Hotel gate - couple refused to pay their Wedding Bill shamed on Social Media

[StrawberryRed]

A hotel in my area 'The Townhouse Durham' was ripped off by a couple. The couple are trying to avoid paying there bill by complaining.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11257679/amp/Battle-Buffet-Town-House-Durham-shames-newlyweds-bill-dispute.html

There is a huge backlash against the couple with people sharing their own problems they've had with the couple - they seem like a pair of scammers.

HOWEVER

I'm finding the Hotel a BU now, they seem to be really enjoying the drama and stirring the pot with updates on social media in a vendetta against the couple, it looks cheap IMO. If their is a complaint in place, perhaps libelous and a breach of confidentiality?

Thoughts?

What vendetta? The hotel are in the right. Are you Joanne or Clare, OP?

Good for the business, they already had a huge discount of around 3k then refused to pay and only paid 400 deposit

The previous chef had agreed certain things and terms but then left. The venue managers agreed the terms as they are known locally as nice people and didn't want to spoil their big day. And the characters involved are allegedly well known for spinning a tale and being convincing. So I don't blame the townhouse for being caught out as it seems a series of events and narrative lulled them into a false sense of security

Ah...fair enough. I obviously missed that. Does start smelling like a pile of horse excrement in that case...

The link doesn't work and I can't find anything by googling the name of the hotel. Can anyone post a link to the story please?

Ignore me, I've found it.

Maverickess makes extremely valid points. It's no longer a case of making a simple complaint if you don't feel you've had what you paid for. Complaints is now a huge business and people think nothing of manufacturing reasons to make a fuss in the hope it will get them something for free. And they aren't afraid to use the full force of SM to get what they want.

How often do you see it on here? People being urged to put in a complaint over almost nothing. The hours of wasted time that follows because everything, including why Mx XXX "felt uncomfortable", "was inconvenienced" or "disappointed". Personal attacks about staff who were "rude" or "aggressive" or simply "wrong" - often named or easily identified. It's horrible. And businesses are seen as fair game and have to remain neutral and professional. Maybe if you are HSBC or Unilver - but Seaview Hotel or LovelyThings Boutiques - they are barely making ends meet as it is. So I can see why they may want to hit back.

If they are a pair of scammers I think its fair enough they should be exposed.

Typo - because everything (........) has to be investigated

Not sure really it's dodgy what they did, they effectively stole from the business. The business is taking things too far and I'd be wary of using them. If I wasn't happy with their service I would be scared to complain as they might post my picture on social media and start a witch hunt. They don't seem very professional, some businesses do rip you off.

I went for a meal last week at a local restaurant they never provided my meal, served my DH a South African curry with lekker fries which turned out to be oven chips and DDs kid meal We were charged £50 and a 10 percent service charge for 3 coffees , a curry oven chips and DDs Southern fried chicken wrap my food never came and they never offered a full receipt just the card one. I didn't complain online as are they are a small business I won't be going back though. I feel robbed.

But it's not at all clear that they did "try to rob" the hotel.

I must say, if were thinking of going to that hotel I'd think twice after reading that unpleasant and illiterate bit of name-calling.

They all need to climb out of the gutter.

They should have paid. I have no sympathy. The hotel rely on income to pay their hardworking staff.

Both sides come out of it badly- not paying and then as ever using social media, shouting mouths off, involving the Press and other people, making up stories for the police , it's all a bit vulgar and rough. I certainly wouldn't want to use that hotel but I wouldn't want anything to do with that couple ever.

Social media hate can literally be the death of people though.if trolls decide on a vendetta against these two they won’t stop.and it will be nothing to do with the crime.the viterol that can start against people can be catastrophic.
I don’t know what the answers could have been.but nowadays it isn’t naming and shaming when it comes to posting online.social media is vicious at the moment and really f dangerous.

The hospitality industry took a real beating during lockdown, although I am aware of furlough, bounce back loans, etc. A small cafe in our high street told us the sum he received did not even cover their utility Bills. Therefore not paying has serious consequences.
I helped my DD organise (and pay a contribution), at her very modest wedding, so I know how expensive these kind of things can be. In her case, not only was she required to pay a large deposit, and the balance just before the actual wedding.

I've not read the article (refuse to give that rag a click!)

It is confirmed the previous chef had made an agreement with them, or was that part of their (alleged) scam too?

Thieving low life’s. They should pay up.

Yes the hotel did put a post up on their Facebook page expressing their disappointment due to the fact they had trusted this couple to keep their word about payment. However, the couple escalated the situation by going to the Daily Fail with their story. This caused the story to go viral.

Because the story went viral lots of other people who have been “scammed” by Joanne and Claire came forward and told of their negative experiences with the pair.

The stories that have come out of the woodwork about them are shocking to say the least, and they are all being posted on the hotel’s Facebook page. You can’t blame the hotel for that, initially they were just asking for contact details for the pair to recover monies owed.

They do appear to be scammers with no shame whatsoever, I do hope the hotel get paid but to be honest going off the past performance of this pair it doesn’t look likely.

I used to work in event management and definitely this couple are CF. But, big but, the changes made in their order should have been confirmed in an email like my example below so there is no uncertainty. Anything said in person, or over the phone needs to be followed up in an email, so no misunderstandings can occur;

Dear CF’rs.

As discussed items from your initial order are no unavailable, so will they be replaced with XYZ.

The cost of food is now £££
Total cost of event £££.

• please see updated event sheet with your coatings and timings and let me know if you have any amendments or queries.

Every change, all the timings, need to be on an event sheet, that the client has signed off on each time a change is made.

Whilst the hotel is doing what they can to recoup costs, going too far tarnishes their brand, making potential good clients put off by immature behaviour and also just making them seem a bit scummy. For sure name and shame, but full on trolling no. Does too much damage to the venue long term.

*costings - autocorrect is correct but annoying 😹

Quite bizarre to see a business posting in such emotion-laden terms. I’d certainly never go there having seen that. Makes them look like unprofessional fools who don’t know how to negotiate payment (if you’re a business it’s not by ‘benefit of the doubt’……) or how to deal with non-payment.

The business may be naive, but that doesn't mean scammers should be let off the hook. I can't bear people who rip off genuine businesses and it sounds like these people serially do this. It's so manipulative to then claim they're hard done by. They probably got cash from the Fail for their sob story.

I'd be the opposite to PPs. I'd want to eat at the hotel. They're not going to splash my name over the tabloids because I'd pay my bill!

Not really the hotels fault, they posted on their FB page asking if anyone had any contact details after failing to pay their wedding bill.

the couple then took it to the daily fail and this is when it became viral and resulted in others they have scammed reaching out and telling of their own stories.

As for the PIP, if they are claiming fraudulently and there is video evidence to suggest they are claiming fraudulently then it should rightly be investigated.

Looking on FB Joanne’s own daughter is saying they deserve everything they get & her ex-wife seems traumatised by her relationship. So maybe they just need to pay up.