Re: Deposits for wedding photography are generally non-refund...
No offense, but let me start this off by saying that you\'re a putz for having accepted money and holding a date without a signed contract
That being said, I\'m going to have to disagree with the vocal majority in the thread so far.
Provided that:
1. There was an agreement between the two of you for you to shoot the wedding
2. She gave you money to hold her date
3. You gave her a contract, you say you can prove she got it.
4. Your contract clearly states the deposit is non-refundable
and furthermore, it would be a BIG benefit if there were written communication between you (email for instance) indicating the securing of the wedding date
I have ZERO doubt in my mind that you would be awarded more than the $0.00 some others suggest here.
Did I mention that you were a putz not to get a signed contract ON THE SPOT WHEN YOU COLLECTED MONEY?
That\'s a fact, and do let this serve as a lesson...
but the reality is that if the two of you ended up before an arbitrator of some sort, nobody in their right mind would presume that she is owed 100% of the money. I would put a crisp $20 that the finding would be fully in your favor, in fact (unless the arbitrator wanted to punish you for being a putz and accepting money/holding a date without a contract). It is industry standard to require non-refundable deposits for the specific purpose you mentioned: you secure a date and turn away business. All the other vendors involved in a wedding will operate in a similar manner, so this Bride is trying to pull a fast one here by saying \"if I knew it was non-refundable I wouldn\'t have booked you\" ... well maybe Uncle Bob doesn\'t expect a deposit, but I can\'t think of any professional who would reserve a full day for you in exchange for a smile and a handshake.
In your shoes I\'d do the following:
I\'d call her and explain to her the situation in clear terms: you held a date for her, you lost business, that\'s what the deposit is for, etc. etc. etc.
Then I\'d offer her this compromise:
\"As a gesture of goodwill I\'m willing to give you half your deposit back in cash, and three gift certificates worth $50 of photography time ... something you can give to family and friends as a gift, or you can use it yourself in the future\"
Re: Deposits for wedding photography are generally non-refund...
No offense, but let me start this off by saying that you\'re a putz for having accepted money and holding a date without a signed contract
That being said, I\'m going to have to disagree with the vocal majority in the thread so far.
Provided that:
1. There was an agreement between the two of you for you to shoot the wedding
2. She gave you money to hold her date
3. You gave her a contract, you say you can prove she got it.
4. Your contract clearly states the deposit is non-refundable
and furthermore, it would be a BIG benefit if there were written communication between you (email for instance) indicating the securing of the wedding date
I have ZERO doubt in my mind that you would be awarded more than the $0.00 some others suggest here.
Did I mention that you were a putz not to get a signed contract ON THE SPOT WHEN YOU COLLECTED MONEY?
That\'s a fact, and do let this serve as a lesson...
but the reality is that if the two of you ended up before an arbitrator of some sort, nobody in their right mind would presume that she is owed 100% of the money. I would put a crisp $20 that the finding would be fully in your favor, in fact (unless the arbitrator wanted to punish you for being a putz and accepting money/holding a date without a contract). It is industry standard to require non-refundable deposits for the specific purpose you mentioned: you secure a date and turn away business. All the other vendors involved in a wedding will operate in a similar manner, so this Bride is trying to pull a fast one here by saying \"if I knew it was non-refundable I wouldn\'t have booked you\" ... well maybe Uncle Bob doesn\'t expect a deposit, but I can\'t think of any professional who would reserve a full day for you in exchange for a smile and a handshake.
May 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Previous versions of lisy78's message #7099057 « Deposits for wedding photography are generally non-refundable, aren't they? »
