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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm such an idiot, I want to cry

164 replies

SOSHelp · 27/12/2018 13:56

Not AIBU but need some serious advice and kind words right now.

We are getting married next June, and paid £250 deposit for the catering. I have now found out the venue is closing down.

After frantically emailing and calling, I was given contact details for the (former) owner to contact for my deposit. She said she is nothing to do with the business or accounts anymore, left last month, and is now living abroad. She then gave me a number for another owner. I spoke to him, and he said the first owner has taken all the money. I don't know who to believe.

I can not believe I have lost this money. I am trying to get through to the police but unsure if there's anything they can do? Does anyone know what I can do?

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 27/12/2018 13:59

Contact trading standards in the appropriate locality.
If you paid using a credit card contact your credit card provider.

Bombardier25966 · 27/12/2018 14:00

Was it a limited company or a sole trader/ partnership?

Lockheart · 27/12/2018 14:00

Why on earth are you an idiot because a venue is closing down? Confused

I’m afraid the police are likely to be uninterested but I would recommend you contact a solicitor. However, you’d have to weigh up the costs of that vs the money recovered. Perhaps small claims court might be an option?

MeTigger · 27/12/2018 14:00

So sorry you’re facing this, contact your wedding insurance provider, they’ll do everything necessary

Aquamarine1029 · 27/12/2018 14:03

You really need to calm down. This is obviously a massive pain in the arse, but life will go on. You've lost £250 and the chances are great there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Just let it go and move on.

BuffaloCauliflower · 27/12/2018 14:03

Why are you the idiot here?! You’ve done nothing wrong. Do you have wedding insurance?

Thehop · 27/12/2018 14:04

Wedding insurance, small claims or wave it goodbye I’m afraid.

fruityvicar · 27/12/2018 14:05

As long as you have a proof of payment then your wedding insurance will cover this.

OlennasWimple · 27/12/2018 14:05

Unless there are a couple of 0s missing from that figure, calm down. It doesn't matter. You can easily save £250 from some other aspect of your wedding and still have the wedding you wanted, honestly.

And your wedding is months away, not next week, so you have plenty of time to find an alternative venue and make new arrangements

bluefolder · 27/12/2018 14:05

Yes, claim on your wedding insurance. If you didn't take out wedding insurance then you'll have to chalk this one up to bad luck and take it out for the future.

Original poster
SOSHelp · 27/12/2018 14:13

I don't have wedding insurance and £250 was half our budget :( It's only a small wedding

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 27/12/2018 14:16

Answer the questions asked.

Justanothernameonthepage · 27/12/2018 14:17

Did you pay via credit card?

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 27/12/2018 14:18

Jesus, Bombardier, it's not a fucking police interrogation!!

Original poster
SOSHelp · 27/12/2018 14:18

No it was bank transfer

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 27/12/2018 14:20

Jesus, Bombardier, it's not a fucking police interrogation!!

If she answers the questions she might get the information she needs to get the money back.

Far more constructive than wallowing.

WinnieFosterTether · 27/12/2018 14:21

Contact CAB. Any chance of recovery depends on whether it's a limited company or not, whether the company was placed in administration, etc.

userschmoozer · 27/12/2018 14:21

I think that when the new owner bought the business he also bought the liability, so its irrelevant if the old owner took all the money. Take the new owner to court to recover your costs. The business owes you the money.
You can do it online;

Make a court claim for money
www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

dorisdog · 27/12/2018 14:21

You're not an idiot. It's not your fault! But understand you wanting to cry. £250 would have been a big chunk of our wedding budget too, OP and I've never heard of wedding insurance.

Can you ask friends and family to help?

Singlenotsingle · 27/12/2018 14:23

What a shame. Any large amount over £100 needs to be paid by credit card, then you can claim against the credit card provider. Too late now though.

JassyRadlett · 27/12/2018 14:23

Answer the questions asked.

Learn some empathy.

Houseonahill · 27/12/2018 14:23

"Claim on your insurance" I know literally not one person who has ever had wedding insurance in fact I didn't even know that was a thing until this thread. Also I'm pretty sure if she had insurance she wouldn't be asking what to do Hmm

sulflower · 27/12/2018 14:23

Far more constructive than wallowing.

Christ, some right heartless people on here at times.

OP, sadly as people have said, you might have to put it down as a loss. Sorry Flowers

Bombardier25966 · 27/12/2018 14:24

Learn some empathy.

Empathy doesn't pay for a wedding.

Villanellesproudmum · 27/12/2018 14:25

It depends if the owner bought the LTD company or just the fixtures and fittings and property freehold it entered into a new lease. If they didn’t buy the LTD company, you can find this online, then you’ve lost it. Not likely a Police matter,