Can I Get the Deposit Back?

Hi All,

About a month ago I put down a $700 deposit on a photography workshop with a fashion photographer. About 2 weeks before the workshop, I ran into an issue with my dog being in and out of the vet that caused me to not be able to pay the other half of the $700. I reached out to her and let he know the situation and asked if I could get my money refunded since there was no feasible way for me to attend the workshop while having to drop ANOTHER $700 to make it work.

She let me know that the workshop was non-refundable.

I did not recall anything on the PayPal payment letting me know that the money was not refundable.

I'm in a really screwed up place. She will not refund the money, I'm in a hole due to vet bills, and there is no way for me to take another workshop with her. I just basically donated $700 to this photographer.

Does anyone have any suggestions here?

Am I just sh*t out of luck?

Most businesses require deposits for exactly this reason, no offense to you or your situation. I would thoroughly look over the site where you booked this workshop, I would bet somewhere there is an explanation that the deposit, and subsequent payments are non refundable.

Not to take away from the severity of your current situation, but think about it from the photographers standpoint, they may have incurred some non refundable expenses for this workshop that your deposit covered. Say they needed to rent space for this workshop, and you were the only registered participant at the time, your deposited would secure the location. If no one else registered for that time slot, and you can't make it, that photographer may still be responsible for that space rental. Just an example of why deposits are necessary, and most often non refundable. That's not to say that there isn't a chance the photographer had no out of pocket expenses for this workshop. I'm only speaking from past experiences.

Forgot to add, hope your dog is doing well.

Sorry to hear that, it always sucks when you plan for a workshop or trip and it falls through.

I doubt anyone hear can answer your specific question, it will depend on the T&C's of the event. You might want to go back and look at the information provided for the workshop (website, workshop information package) and see if there is anything that states one way or the other whether you can get a refund.

hope it all works out for you.

Makes sense

thanks I appreciate it.

Luckily my dog is getting better, but a bit stuck financially now. Guess sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles I suppose.

You might want to see if the deposit can be transferred to another photographer. Even if you sold it at a loss it wouldn't be a total loss.

First though, collect all documentation you can find and read it thoroughly. It sounds like the photographer isn't interested in helping you so I would cut off communication until you have all the relevant info in front of you. Print out and make PDFs of the web pages and anything else you have. If they happen to be local, go by and play dumb and ask for info on the course.

Good luck with the cash and pooch.

I'm of the opinion that people should read the terms before offering up hundreds of dollars. That said, there is nothing wrong with asking for the deposit to be transferred as mentioned above, or with asking for the $700 to be issued as a future credit to be used within xx time.

She did say that she would save the deposit for a future workshop, but she lives in New York (I'm in the bay area/ west coast) and she also said she has no idea when she will be doing another workshop. Could be next year, could be 5 years from now.

Good for you for making your dog's welfare the highest priority. Not everyone treats animals so responsibly.

As a matter of long-term planning, life is easier if you build up a bigger reserve of money before making major outlays. Emergencies that cost several hundred dollars to fix aren't unusual.

Thanks, he's my little right hand man. Nothing worse than seeing him sick

I guess I will just write off this $700 as a loss. Doesn't sound like there is much I can do.

Is the event sold out? Or is it the kind of thing that they would just keep selling tickets? If sold out, the promoters should allow a transfer ... It would give them an opportunity to make another 700 bucks.

yeah i'll agree with the people that said that deposits are for those specific reasons. i had numerous people come to me (business not photography related) asking me for their deposits back and basically told them i'm sorry but i won't be able to refund it. glad to hear your dog's doing good.

Could the vet possibly accept paying your bill in installments?

Hi you might consider selling the deposit registration( if transferable ) $700 is a lot of money for a non refundable event.
That should have been clearly stated and required a second signature. If not clearly stated, paypal could help you in a hurry.

Third option donate the deposit to some photo association (with info about second $700) maybe get a write-off.

Hope puppy is better!
cheers
Darrin

proimages wrote in post #17672729
Hi you might consider selling the deposit registration( if transferable ) $700 is a lot of money for a non refundable event.
That should have been clearly stated and required a second signature. If not clearly stated, paypal could help you in a hurry.

Events cost a lot of money to put together, especially when you factor in air travel and accommodation costs. Why should the party who is holding up their end lose out?

How would you feel if you showed up prepared to shoot an out of town wedding after having received only a deposit, then be told "we don't need photos, the wedding is off" or whatever. You will have traveled to a different city, booked and paid for hotels for yourself and any assistants/staff already. In addition, you've set aside time for that event- so you can't be available for other billable jobs.

The deposits are there to ensure that those hosting don't hemorrhage money. If you can't attend for whatever reason, that's hardly the fault of the organizer, so I don't see how filing a paypal/CC claim is remotely fair.

If you can transfer the spot to someone else, great. If not, you always have the option of traveling to the next seminar that's in a city closer to you.