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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cake maker refusing to make my cake!

250 replies

fartoobiled · 08/06/2022 20:22

Unless I pay £15 more than o originally agreed

I paid a £15 nonrefundable deposit and now she wants another £15 on top of the £50 I was due to pay for the Cake so a total of £80 instead of the £65 I was going to pay in total

Am I being unreasonable to think this is really unfair? She says this is due to the increase in cost of living for example petrol prices and the price of ingredients

Thing is though I paid the £15 which is nonrefundable. So if I don't pay the extra I lose my money

OP posts:
jadeyxox · 09/06/2022 00:25

HappypusSadpus · 08/06/2022 23:13

The cost of baking ingredients, petrol and fuel to make it has. £15 is a reasonable adjustment and the baker would've also increased her own fees as her own wages (for the hours she spends) need to go up to.

Show quote history

£15 just two weeks after she agreed to it is not reasonable!

Lalliella · 09/06/2022 00:26

She has to give you a refund, she’s broken the contract with you. Citizens’ Advice, Trading Standards or Small Claims Court. Don’t give up on it OP, the law is on your side.

Timeson · 09/06/2022 01:13

You so get it here, but everyone just wants it in a reasonable way…. Totally understandable.


  1. Good notice should be given to you as a client about price increases, explained well and diplomatically, not suddenly. That way they are absorbed and digested in the way they’re intended

  2. You need to use the above for your own business

sashh · 09/06/2022 01:53

I wouldn't pay.

And I can be a vindictive bitch so I might well ask her for a detailed breakdown of the increase in her costs and expect that to include any tax / VAT, any increase to her liability insurance

I'd then be sending the details to the local tax office, just to check and trading standards, again just to check she is complying with the law.

And I would still expect my £15 back.

Boxowine · 09/06/2022 02:04

Was the plan for her to deliver it?

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 09/06/2022 02:26

fartoobiled · 08/06/2022 20:36

My mum thinks I'm being unreasonable! As does my sister

They insist she's in her rights and I'm being unfair given how much things have gone up

But legally she must either refund your money as she has breached the contract, or complete for the agreed quote...

Surely?
YANBU

Even if she misquoted TWO weeks ago, apart from the legalities,she really should complete this morally, as your fam has an ongoing r/s with her... Or did have...

Also, the amount of the increase is wildly out... About a 25‰ increase?!

Coyoacan · 09/06/2022 02:46

Putting the price up after the fact is wrong, but could possibly be understood in these unusual times, but keeping a deposit given on the price quoted is theft.

GatoradeMeBitch · 09/06/2022 03:22

I agree with the person who said you should agree to go ahead, and then just not pick the cake up or pay. You'll lose your deposit either way, may as well let her do at least £15 worth of work to make it fair. She can eat the cake herself.

kateandme · 09/06/2022 04:01

fartoobiled · 08/06/2022 23:32

@expat101 My cake was for late July time this year so not too far away

Think we will need a picture of the cake when it's done now too😊

TigerLilyTail · 09/06/2022 05:48

GatoradeMeBitch · 09/06/2022 03:22

I agree with the person who said you should agree to go ahead, and then just not pick the cake up or pay. You'll lose your deposit either way, may as well let her do at least £15 worth of work to make it fair. She can eat the cake herself.

I think that's a really awful thing to do. Yes, she was wrong to change the price and should have offered to refund the full deposit, but I think it's really wrong to be so vindictive over 15 pounds.

treesandweeds · 09/06/2022 05:58

Why did you tell her to keep the deposit? Get it back!!! Ask her for it.

Aprilx · 09/06/2022 06:27

1Wanda1 · 08/06/2022 22:14

There's a lot of questionable advice/assertions about what is "breach of contract" here (without knowledge of the exact exchange of messaging about the price and other terms, BUT: on the assumption that you agreed a fixed price for the cake, without any caveats from the seller as to "unilateral right to increase the price", then you will be entitled to EITHER the cake you ordered at the price quoted, OR refund of your deposit.

I would suggest that you respond saying you'll be happy to accept either of the above options. She is not entitled to unilaterally change an agreed price AND keep your deposit.

I'm a dispute resolution partner in a City law firm.

A lot of questionable advice? But you have said the same as everyone else. 😅

Nobody agrees to buy a cake with the caveat that there is a “unilateral right to increase the price”.

ChairP0se9to5 · 09/06/2022 06:43

Whatever social occasion you're celebrating with a specially made cake, it's not til July. Tell her ''no''. Ask for your deposit back and then forget about it.
This will drive you mad. For 15 pounds, don't let yourself be driven mad. Just vote with your feet. Leave ONE review. Tell people. Then put it OUT OF YOUR MIND AND arrange and pay for a new cake. Lots of people make cakes.

Giraffesandbottoms · 09/06/2022 06:52

Can people at least read the OP replies before posting stuff that’s now totally irrelevant?

I can’t believe you’re willing to let the 15£ go OP. I wouldn’t! It’s the principle

ememem84 · 09/06/2022 06:55

Would you have ordered the cake if the original price has been £15 more?

for what it’s worth I’d be annoyed at this - especially only after 2 weeks. I’d be annoyed if I ordered a year ago and then it increased. But could probably understand it in that situation. But 2 weeks? Nah.

Candleabra · 09/06/2022 06:56

Good for you. But I would’ve asked for the deposit back.

AmaryIlis · 09/06/2022 07:11

HappypusSadpus · 08/06/2022 23:13

The cost of baking ingredients, petrol and fuel to make it has. £15 is a reasonable adjustment and the baker would've also increased her own fees as her own wages (for the hours she spends) need to go up to.

Show quote history

No, it isn't a reasonable adjustment - and there is no such concept in contract law. If you make a contract, you need to price it up properly at the beginning to take things like rising costs into account. If you don't. you have to take the hit.

ImAvingOops · 09/06/2022 07:16

I think that someone else has told her she can't charge more, which is why she said she'd do it for the original price. But obviously you can't trust her to make it now. And she's still keeping your deposit.

I would still leave reviews everywhere she sells.

Mooloolabababy · 09/06/2022 07:23

I'd be leaving a bad review, hopefully that'll make her think twice about trying to rip anyone else off!

Original poster
fartoobiled · 09/06/2022 07:26

Update - I woke up to £15 in my bank account from her!

OP posts:
Beees · 09/06/2022 07:35

fartoobiled · 09/06/2022 07:26

Update - I woke up to £15 in my bank account from her!

The cynic in me can't help but wonder if a news outlet picked up on this story or if someone recognised her and sent her a link.

Am very glad to hear you have the money back.

ChairP0se9to5 · 09/06/2022 07:41

Great news. Move on. Other people makes cakes and you've learned to get a final price you're both happy with in writing now.

Presumably you're celebrating something in July, now you don't have to have cake shop anxiety marring that!

ChairP0se9to5 · 09/06/2022 07:42

I don't think this was ''picked up''. I'd say the cake shop owner thought, either I go ahead with this and lose money and she's STILL a bit pissed off with me, or I give her money back now with 7 weeks notice and that gives her plenty of time to arrange another cake. And she went for option b.

Vikinga · 09/06/2022 07:45

Great news and she was being massively unreasonable.

HelloSpringIveMissedYou · 09/06/2022 07:47

Good news OP