Trouble Shooters Investigates: Deposit Money Not Returned
An El Paso woman says she put down a deposit to reserve a place for her wedding reception, but the trouble started when she had a change of heart.
Sandra Kidd and her girlfriend Jessica have been planning their wedding for more than a year, a wedding that's become pretty costly.
"We just, a few months down the road, decided that it was above our budget," Sandra Kidd said.
The couple's reception is supposed to take place on February 15th of next year. They put down $1,000 to save the date. But after booking the full-service reception hall at the Lancer's Club in West El Paso, the couple cancelled four months before the scheduled event. They expected to get their deposit back but only received $550.
The Lancer's written policy, as stated on the couple's contract is: Deposits will be returned at the sole discretion of the Lancer's club.
Our team spoke to the "head chef," Chef Jean Paul, he told us over the phone:
"We gave her more than half of what was owed to her," Jean Paul said. "The rest of the money will be returned when the date is booked."
"We love each other, we want to celebrate our love with our family and friends and it's just making it more stressful," Sandra Kidd said.
So as the date gets closer, the couple says that $450 could be used to pay for other wedding expenses.
The head chef says they'll stick to their policy and agreed to return the rest of the deposit if, and when a new party is booked for that date.
Well, we got married on February 15, 2009, as planned. We had a beautiful ceremony and a reception at our home.
The Lancer's Club DID BOOK & HOLD A PARTY on the 15th!!! Now, I call almost everday and they say that Tim Rich is not there and Chef JonPaul does not respond to my emails!
Today, I called the L.C. on the Westside (where all of this took place) and I was told that Mr. Rich was at the Eastside location. I called over there and was told that "he is never here, he is always on the Westside."
My Mom then called the Westside and blocked her number and she was told that Mr. Rich would possibly be in after 5pm and be upstairs at the restaurant.
So, what??? Do they know my voice now? We were told if they book the date and hold a party we would get our $450!!!
Well, Lancer's Club, step up! Live up to your end of the deal!!!
-Sandy Kidd-
zarafly72
10 months agoHello, this is Sandy -- one of the brides from this story. I was the one who did all the talking on TV. Thank you all for your comments. I just wanted to take a moment to clarify a few things.
The Lancers Club, specifically Chef JonPaul, went above and beyond to try to accommodate us. From the beginning, we knew it was a stretch to afford such a venue, but thought we could swing it. They offer an amazing package and their place is stunning!
First of all, we are well aware that we signed a contract and the terms of it. That is not what we are disputing.
We canceled our event over 4 months in advance and considered that ample time to warrant a refund regardless of the contract. Most, if not all, vendors we have dealt with have a 90 day refund policy. We realize, however, that is not the case with The Lancers Club. We were mistaken to think they would make an exception.
Our reason for canceling was purely financial! We were told that because we became members, the balance of our bill would be due within six months of our event. We knew that would be a struggle and probably impossible. We were honest about that. We thought we were doing the right thing! Why stick them for the balance?
Chef JonPaul told us, as did Tim Rich, the owner, that it would not be a problem to get our money back. They never mentioned anything about waiting until the date was booked until after we were promised the balance of our deposit which is the $450.
So, all in all, our experience with The Lancers Club has not been
all
negative! They are a wonderful place for anyone who is sure they can afford it! We could just really use that $450 and hope to get it back.
Thank you for reading this!
Sincerely,
A bride in distress,
-Sandy-
zarafly72
11 months agodeposits are ment to hold a venue from renting out the place or over booking it, when they placed the deposit they prevented the business from renting that night out, it is unfair of the couple to now go and ask for their money back. People need to be held accountable to their word.
silver97
11 months agoThey should give them there money back. It being that they canceled as early as they did should make it that much easier for the company to give it back. What is $450 to a club that big? Do they realize that these women canceled for reason? It is the Holiday season and they are being this rude. Do they realize that the poor publicty is not going to help them at all when it comes to any other people reserving there place. How are other people going to feel? I am sorry but there is no way that I would ever go to a place that treated people this badly. You could honestly see the tears in the womans eyes. How sad! All that they want to do is share their love with everyone and this place is making it that much harder.I beleive that since no food or anything was set up for the reception than there monies need to be returned in a very fast manor.
audandtina
11 months agoI think they should get their money back even if they don't book the club on that date because even if the contract states that there are no refunds, the employees of the club should not have told them that they would refund it, besides that is alot of money to lose and the club make triple that amount in a day so they wouldn't be losing anything...well except clients when people see the video.
Terrie
tigerose1981
11 months agoLancer's had given them their policies and they had agreed to them. For how many months did Lancer's actually hold this date as booked? Did Lancer's turn any clients away for that date?
A lot of the comments seem to have a victim mentality and they assume the business has deep pockets.
In addition Lancer's has said they would give the rest back once the date is booked. I am sure Lancer's wants this date booked as much as the client wants the date booked to get their $450 back. Let's hope the club makes more than $450 in profits in an evening or they probably would be going out of business.
personal opinion
11 months agoYeah, what is with this... Like OMG!!! Why can't they just give them the money back and book the date with someone else. I mean what good is it for them???
blueyes
11 months agoWhen you reserve a date, that means that they turn other people down for that date. Most places don't give any deposit money back at all. I'm surprised that this place did.
If you had a problem with the terms of the contract, you should have spoken up BEFORE you signed the contract. By signing it, you legally stated that you AGREED with all of the terms set forth, including the terms of your deposit. (That was a dumb term to agree to, by the way.)
You can't turn around now and say, sorry, I no longer agree. What if they had done that to you? What if they had called you up and said, 'So sorry, we've changed our mind about letting you have our wedding here.'. You'd have been hollering about honoring the contract then, huh?
It's brides like you that gives brides like me a bad name amongst vendors.
Rose M. Welch
nospam
11 months agoBusinesses taking advantage of customers for personal gain is so common now. Something needs to be done.
Stacie Zen
11 months agowhen the date is booked, does that mean them or someone else?!! at this rate they {club} pepole are not going to WHAT to book with them {club}. for fear of not being treated right.
hotmamma
11 months agoPlease Login or Register to post comments