If I ask for a refund, should this photographer give me one? Or AIBU?

[ShennaIsAPrawnCracker]

I am due to get married July next year. A few months ago we wanted to book the photographer/videographer. Saw a local one on Facebook, liked his style and prices. Sent a message requesting to see a full album before commiting. He sent me a link to 2 online albums which were lovely. All great, booked and paid or in full as a condition of an offer he was running.

Somebody then contacted me on Facebook saying to be careful as it isn't always actually him who does the photography - he sends cheaper photographers. I joined the Wedding Scammers page and there are a few complaints about him.

I contacted him asking about this. He told me he would check and get back to me in a few days. Chased him for a reply and he confirmed it would be another photographer. I've asked for examples of her work.

What I actually want to do is cancel and request my money back. Nowhere on his Facebook page does it state it is not him doing the photography. When he sent me the albums he didn't tell me they weren't necessarily by the photographer who would be shooting my wedding. If this lady hadn't contacted me I assume I would have just found out on the wedding day!

I didn't get a contract from him, just an invoice after paying. The link I accessed to see the offer has now been taken down and I can't remember the T&C's apart from having to pay the full amount. I'm guessing he will have had no refunds in there but he can't enforce that when he has been quite sneaky and dishonest can he? Or should I just suck it up?

As I typed this out I made my mind up! I've asked for a refund accepting there will be a cancellation fee (which would be £125 usually going by his website). I'd rather lose that and find a photographer I trust!

Blimey, I wouldn't be accepting that fee to cancel. But you need to find the T&C's first. Can someone else pretend to ask for them so you can confirm what they do say?

If you need to see old webpages, search using the 'wayback machine' which is a digital library of internet pages. I've used it to find old Ts&Cs from a company I needed to complain about.

archive.org/web/

Also, I wouldn't use a photographer that didn't provide a contract or some form of terms. They don't need to be complicated, but need to set out the responsibilities of each side, to minimise confusion later. I would expect them to state if they were using other photographers.

I would assume that as he's not providing exactly what he's advertising, that you could fight for the whole lot refunded.

I'm not up on my laws, but I'm pretty sure that if he hasn't advertised that he uses other photographers and just shows you his own work that that's some kind of fraudulent advertising or something. Someone will know what I'm thinking, I'm sure.

You did the right thing and I'd rather lose the deposit than get crap photos
I was so disappointed. This happened to us. He did the full sales pitch and then swapped photographers. The man was dreadful, didn't turn up for a pre wedding meeting to discuss it. This was pre -digital BTW and he used the wrong film which on a very sunny day whited out most of the details of the outside pictures.
What was worse he insisted on doing a garter shot which really upset me as I thought it was cheezy and awful, but although we both said no several times he wouldn't move on and so rather than have him take pictures of me arguing and getting really angry so I did the stupid pose get it over with.
We complained to the original photographer and he gave us a small discount but it wasn't worth it Out of all the photos we only managed two to three reasonable ones.
Small Claims court?

Thanks everyone. I will await his reply. If he messes me about I will mention small claims court, as another bride on Facebook did this and got a full refund.

How did you pay?

Goodness me I'd take him to small claims for the cancellation fee. It's a bait and switch, you wouldn't be happy if you paid for a vintage rolls as your wedding car and got a cheaper one.

as for your fees back, you’ll probably have to loose the deposit as it’s your choice to cancel, but much better to go with a photographer you trust. Too many people go cheap and regret it.

I work in the industry and I know of a photographer who do this - charge cheap and send someone else to photograph it but they book whoever is free last min, pay way below going rates as “it’s an emergency” so goodness knows the skills level.

Look around and find someone else. Ask your mates who they booked and if they were happy. And remember if a deal sounds too good it often is. Expect to pay £900-1500 for full day.