cancellation of Mothers Day lunch

[wink1970]

DH is due to take his 90-yr-old DM to lunch on Sunday, naturally they now both want to cancel. The restaurant (pre-paid) is refusing, and won't even switch the booking to a voucher he can use later for something else.

I think he should get busy on social media and shame them. I know the hospitality trade will suffer in the coming months, but she's 90! WIBU to get cracking on Google Trustpilot etc?

So far it looks like we've lost theatre tickets, a week long staycation, weekend city break, summer holiday and kids' football and school residential trips. It's absolute shit but to be honest, but it is the least of my worries at the moment.

As a small business owner I honestly cannot see how we can weather this storm and I know so many in the same boat. My son and DH have asthma and I'm recovering from major surgery.

We are at the thin end of the wedge with regards to compromises that we will have to make and losses incurred. Count yourself bloody lucky if this is the most you have to worry about.

I think yabu. Sorry

To be clear, it's a hotel restaurant and it's a big-ish brand, not a local SME.

Even they won't be immune from this, though. We're likely to see a number of big brands go to the wall as a result of this - plus the chain of all the people they own money to. In a sense, it can even be worse for the big chain businesses as their turnover can fluctuate wildly and involve vast sums - a sole trader is never going to go bust owing hundreds of millions of pounds.

We were meant to be going to the Harry Potter studios next week, have had that cancelled. Plus Mother's Day plans are now not happening. I'd rather have my health though.

We have a British holiday booked for the end of August, I'm hoping that'll still go ahead.

It's the small business owners and self employed I worry about. My friend is a beautician, works from home, she has had loads of people cancel, she is really worried as she has a mortgage.

*all the people they own money to

OWE, not own

Name and Shame a business that will face 3 months of no income, with many low paid staff suffering. Shame on you. Take a step back, and put yourself in the position of the business owner. You are losing out on one meal out, They will inevitably be losing a lot more, if not all.

People like you are the ones that make the Corona virus seem even worse, humility and compassion is sparse. Show some

YABU!

Many working in hospitality are waking up to job losses. Businesses are going to go under. People are dying.

Is this all you have to worry about? Then you’re very lucky.

And stop using the fact she’s 90 as an excuse - anyone can go and make use of the booking.

How long since #bekind? I didn't buy into all that at the time as I see it as virtue signalling but I have to say that there are a lot of people on this thread with a serious lack of empathy.

This is a tricky one. I think you need to base it on why it was prepaid on the first place. It's not really usual to pay upfront for a meal, a deposit maybe but a whole meal is abnormal. What reason did they give? Was it a special offer? One off?

You'll have to let it go I'm afraid. These are unusual times.

DP had a hotel room booked for two nights for a conference that then got cancelled (he's self employed so he was paying). Because he'd paid upfront he didn't get a penny in refund

@RickSanchez I'm currently googling advice on laying staff off. So incredibly sad for the employers and employees.

Kicking off about a mothers day meal would be the laest of their problems.

the best gift I can give my elderly mum is to stay away from her and try to stop her becoming infected.

just suck it up OP, I think its something that we are all going to get a lesson in.

Oh don't be a keyboard warrior and try to cause problems for a business that is really going to struggle.

If you like you could email them and say you won't ever give them your business again.

I have a feeling that this whole thing is going to be a lesson in humility for everyone. I wish it wasn't happening but I do think there are things we can all do on an individual level to help others. This, my friends, is not it.

I have never had a meal that I paid upfront for. A deposit yes ,but this is the first time I have heard of this .FWIW I think they are being unreasonable but I dont think naming/shaming on SM is the answer either! I appreciate lots of businesses are struggling ,but this is a hotel chain .Also many people are saying never mind about the cost but OP may not be in a position to lose upwards of £50!

Well, I think they are being unreasonable to not allow you to change the cost of the booking to a voucher, especially when you are a very good customer. I get that businesses are struggling, but think people saying leave it are the ones being unfair. Things like this will be a treat for many people, who won’t be able to afford to go out like this again. If this was me I would certainly remember this lack of empathy on their part and not give them custom again!

I would let this one go and think of it as "a donation that will help a restaurant I like stay in business during this very difficult time."

@fedup you won't have to as they'll be bust. And a lot sooner if all customers acted this way.

Yes, it's a treat for many people, yes, no one wants to 'lose' 50 quid or however much, but it's a MEAL, they agreed and paid the price beforehand so I'd argue that yes, they clearly can afford to pay it. Its been paid. Its likely they can still take the food, the business isn't refusing to offer the goods as agreed, but they can't afford to take the loss.

Losing a treat is disappointing but show me one bloody person who will not be affected by this and lose treats and have to cancel plans. Its the same for everyone. How is the restaurant owner and all their staff going to pay for FOOD or even their mortgages if everyone demands a refund.

I'll just not go but won't make them pay it back. They are all struggling now given the drop in bookings. Just let this slide if you can.

Ask for take away or partial refund.

Thanks for all the sensible advice, and for those who read my updates. I'm off out soon, so I'll just answer a few things before I go:

~ It was pre-paid as it's Mothers Day, that's quite usual round here.

~ Nobody is going to go to the lunch without her, to use it up on Mothers Day that would be nasty. DH will go to her home with food & flowers instead.

~ It is only £150, yes I will 'suck it up' but a voucher would have been used at some point, with the associated extra spending another visit would bring. Given DH has just had an enforced 40% pay cut, I don't think it was unreasonable to ask for that option.

OP I understand why you'd be annoyed but it is U to be annoyed at them as opposed as to the situation.

Regardless of if they know she's 90, they also know that they have staff (who have families) that they need to pay, and who are likely looking at losing their jobs completely at a moments notice very soon.

It sucks, but we're all in the same boat and we'll all be losing out on things for the time being.

I have never come across prepaid meals but surely that is a risk you take with prepaid, if your Dh's Mom woke up with vomiting on Mothers Day would you expect a refund.

Just saw your latest update about your DH's pay-cut, really sorry to hear that, that must be tough and it's what I'm really fearing.

I am not a business owner or self-employed but I do feel terribly sorry for those who are. So many will go under. I have cancelled our Mother’s Day booking as well although I felt very embarrassed doing so. I just can’t take the risk, was supposed to be taking DM and DMIL. Both well over 70. Such a shame all round.