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Original poster

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

251 replies

StrawberryRed · 29/09/2022 22:57

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?

OP posts:
Hearthnhome · 30/09/2022 05:48

If the couple were just going to pay and didn’t want it sensationalised, why did they go to the DM?

saltofcelery · 30/09/2022 05:53

Yes I thought the comments on evidence of the bride dancing when she was in receipt of PIP disgusting.

Worthyornot · 30/09/2022 06:05

It seems as though they have stolen from many people. One of their ex's even detail the abuse they suffered. They deserve it all to be called out like this.

Doingprettywellthanks · 30/09/2022 06:13

How come you name changed or joined mumsnet to start this thread op?

LIC1985 · 30/09/2022 06:14

I fell down the absolute hole of looking at the Facebook page the other night! The comments alone kept me occupied for ages.

It's very clear they are scammers and I'm glad the hotel raised awareness and I think they are utter idiots but also yes I wish the hotel would stop commenting on some of it . Initial post was great but it is so involved now.

Some of the comments are also quite out of control. For example someone found a photo of the women via social media and people were insulting them and how they look only turns out one of the people in the photo was not the women and totally Innocent.

I do really hope they get it resolved

Isaidnoalready · 30/09/2022 07:08

Doingprettywellthanks · 30/09/2022 06:13

How come you name changed or joined mumsnet to start this thread op?

They are literally outing themselves giving their area saying its an area they live in of course they have name changed

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 30/09/2022 07:15

MargotChateau · 30/09/2022 03:58

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.

Agree with all of this. I have lots of sympathy with the venue, but they are shooting themselves in the foot. Customers are going to think twice about paying thousands of pounds for a wedding or other event to a venue that has shown itself to be a bit chaotic (no written confirmation of the changes) and this emotive.

LetHimHaveIt · 30/09/2022 07:21

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

Oh, but it is. Abundantly clear. These two are life-long grifters.

Whether you think the hotel owners have behaved stupidly by not taking a deposit, and roundly failed to cover themselves in glory with the SM comments, the fact remains that they are the victims of a pair of scammers.

OneFrenchEgg · 30/09/2022 07:29

I think they are trying to be like The White Moose who have a reputation for 'hilarious' revenge type posts. I would never go there as I'd be too worried if I had to raise anything (like a forgotten order or a glass being dirty).
I also think it's shocking they are posting loads of text messages etc it's not classy.
As for not having their address, despite having a huge bill for them, more fool them. Weirdly unprofessional

Doingprettywellthanks · 30/09/2022 07:31

Isaidnoalready · 30/09/2022 07:08

They are literally outing themselves giving their area saying its an area they live in of course they have name changed

Show quote history

So where they live… they are the only residents? 😂

Redqueenheart · 30/09/2022 07:35

They only have themselves to blame and naming and shaming hopefully means that they will find it harder to scam other companies and individuals.

Actions have consequences.

lapasion · 30/09/2022 07:38

The hotel owner really looks like Mr Tumble.

Dibbydoos · 30/09/2022 07:45

Weddings are both cheap. Losses like this are just that to a small business, you don't get any reduction in tax to compensate or anything, so I am all for ousting people like these.
The sad thing is unless they go to court, they won't get their money, so a small claims court is where they need to go and they would need to show they've been reasonable. They've ousted the couple now, so as long as they have their address, they should probably put a final SM post saying they've started court proceedings and then just post after the court case.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 30/09/2022 07:47

Doingprettywellthanks · 30/09/2022 06:13

How come you name changed or joined mumsnet to start this thread op?

Why does that matter, posters can change names whenever they like. Are you not very subtlely trying to imply something?

GonnaBangHolly · 30/09/2022 07:49

The couple live on my street. They loved giving their interview with the DM at their front door.

I do agree the hotel is looking a bit unprofessional now. They also posted a screenshot of a message confirming their address which was up for a while before they took it down, lots of people got the address.

Antarcticant · 30/09/2022 07:50

There now seem to be people slinging all kinds of allegations in the couple's direction - it's descended into a witch hunt, when really this is a he said/she said situation in respect of what has and hasn't been paid and whether the service in the hotel was as agreed.

It's frightening that people seem to be siding with the hotel when really, no one who wasn't there, can say who is right - we have to ask why. Is it because the couple are two middle-aged women? The demographic that are so often dismissed with a popular slur starting with 'K' if they dare to complain about anything?

The hotel shouldn't have turned this into trial by social media - if the couple owe them money, take them to the small claims court.

Imissmoominmama · 30/09/2022 07:55

I was very surprised when they publicly said they’d had a message from one of the couple’s PIP assessor. I imagine that person could get into a lot of trouble for that.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 30/09/2022 07:56

Is it because the couple are two middle-aged women? The demographic that are so often dismissed with a popular slur starting with 'K' if they dare to complain about anything?

Based on the comments above and others I've seen on SM from locals and people who know the couple it appears to be related to the fact that they are long standing con artists with a history of similar. But who knows, maybe it's kust because of their age and sex

Antarcticant · 30/09/2022 08:00

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 30/09/2022 07:56

Is it because the couple are two middle-aged women? The demographic that are so often dismissed with a popular slur starting with 'K' if they dare to complain about anything?

Based on the comments above and others I've seen on SM from locals and people who know the couple it appears to be related to the fact that they are long standing con artists with a history of similar. But who knows, maybe it's kust because of their age and sex

But these are all just allegations. People jumping on a bandwagon - mob mentality, if you like.

Cantbebotheredwithchores · 30/09/2022 08:01

The couple have been scamming people for a long time.
They have conned a lot of people out of money over the years.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 30/09/2022 08:06

Antarcticant · 30/09/2022 08:00

But these are all just allegations. People jumping on a bandwagon - mob mentality, if you like.

Show quote history

How have you identified that a post is an allegation rather than someone relating their real life experience?

GonnaBangHolly · 30/09/2022 08:08

If your wedding was bad to the point you were refusing to pay for it, why would you write a Facebook post praising them for a lovely day.

Figgygal · 30/09/2022 08:09

Just checked it out
Original shaming im fine with and the cctv grabs showing the buffet was out over an hour im fine with
The crowing shaming subsequently is unprofessional

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 30/09/2022 08:10

GonnaBangHolly · 30/09/2022 08:08

If your wedding was bad to the point you were refusing to pay for it, why would you write a Facebook post praising them for a lovely day.

Because they aren't very bright con artists? 😂

Pleasebeafleabite · 30/09/2022 08:11

Figgygal · 30/09/2022 08:09

Just checked it out
Original shaming im fine with and the cctv grabs showing the buffet was out over an hour im fine with
The crowing shaming subsequently is unprofessional

I think this too.

Although a bit of me does like the fact that this couple got more than they bargained for this time. Behind every small business there is an individual with capacity for this