Daughters party Deposit

[anonqrtb]

This has (undeservingly) taken over my day and I need some perspective if I am being unreasonable, and if i'm not - what the hell can I do about it?!

Booked and paid £50 deposit for my daughters 2nd birthday party at a role play centre close by in March/April time. (Party is for end of September)

I have since decided to do something smaller at home so have emailed to cancel and have been told my deposit is non refundable.

To be clear:
At no point on either their facebook page, website or emails back and forth was it described as Non-refundable. I have triple checked everywhere, it does not state its Non-refundable.
The party is for the end of September, so over 10 weeks away. If I was cancelling like 2 weeks before I wouldn't even query it.

I am massively pissed off about it, and have explained so in my email to them. Its mainly pissing me off because it just feels like greed? They have 10 weeks to either book another party, or just open as a normal session which given its a Saturday will quickly fill slots.
Whats more annoying is this is somewhere we go often, and I would of spent way more than £50 there over the next few months. But now it's put a massive sour taste in my mouth.

Any suggestions on how I can get my money back? So far my last email has gone unanswered.

YABU - You paid a deposit and should not expect it back
YANBU - Its cheeky fuckery.

YABU, is that not the whole point of a deposit?

Ah, I've always (obviously wrongly) assumed it was the other way round.

I'll will chalk this one up as a life lesson!

Out of interest, would you have still paid the deposit to hold the date if it was called a 'non refundable deposit'?

Yes I would of still booked, it was never my intention to cancel. I just would have accepted it was Non-refundable and got onw ith it.

I just always assumed if it didnt specifically state its Non-refundable then it its generally refundable.

Like i said, if i was cancelling last minute or even up to 4 weeks before then i wouldn't have mentioned it either way.

Honestly, it's worth asking.

If you email them saying:

"You are absolutely within your rights to keep the deposit. If you do fill the slot, will you consider offering me a refund?

We are regular customers, and enjoy [whatever it is you do] and this would be a nice gesture of goodwill towards a regular customer. Alternatively, I'd be happy to accept a voucher or credit if that works for you."

Don't use the words "as an exception" and do include "as a gesture of goodwill."

YABU (Can't vote on the App)
There is every possibility that another parent may have been unable to book this slot and now made other plans.

There would have been t and c mentioned when you paid to secure the booking. Whether you clicked through or just ticked to accept you will probably find it stated non-refundable.

YABVVU

What planet are you on where a deposit is just so you can pick and choose and change your mind as you please? The whole point, and the risk you are taking of losing it, is to make sure you are serious about the booking/purchase.

Annoying that you have lost £50 but better you have found out how deposits work on something of that value rather than if you had paid significantly more as a deposit for a holiday / wedding / large purchase etc and then were expecting it back.

The deposit is so that the venue holds that time slot for you and refuses any other inquiries for that time and date. YABU to request the deposit back. They may not get another booking and will then be out of pocket. By paying the deposit this minimises the risk you will flake on the.. you expected them to honour your booking didn't you?
You can't have it both ways.

This is to my point thought - they will not loose out.

They book 'private parties' during a normal slotted time, they will now either re-book another party in that slot. Or open it as a Normal session. No money will be lost by my cancellation.

If anything, they probaby stand to make more being an open session.

Are you feeling okay? You seem disproportionately upset regarding this post

There is a lot of incorrect advice on this thread. The amount of the deposit is relevant, and I don't fancy your chances of arguing that you should receive £50 back in this scenario. The answer might be different if you had paid a more significant amount and % of the total fee as the deposit. As someone who DOES fight my own corner and regularly win on legal matters I personally would chalk this up to experience.

So you have a history of being flaky and cancelling bookings but then wonder why businesses have to make their deposits non refundable?

Rather than losing your deposit is there any way of suggesting using the £50 on another day or a few days? You mentioned you’re regulars there. Can you pop in and speak to the Manager?

Sorry, I think you are unreasonable. I would always expect a deposit to be non refundable. I dont think the place should potentially miss out on money because you have changed your mind.

I think you need to just chalk it up to experience, you've already spent the money so havent really lost it.

Ad PPs have said, what would be the point of a refundable deposit. Plus your messing them about and the admin around the original booking will have cost them £50.

Why do so many people pretend they don’t know what a deposit is?!

Oh for goodness sake. Don't have a go at people who (rightly) point out you're just plain wrong. You are not doing yourself any favours. And one might point out that you are disproportionately upset about your deposit not being refunded (despite that being the point of a deposit!). I really dislike the snide 'are you okay?' lines some mumsnetters use disparagingly to each other when they don't agree with each other.

I have said (multiple times) I am clearly in the wrong and have assumed incorrectly that deposits are refundable as standard if not stated otherwise.

The need for people to act as if I’m completely thick is unnecessary, I haven’t been unkind or shitty to anyone on this post who pointed out I’m wrong, but it doesn’t need to be done with such negativity and goading.

I understand where you are coming from @anonqrtb
I had a similar refund experience. OK yes they were right, but a gesture of goodwill when it was pretty much guaranteed 'my' slot was going to be filled as they had been given so much notice wouldn't have gone amiss.

All you can do is chalk it up to experience. And have a cocktail or 2 to get rid of that sour taste you no doubt have.

Of course it's non refundable, that's the whole point of a deposit!

You're also assuming they will book another party on that date but that's not guaranteed and they might have turned down several bookings too.
You could try asking if they might consider giving you a refund as a gift card so you will eventually be spending it there anyway

Don't post in AIBU then 🤷‍♀️. There are plenty of other boards where people are less forthright.

This. YABU

YABU. Its a deposit, what did you think it was for?