expecting refund

[inlectorecumbit]

DD1 is getting married at the start of April. In December DD1 her bridesmaid and l went for a make up trial with the booked make up artist. I don't normally wear make up and l wanted to make sure that l wasn't made up like a painted doll . I looked lovely even if l say so myself She was very good.
Today she emailed DD to say that she no longer is able to do her wedding make up as she wants to concentrated on her own salon.
Fair enough l suppose at least we got some notice, however she was only willing to refund the deposit and won't refund even part of the make up trial amount which was £105.
AIBU to expect even a partial refund given that we will now have to starts all over again.
I can quite prepared to be told if l am.

The plan is a start (OP has said she has not responded to questions about the colours) but all MUA's are different, the vibe of the person is different, and OP will still have to fork out again for a trial of the plan with another MUA despite the fact shes found one shes happy with who now just refuses to honor her bookings. Why was she doing trials at all when she wasn't going to honor them?

It's misrepresentation at best, fraud at worst. Making people pay towards a service that there was never any intention of providing.

I don't think you are being unreasonable. no one goes for a trial just for fun. you go to check the quality of the service and agree a look. that's all wasted now. I would want a refund too, at least 50%.

Full refund as a trial.

I don't think yabu. I don't know if she's obliged to refund you but I think, as a gesture of goodwill and to make up for the disappointment, she should. She knows you'll have to pay someone else again. Yes, she's give you some notice but why not just honour the booking?

If you had cancelled, you should pay, but as she has cancelled, I think YANBU to want a refund. There is a cost to you associated with her cancelling, and you should be refunded for it.

I would set that out in writing to her, and see what she has to say.

It wouldn't cost much to take it to a small claims tribunal. Have a look at the costs, as it might be worth threatening that, if you get no joy from a letter/email. No need to get a solicitor.

You need to ask for a full refund not partial, as she is in breach of contract by not completing the service as agreed.

Assuming you engage another MUA, you will need to pay for another trial as well as make-up on the day.

Do you have any written agreement? Complete a small claims form, copy it and send it to her giving her 7 days to refund you otherwise you will take her to court for breach of contract.

A trial is useful for both the Bride and the service provider to make sure they are a good fit. So, it's not uncommon for Hairdressers, MUA's, Nail Techs etc. to decide they don't want to offer the wedding service if they feel that they are dealing with a tricky Bridezilla type family, for instance.

I'm not suggesting for one minute that the OP or her daughter are overly demanding but I am pointing out that very occasionally, you just feel it's not worth your time and will be far too stressful to get involved. Equally, other factors might crop up making it difficult to provide the service on the day.

Either way, if the service provider pulls out, they should immediately offer a full refund.

I've never had wedding make up done personally, but a lot of things I have been involved in in events allow you to order one or two of something as a trial, which you pay for but that cost comes off your final bill. If you choose not to go with it than you lose what you pay but if you do go with it then the trial essentially becomes free by way of a saving on the final order. If she can't fulfil the order you should get a refund.

My argument would probably be that the trial wasn't fit for purpose. If you buy a washing machine and it doesn't work, or only partially works, it's not fit for purpose, and you can claim a repair or refund.

I have no idea whether the same legal requirement extends to services like this, but that would probably be the approach I would use. In circumstances where she is unwilling or unable to provide the service booked, the trial she sold you was clearly not fit for purpose, the purpose being to try out the services of a make up artist for this particular wedding.

YANBU to expect a refund.

However there is next to no chance of you getting the money back if she refuses to pay.

Just checked with DD1 who has all the emails etc from her and it is written that it is a trial of make up for us all to check out skin tones/colours prior to the make up being done on the wedding day.
Apparently she has let quite a few brides down and there is a wedding thread somewhere with desperate brides looking for new MUA's.
DD1 is sorted now thankfully. She has just received another email back offering the deposit and £35 refund-so we are getting there. I am just about to email the makeup girl as from the majority of posts here lanbu.
As Norkmonster did point out, the purpose of the trial was not to let me go out that night--we live 170 miles away and DD2 and 1 (the other bridesmaid) had to take time off work to attend.

Push for the full refund. She is in breach of contract. You could tell her you will issue her with a Letter Before Action if she doesn't refund you (whether or not you take it to court is another matter). Puzzled as to why she didn't decide to honour existing commitments and then stop offering the service.

It's not unreasonable to want your money back

before the trial you'd have said can you do make up on this day (morning of the wedding).

She said yes, so you booked a trial.
If she had said no, then you wouldn't have booked a trial, the whole point of the trial was that it was a part of booking the service.

Though, I don't understand why she can't take time out of her shop schedule to honour her previous commitments.

Apparently she has let quite a few brides down and there is a wedding thread somewhere with desperate brides looking for new MUA's.
wuuuuu?
You mean she actually makes a habit out of charging people a hundred quid to go to their house, backing out of a deal and refunding £30?

sounds more like a scam than an honest getting too busy. I'd push for a full refund. and advise others to push for a full refund too!

I'm getting married myself in July and any of the make up artists I've talked to have all given me a trial price then said that price would come off of the cost of the wedding day make up should I go ahead with them so YANBU at all. Cheeky cow!

Yanbu

I would also threaten that if it should come to you taking her to the small claims court you will also be claiming for loss of income from taking the time off work and your travel expenses.

Small update-if interested

No reply to my email but she has contacted DD1 again this morning for her bank details, just need to see how much is refunded before taking any more action.

I would get your DD to agree a figure before providing bank details. Otherwise, the make up woman may send her a smaller sum and protest that it was made in full and final settlement.

well l did as fascicle suggested and DD asked what the intended refund would be. She was told £140 with £15 deducted for products used. . I think we would be delighted with that but won't be 100% confident until it hits the banks account.
Thats everyone who thought iwnbu and encouraged me to challenge her. .
Another good result for the MN team