Disgusted in the Swan Club (need advice)

Hello,
We had booked the Swan Club last August, and put down 2x as much as the requested deposit. The requested deposit called for $2,500 and I had the extra money and thought it would be easier to pay more upfront and less on the back end and decided to put down $5,000.

Well, sadly Gina and I decided to call of our wedding for NEXT august of 08.

I knew that any vendor would most likely keep the original deposit, but with well over a year for the Swan Club to book another wedding, and us originally putting down 2x as much, I thought for sure they would at least refund to us the difference between their requested deposit and what we put down.

I called and spoke with Mike, who originally booked our wedding... and all he said was 'the corporation does not give any money back, but if you ever get married down the line, come see me and I will give you consideration!'. I would NEVER recommend nor book an event at the Swan Club after this.

They requested we send them a letter stating that the wedding was in fact cancelled. Since the event was more than a year away, I was in no immediate rush to sit down and send them out a letter, as Gina and I were trying to figure some things out... and sure enough the Swan Club postal mailed Gina a letter saying that if they dont hear back from her in 10 days, they will cancel the wedding themselves. I thought that was in poor customer service... Gina and I are going through an emotional enough ordeal as it is, and we were trying to figure some things out.

I realize and accept that the owness (sp?) of the cancelled wedding is on us, but I would think we would be able to get something back. Even if Mike said... pick a weekday and have a dinner for 30 people worth the $5K you paid us, would have at least made me feel they were trying to provide good customer service. As a pro photographer myself, I understand things happen, and sometimes people cancel, but if someone cancelled on me with well over a year to rebook my time, I would either give them back the difference, or tell them that if I can rebook my time, I would give them a full refund... good business is good business.. and its not like we cancelled a day, a week, a month before hand... we gave more than a year!

If we end up taking the loss on money, it is what it is..... but if anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice on recuuping at least a % of the EXTRA money we put down... I would appreciate it greatly.

thanks,
Brian

That is a lot of money. From what I understand, most halls will refund at least some of your money if they get another booking for the date, and with having a year, it 's not unlikely that they'll get another booking. Unfortunately, if it were in Suffolk County, you'd get your money back, but the Swan Club is in Nassau, right? You need to speak to a lawyer ASAP.

Good luck!

im really sorry about your situation and we went through a similiar situation as well when we cancelled our RH 10 months away from our wedding date and they refused to give back our deposits of $7500. We also gave more money upfront than we were required too. We cancelled our RH based on the fact that the signing of our contract was based on false pretenses. Our wedding day has passed and we have dealt with the fact that we need to take this loss. We considered hiring an attorney but we quickly realized that we would only be incuring more costs.

The only county to have a law that protects people is Suffolk county and i think more countys should be required to adapt this law as well. The most important part of your contract is the cancellation policy which many people bypass reading because they think that its irrelevant but i cant stress how important it is to read your contract especially about cancelling your hall. These contracts are always written in their favor.

I'm so sorry for what your going through, #1. Your story is a reality dose that not everything is perfect in relationships nor planning during the road to the the actual wedding day.

Is there any chance there is anything at al in the contract you signed that says if they re-book the room on your date, you can have your deposit back?? If not, this is indeed a very reasonable request...have you tried talking with the owner of the Swan Club, to see if this a deal that could be worked out.

At the very least perhaps you had hire a lawyer simply to persuade them to give you back the additional monies they didn't require when you first laid down the deposit?

What does your contract say?

Our contract says if we cancel, we forfeit all money paid to date. That's what we agreed to - check your contract.

If that's what you agreed to, then they don't have to do anything for you. Yes, it would be nice of them to refund some of your money, but they don't have to if that's the contract. (Suffolk County has a law about weddings more than 6 months away, but Nassau - as far as I know - doesn't have a comparable regulation)

I'm sorry you've called off the wedding. I bet that they WOULD allow you to have a party in the near future with that money, but you have to ask. I don't think they'll just offer that.

OMG that is terrible ~ I am sorry you are going through all this... especially if you are trying to figure your own things out this is the last thing you need right now ~ Good Luck ~ I don't understand why they could not give you a credit and can use it later on ~ if you should reschedule your wedding or use it for another occassion! good luck! I hope everything is going to be ok with you and gina! I will say extra prayers...

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Posted by Pencils

That is a lot of money. From what I understand, most halls will refund at least some of your money if they get another booking for the date, and with having a year, it 's not unlikely that they'll get another booking. Unfortunately, if it were in Suffolk County, you'd get your money back, but the Swan Club is in Nassau, right? You need to speak to a lawyer ASAP.

Good luck!

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I’m curious…I’ve seen lots of people mention the difference between Nassau and Suffolk regarding contracts and such. I live in Nassau so can anyone shed any light on what Suffolk does differently? Thanks!

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Posted by KitWisdom

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Posted by Pencils

That is a lot of money. From what I understand, most halls will refund at least some of your money if they get another booking for the date, and with having a year, it 's not unlikely that they'll get another booking. Unfortunately, if it were in Suffolk County, you'd get your money back, but the Swan Club is in Nassau, right? You need to speak to a lawyer ASAP.

Good luck!

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I’m curious…I’ve seen lots of people mention the difference between Nassau and Suffolk regarding contracts and such. I live in Nassau so can anyone shed any light on what Suffolk does differently? Thanks!

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if you cancel your hall within 6 months of the date, in Suffolk they have to refund all your money except $500. Nassau doesnt have such laws!

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Posted by Meaghan729

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Posted by KitWisdom

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Posted by Pencils

That is a lot of money. From what I understand, most halls will refund at least some of your money if they get another booking for the date, and with having a year, it 's not unlikely that they'll get another booking. Unfortunately, if it were in Suffolk County, you'd get your money back, but the Swan Club is in Nassau, right? You need to speak to a lawyer ASAP.

Good luck!

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I’m curious…I’ve seen lots of people mention the difference between Nassau and Suffolk regarding contracts and such. I live in Nassau so can anyone shed any light on what Suffolk does differently? Thanks!

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if you cancel your hall within 6 months of the date, in Suffolk they have to refund all your money except $500. Nassau doesnt have such laws!

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Wow, that's a great law to have. Thanks for the info!

Contact the Better Business Bureau... Companies absolutely hate to have a complaint against them...this is how I got a full refund back from a company that was supposed to be paying my hospital bills for me!

Send the complaint online through their website and wait about 2 weeks for the swan club to recieve it..they may be willing to settle with you if you agree to drop the complaint!

HTH!

Thanks for all the great support and feedback...

Gina spoke with the GM of the Swan Club today and apparantly he told her if they rebook the date they will give us something back... but didnt specify an amount and said we would have to wait till after the date... so basically we'd have to keep checking for the next year.

To me its not about the money... and its not worth it to me financially to keep calling back every month to see if they booked it.. Figure if they give us back 50% thats $2,500. The wedding is off, Id like to just move on with my life and not spend the next year worry about this. Its not worth the aggravation to me for $2,500.

As far as contracts... I do believe that it says no money will be paid back... but I also know contracts are only as good as the lawyer who defends them.

Lesson learned... next time I propose to someone... book a hall in Suffolk County.... LOL at this point, anyone know any nice single girls?

but on a serious note, i do thank everyone on the boards for all of the support and advice you all have given me over the past year in planning and now cancelling a wedding.