to ask for advice on cancelled birthday party

[embeddedclaws]

If never done the big party thing, and it's been a nightmare.

I booked ds a party at soft play, then after confirming numbers rung them back and paid a 25 pound deposit. The day after this they rang to say they were closing down in two weeks time! They offered to move the party forward to the next weekend, but 4 days was too short notice for guests. Thankfully I found a new venue for the original date in june.

Venue 1 is now refusing to give the deposit back. They are saying I agreed to say I'd move it, I said to the young lad I'd check with people but was unlikely. Said I'll call if I wanted the slot. I didn't, they post a receipt and letter of confirmation when you book which they didn't. I was clear on the phone, but spent a fair bit of the call listening about the abuse the young lad was getting from cancelled parties and his mind was clearly on losing his job in less than two weeks.

Now the manager called me today saying where was I and claiming he's bought things for it! Do I have a hope of seeing the deposit? I have no paperwork from them at all as I paid on the phone and they didn't send a receipt/ letter as they said they would. It would though be on my credit card statement.

If they're closing down that suggests financial difficulties, I wouldn't hold your breath on getting your money back but you ought to try.

I expect you won't get it back but you could try.

If you still have no luck you can at least have the pleasure of telling them you know exactly why they are going out of business: they are clearly shite as they can't even organise a kids' party in a softplay centre - the child's equivalent of a piss up in a brewery.

So you didn't confirm it was definitely cancelled?

I said I'd ring if I wanted it on a different date, they cancelled it. It's a fair presumption you don't change the date of a party at your suggestions without agreement, the lack of confirmation confirmed for me there was no party. If you book one they send invites, a letter for you to bring with names on and a receipt plus you tell them before the party how many are coming so they get stuff such as meals in the right quantity. They didn't do they so I don't know for wheat number he's allegedly bought for.

The sad thing I've now found lots in local press about their rudeness/ poor parties etc so it's a lesson I guess.