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?

#bekind to #aslongasiamallrightfucktherestofyou

I think the businesses people will support at this time are those that try and be flexible. Deliveries, asking people to buy gift vouchers for after etc.

The risk of a 90-year old catching the virus from a crowded place is very high.
Not only that, but if she does catch it, she's likely to need hospital treatment.
There isn't enough equipment [beds, respirators etc] for everybody.
Therefore, at an advanced age, she is unlikely to be prioritised for treatment.
Stay In - Stay Alive.

Hardly the time to become a petty keyboard warrior for first world problems OP, obviously they are not doing it out of spite, it's short notice and you're not making the booking- this has been on the cards for some time. I can't see what her being 90 has to do with this, there see many age groups and persons in seriously worrying categories that this applies to we are all in the same boat and I think the delusion that it is just small independent businesses in trouble is misguided, larger retail and hospitality industries employ a lot of 0 hour and living wage staff. With the govt refusing to outright ban them non can claim the appropriate insurance for the loss of income. These people will be the first to go and with next to no notice.

It's obviously unfair all around but I would leave it yes, and definitely not make a show of myself 'naming and shaming' with the sad face 'poor 90 year old MIL'. Mothers day can be celebrated anywhere and she would fo well to avoid social interaction as per the clear advice, if the concern about her age is a high priority.

I can see both sides. Yes, it definitely can't be helped on your side, government advice and all that. However they may have already bought all the stock etc and some businesses stand to go bust in all this.

It really is a very difficult situation for everyone and we all need to be as supportive of one another as possible. Could you perhaps contact them and ask for a gift voucher or to postpone to a date in the future and use the balance to put towards a meal then?

The government have been very clear about that age group you're right. But not clear enough that the restaurant can claim any insurance. I don't know why you think the restaurant should wear the cost and not you. You're losing the cost of a lunch, they're quite possibly losing everything (and staff their jobs). I think you're BU.

Do you take the Mothering Sunday hit?

Or the lasting reputational damage, from all the customers (especially the most vulnerable) they hold to the booking terms when government health advice is telling them to isolate - for that will be in full force by the weekend for the elderly (as well as everyone advised to distance)

The restaurant can't win in term. And it won't win in the long term if it gets a reputation for heartless behaviour to nonagerians.

Can the rest of you not use the booking and give her a rain check?

@plunkplunkfizz did you see last night's press briefing, asking EVERYONE to avoid social contact?

No one should be going out for meals for Mothering Sunday!

the hospitality industry is going to suffer resulting in a LOT of bankruptcy and unemployment. i wouldn't bother making it any worse for them

The government have been very clear about that age group you're right. But not clear enough that the restaurant can claim any insurance

The inability to claim on insurance has nothing to do with the Govt being “unclear”. They can’t claim because most would not have been covered for business interruption due to coronavirus anyway. It was not widely available and not a standard thing for restaurants to buy. The ABI has explained this :

QUOTE FROM GUARDIAN TODAY

Insurers: Most firms not covered for Covid-19

In a bitter blow to UK businesses, few will be able to claim on their insurance to cover the trading lost to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Association of British Insurers has said that typical insurance policies simply don’t cover Covid-19. So even if the government forced pubs, restaurants and cinemas to shut, they’d get no help from their insurer.

An ABI spokesperson says:

“Irrespective of whether or not the Government order closure of a business, the vast majority of firms won’t have purchased cover that will enable them to claim on their insurance to compensate for their business being closed by the Coronavirus.

“Standard business interruption cover – the type the majority of businesses purchase - does not include forced closure by authorities as it is intended to respond to physical damage at the property which results in the business being unable to continue to trade

“A small minority of typically larger firms might have purchased an extension to their cover for closure due to any infectious disease. In this instance an enforced closure could help them make the claim, but this will depend on the precise nature of the cover they have purchased so they should check with their insurer or broker to see if they are covered.”

Invite someone on a low income or homeless to take the booking? Money not wasted, food not wasted, kind action.

OP I'm sorry about your dh's pay cut and the sadness that although he is lucky enough to have his dm at 90 he's missing a special day out with her. It looks as though businesses aren't covered by insurance for loss of business. So hopefully he will be able to have a take away.

We are all individually going to lose prepaid events/trips/events and businesses will end up closing with job losses. The only suggestion is did your dh pay by credit card and is he covered for it. My loss is a family visit to Italy for a special birthday celebration.

♥️BeKind&BeSafe♥️

This is why I never prepay anything

I spoke to some people who work in cafes. If they close they cant pay their rent.

Yabvu. I run my own business, a Performing Arts school and we have had to cancel all classes, our students haven’t asked for refunds so as a result I have been able to pay all my staff their wages and we are trying to set up online classes so we can keep teaching but that won’t happen over night as we need to sort out a lot first including insurance which will cost a lot. If everyone acted the way you want to there might not be many small business left after this is over. I’m just glad my students and parents are very understating and kind.

*understanding

I would let it go. There are bigger things to worry about just now and so many businesses are going to go under as a result of this. Great suggestion about getting the meal to take away though, I'd definitely ask about that.

I have a booking for Sunday, if the place is open il still be going. Lucky it’s not prepaid though.

And social distancing means that he should not be visiting her!

Not sure anyone would give you the response you’d want on social media to be honest.

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

Agree with @fromdownwest

ANYONE saying 'name and shame' is disgusting.

That's totally separate from any issues about trying to deal with the situation and getting a refund.

What kind of mentality wants to put any small business that is likely to go bankrupt because they won't be able to trade for months under public scrutiny and pressure in the current circumstances?

If you are able to afford it, let it go or try and persuade them to do you a take out. If you can't afford it, persist with dealing with them in the way normal people would behind closed doors.

'Naming and shaming' is really vile and nasty in the current climate.

How are we going to get through the next few months if communities don't pull together?

Pre-paying meals is common for busy dates like Christmas Day (pay your deposit at the time of booking then there is a date the final balance is due by) although I've never heard of it for Mother's Day but if it's very popular in your area I can see why. Is there no one else you can transfer the booking to?

I'm surprised the restaurant won't let you reschedule to another date?! They'll still receive the money.

I have the same issue. Paid £120 for an afternoon tea on Sunday and hotel won't refund.

@dieschottin93

Mothers day is a huge day for lots of restaurants locally, so full payment it often required to prevent no shows and loss of income. I would have said they would be a lot more flexible in normal circumstances