Christmas meal deposit - AIBU?

[Mumofcats5]

Hi all
I’ve organsied a sports team that I’m in’ Christmas team dinner. Everyone all very eager and paid their deposits to me, which I have then paid to the restaurant.
It’s 2 weeks away and I’m trying to get menu choices in. Someone has just said that they can’t make it. Which is fine. Except this person has then private messaged me to ask for their deposit to be returned.
Now, AIBU, but a deposit is non refundable right? Should I give this person back their £10 which would leave me out of pocket?

No, that is why restaurants ask for deposits.

They could approach the restaurant to see if they can get their money back, but tough for them if they won't.

Definitely NBU. Deposits are non refundable. They can’t have it back. Cheeky so and so.

Check with venue whether you can get it back. If you can then return it to person, if not then tell them it's non refundable

Ask the restaurant if they can change the booking and return the deposit. If not then no, you don’t have to give it back as it’s non-refundable (by the restaurant).

No, just tell them the deposit was non-refundable.

Nope sorry but that’s how a deposit can work. Unless the restaurant will refund it then why should you be out of pocket?

Did you make it clear that its a non refundable deposit?

Hi @starfishmummy no I didn’t make it clear it was a non refundable deposit, but I assumed that’s what happens when you give someone a deposit!

money has already gone to restaurant so no refund.

As others say, approach the restaurant and see if it is possible. If it isn't, then tell this person that they can´t have it back.

A deposit is money you pay to hold your place, if you can't go, you don't get it back

See if you can get someone else to take their place, their ten pound deposit could be paid to the defaulter.
But in future, if you ever do this again, you must point out very strongly that deposits are non-returnable.

If the restaurant take the deposit cost off the overall bill then you might able to finagle a "really" after the event but otherwise no, that is CFery to expect it back.

Surely everyone knows that deposits are not refundable?

Autocorrect! Should be "refund", not "really".

Everyone knows a deposit is non refundable, what the hell would the point of deposits be otherwise?

Tell her she will have to contact the restaurant herself as all deposits r non-refundable.
Also u didn't need to make it clear! Who doesn't know a deposit is non-refundable.. that's the exact point of a deposit, if they were willing to give it back they wouldn't ask for one..
Argh angers me lol..

Not all restaurants deposits are non refundable - and with 2 weeks to go, a decent restaurant will give you the £10 back, but I would put the onus on the person canceling to get in touch with the restaurant.

I would understand a deposit in this circumstance to be non-refundable.

The deposits will probably just come off the overall bill - if there were 20 booked but only 19 turn up, they’ll take £200 of the total bill. If they do this, you could give her it back after the meal.

The thing is with 2 weeks notice it is likely that the restaurant will be able to refund the deposit or use it towards the final bill if you ask them today.

And no sane restaurant would release any funds to anyone other than the person who paid the money to the restaurant as it would be a fraud risk so she probably can't just ask the restaurant herself.

If you’re a large party the restaurant might not mind one less but will probably have a cut off point.
This is why I’ve avoided organising these things as much as I can!

I would tell them that you may be able to refund it after the night out depending on how the restaurant charges for non-attenders. They shouldn't expect it back though, a deposit is paid for precisely this reason- so the restaurant and organiser are not left out of pocket when making the bookings!