Should I refund deposit?

[blondine]

Last month I booked a wedding for June 6, 2009.... I requested a deposit to book the date (which they gave me a cheque for / I deposited the cheque into my account 2 days ago) today I received the following email:

Hi
I am just emailing you to let you know that the *** *** & *** *** wedding for June 6, 2009 has been cancelled and that we will no longer require your services.
Thank you

should I refund deposit? although I did tell them that the deposit was non-refundable at the time; as I just started out I don't use contracts as of yet. (I know....I know..... bad not to have one.....:o)...

Should I contact the bride or groom or just let it go?

[75D]

If you clearly stated that the deposit was non-refundable you would be within your rights to keep the deposit.
Being that it is almost a year away and you will probably be able to fill the date a good Pr move might be to offer a partial or full refund as a good will gesture.
If it had been closer to the actual date keeping it would be the thing to do.
Their e-mail did not request a refund so you may want to wait and see if they contact you for the refund.

[Tigershark]

If it was clearly stated that the deposit was non refundable why would you ? use a contract next time :)

[tomd]

Hi
I am just emailing you to let you know that the *** *** & *** *** wedding for June 6, 2009 has been cancelled and that we will no longer require your services.
Thank you


Doesn't sound like they are even asking for the deposit to be returned. Is there more to the e-mail?

[blondine]

Doesn't sound like they are even asking for the deposit to be returned. Is there more to the e-mail?

NO..... that was the whole email... but I'm some-what a softy + the bride was going to be the first one to get married from her group of friends... and she may recommend me to them once they start getting married...

[ndelacova]

If it were closer to the weeding, I would have doubts about refunding the deposit. Perhaps I would refund the deposit if I could get the date filled up with someone else. At this point however, I would most definitely refund the deposit. It may get other business. Word does spread around when a good gesture is followed.

[Fade2]

Last month I booked a wedding for June 6, 2009.... I requested a deposit to book the date (which they gave me a cheque for / I deposited the cheque into my account 2 days ago) today I received the following email:

Hi
I am just emailing you to let you know that the *** *** & *** *** wedding for June 6, 2009 has been cancelled and that we will no longer require your services.
Thank you

should I refund deposit? although I did tell them that the deposit was non-refundable at the time; as I just started out I don't use contracts as of yet. (I know....I know..... bad not to have one.....:o)...

Should I contact the bride or groom or just let it go?

Believe it or not this sounds like a CHECK scam to me!
Heard stories like this where a client gives a phony check....then cancels or whatever you send them a refund (cash or real check from your account)
Their check is bogus and the bank won't find out for a week but you refund them and off they go!
Be careful!

If you have a no refund clause then use it!
Time Is MONEY!

[usul_xti]

wait a few weeks for the check to clear if you really want to refund

[CanadianKitKat]

If you're worried about it, I would keep the money and maybe offer them a free portrait session or something maybe, with prints extra. That way you won't feel guilty for keeping the money and they won't be completely out either.

[Wazza]

Just keep it unless asked for, in which you'll verify the funds are cleared with the bank.

[eigga]

Obviously wait for it to clear before doing anything. Refund the money if you fill date.

[Kittygraphix]

I would atleast refund 50%, I mean they are giving you ten months notice. I'm sure they will appreciate it and will book if it's rescheduled or they will remember you for their next marriage :D

[MrsKitty]

Believe it or not this sounds like a CHECK scam to me!
Heard stories like this where a client gives a phony check....then cancels or whatever you send them a refund (cash or real check from your account)
Their check is bogus and the bank won't find out for a week but you refund them and off they go!
Be careful!

If you have a no refund clause then use it!
Time Is MONEY!

Scam is the first thing I thought of.

How much was the deposit? I really doubt the check was good so if you refund it, you are going to be basically giving away the cash.

[Kittygraphix]

I'm sure he will await the check to clear before he even thinks about giving any sort of refund back.......RIGHT? :D

[Fade2]

I'm sure he will await the check to clear before he even thinks about giving any sort of refund back.......RIGHT? :D


Part of the scam is giving the check and letting it clear!
But a week or so later the bank finds it's a fake or dummy account,
they're doing it with cashier and certified checks also!
Just be careful when accepting checks.
I know not all people are running scams
But still be careful!

[michaelanthony]

NO..... that was the whole email... but I'm some-what a softy + the bride was going to be the first one to get married from her group of friends... and she may recommend me to them once they start getting married...


if you stated from the get-go that the deposit was non-refundable, then it's yours... as for personal aspect noted above, im pretty sure that they have bigger issues to deal with than the deposits... whatever went bad just may be bad enough to where they could care less about the deposits they lost and be more upset with what made the nuptials collapse?

you were not the cause of their situation, so you should not be losing any referrals...

if after they do resolve their issues and they request/demand a refund, first resolve to split the amount so you can at least get something out of the deal... afterall, for all they know, someone else could have tried to book that date prior to their cancellation and you would have lost the other business...

[AdrianeCale]

I've had this happen a time or two before as well. I have a contract, and it does say anything paid up front is not refundable. But, normally I'll tell who ever paid me (bride, her mom, groom, whoever), that if they should come down the marriage road ever again and need my services, I'll wave the deposit, or give them what they paid me as a discount for something else.

I had a groom that had his wedding cancelled take the money he paid me and have me photograph his dogs... he said he's happier with those than he ever would have been with wedding pictures!

[Kittygraphix]

I've had this happen a time or two before as well. I have a contract, and it does say anything paid up front is not refundable. But, normally I'll tell who ever paid me (bride, her mom, groom, whoever), that if they should come down the marriage road ever again and need my services, I'll wave the deposit, or give them what they paid me as a discount for something else.

I had a groom that had his wedding cancelled take the money he paid me and have me photograph his dogs... he said he's happier with those than he ever would have been with wedding pictures!



hahahahahaha that's awesome!

[Zonieart]

I think I have to agree with several others here. Keep the deposit, but offer them other services in kind.

[Lonnie]

I'd feel pretty good about just refunding the deposit, asking them to consider you again should the need arise and move on. You haven't been damaged, and if I know if I were your client, I would like to be treated that way.

I'd feel pretty crappy about keeping the deposit in these particular circumstances, but I'm a sucker sometimes.

[bieber]

How much are we talking about here? You may not lose referrals by keeping it, but it's very possible that you have them to gain if you refund it. Besides, the purpose of the deposit is to hold the date because it's difficult to rebook on short notice...but this isn't exactly short notice. Technically, the money's yours, but it still seems like the right thing to do to give it back. A sensible compromise would be to hold off, and refund when/if you got another booking for the date.

[blondine]

Thanks everyone!
I will wait to make sure the cheque clears and give the bride a few weeks, then I will contact her and offer a portrait session or a partial refund, as it is a subst. amount I'm sure she will appreciate it, she was the one paying for the photography.

[stathunter]

First of all you need to get your act together and get a contract. The word deposit should never be used. Deposits typically are considered "refundable" by many US court standards. Use the word "retainer".......have them pay you a "retainer" to secure the date and prepare for their wedding.
SAY NO TO DEPOSIT AND YES TO RETAINER.....and get a freaking contract. :)

[Zonieart]

First of all you need to get your act together and get a contract. The word deposit should never be used. Deposits typically are considered "refundable" by many US court standards. Use the word "retainer".......have them pay you a "retainer" to secure the date and prepare for their wedding.
SAY NO TO DEPOSIT AND YES TO RETAINER.....and get a freaking contract. :)

Great advice Stathunter!

[lulugus]

I read through here and may have missed it, but did anyone think that maybe they just found a different photographer and are cancelling the first one instead? And tried to use the ol "wedding-cancelled" excuse to get the deposit back?

Not sure how well you know these people and know whether or not the wedding truly was cancelled... I'd take that into consideration when deciding upon whether or not to return the funds.

[overkil2]

I read through here and may have missed it, but did anyone think that maybe they just found a different photographer and are cancelling the first one instead? And tried to use the ol "wedding-cancelled" excuse to get the deposit back?

Not sure how well you know these people and know whether or not the wedding truly was cancelled... I'd take that into consideration when deciding upon whether or not to return the funds.

Boy, I thought I was a very cynical person, but I didn't think that. lol

[aram535]

Yeah I just heard about this too, people go through international banks and it takes about 7-10 days for the international bank to figure out that the original deposit was bogus and remove the money. Any funds that were transferred/written against are also pulled back.

I would go in and talk to your bank manager. Tell him/her the story and see if they can verify the originating bank's funds and how long is a good wait period before refunding some of the money. I say 50%.

[lulugus]

Boy, I thought I was a very cynical person, but I didn't think that. lol

Hey, I thought it was less cynical than someone pulling a fraudulent-check scam! :)