/09/2024 00:11

Did you let her set up at 4? I would have sent her packing

EdithBond · 02/09/2024 00:16

Was there no further communication between you after 12.50? When it got to 1:30-2:00pm, I’d have called to find out where they were and made a decision whether to scrap it. Suggest you check your consumer rights online, unless someone on here is well versed.

Shiningout · 02/09/2024 08:36

It sounds like you let them set up at 4 so your child could have a go and maybe a couple who were still there. That's where you're gonna have a problem not paying at all, you should have just turned them away as the party was over!!

probster · 02/09/2024 08:50

Given the Op’s radio silence on her own thread

i am guessing the fault lies with her and not communicating with the supplier 😆

probster · 02/09/2024 08:52

If the OP hasn’t paid a sizeable deposit, which she doesn’t mention, then this supplier was as daft as a brush

GiddyNavyJoker · 02/09/2024 09:00

probster · 02/09/2024 08:50

Given the Op’s radio silence on her own thread

i am guessing the fault lies with her and not communicating with the supplier 😆

I have to agree. We've been drip fed only small amounts of information. Did you let them set everything up at 4.30pm OP? How did the situation end? At least your one year old won't remember.

JeremiahBullfrog · 02/09/2024 09:13

Where was she driving from if it took 3 hours to get to you after you rang her up and she said she was in traffic?!

Assuming she wasn't coming from 100+ miles away, I wouldn't believe a word of what she told you.

probster · 02/09/2024 09:14

JeremiahBullfrog · 02/09/2024 09:13

Where was she driving from if it took 3 hours to get to you after you rang her up and she said she was in traffic?!

Assuming she wasn't coming from 100+ miles away, I wouldn't believe a word of what she told you.

I wouldn’t believe a word of what….tells
us

Beekeepingmum · 02/09/2024 09:45

probster · 02/09/2024 08:52

If the OP hasn’t paid a sizeable deposit, which she doesn’t mention, then this supplier was as daft as a brush

The supplier was as daft as a brush. Arriving at 4pm for a 1 year old party that started at 12:30?

probster · 02/09/2024 09:47

Beekeepingmum · 02/09/2024 09:45

The supplier was as daft as a brush. Arriving at 4pm for a 1 year old party that started at 12:30?

Show quote history

well, given the scant detail of the Op and ignoring really relevant questions put to her, i’m guessing there’s a teeny tiny bit more to this situation

needsomewarmsunshine · 02/09/2024 10:16

I think there's more to this than OP is telling us, which isn't a lot anyway. The feeble drip feed and not answering sensible questions.

RampantIvy · 02/09/2024 10:29

Yes. None of this adds up.

Howdull · 02/09/2024 12:17

Shiningout · 02/09/2024 08:36

It sounds like you let them set up at 4 so your child could have a go and maybe a couple who were still there. That's where you're gonna have a problem not paying at all, you should have just turned them away as the party was over!!

Yes. And the OP is too embarressed to admit this.

flossyragdoll · 02/09/2024 12:57

Howdull · 02/09/2024 12:17

Yes. And the OP is too embarressed to admit this.

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Definitely this!

Sunshineandtequila · 02/09/2024 15:07

flossyragdoll · 02/09/2024 12:57

Definitely this!

Show quote history

Agree, I’m fairly sure there is a back story here if she kept me updated I told her still to come and then we used the stuff, now I want to stiff her.

probster · 02/09/2024 15:53

i’m left feeling sorry for the supplier!

ManchesterGirl2 · 02/09/2024 15:54

I wouldn't give her a penny. Ridiculously late.

seeminglyranch · 02/09/2024 15:58

Was this a large family 1st birthday? We have these in our family sometimes and they go on so I can see why perhaps it was worth a bit of time for her to arrive and set up
we once had a food provider do this - he had another job before and broke down. People got fed but much later. We paid him a reduced amount but he did offer not to take anything because he was a very decent man and mortified.