Quick One RE: Refusing bookings clause

[DMX Will]

Just a quickie, in the process of re-writing/editing the terms and conditions of bookings.

I need to add something on to the end of this clause that says something alonig the lines of "we can refuse your booking within 14 days" but with some explination - basically it's a fail safe if people send them back two months down the line out of the blue and we've re-booked.


4.1 - A deposit is required for all bookings. A cheque or postal order must be sent when returning your signed booking form, this will then confirm your booking with Virtual Sights. We reserve the right to cancel a booking within 14 days of receiving booking paperwork.........???

I think I will post up the completed terms and conditions once I've finsihed them to see what you all think!

Cheers everyone :)

[BeerFunk]

Or you could put an expiry date on the booking form?

[Shaun]

Something as short and simple as the following would be enough...I would think?

Booking forms will become null and void if not signed and returned within seven days from date of issue

[rob1963]

Hi Will,

The following is from my own t & c, which seems to cover what you want:

1) When requesting a booking, the client will be sent a booking form. This must be completed, signed and returned with a £50 deposit within fourteen days. Please make all cheques payable to ROB JAMES ENTERTAINMENT. Upon receipt, we will send a booking confirmation letter.

2) If the booking form and deposit are not received within fourteen days of the date when the booking was requested, we reserve the right to accept other bookings.

Hope this helps.

You are welcome to use it as a starting point & amend it for your own use.

:)

[DMX Will]

Thanks everyone!

Rob - thanks for that...I had a little read of your Terms yesterday when I started writing the terms...I have to admit I stole one word from you...although I can't for the life of me remeber. Thanks.

[Shaun]

Thanks everyone!

Rob - thanks for that...I had a little read of your Terms yesterday when I started writing the terms...I have to admit I stole one word from you...although I can't for the life of me remeber. Thanks.


'Borrow inspiration' is a much nicer phrase than stole. :)

[rob1963]

'Borrow inspiration' is a much nicer phrase than stole. :)

Either way, I really don't mind...you're welcome! :)

[DMX Will]

'Borrow inspiration' is a much nicer phrase than stole. :)

What if i stole the word "and"

[Shaun]

What if i stole the word "and"

If you felt the need to steal the word "and".....I'd start worrying about your creativity. ;)

[rob1963]

What if i stole the word "and"

If you stole the word "and" I wouldn't be so happy...as far as I know, that word doesn't appear on any other website apart from mine.

:rolleyes:

[colinm345]

Unless I have missed it ,and knowing me I most likely have what about
XXXX reserves the right to use a substitute DJ should the need arise due to circumstances

[PropellerHeadCase]

OK, I'm lost, a booking form is a booking form, no rights to a particular date attach to it. A booking ain't a booking until you have completed forms and a non-refundable deposit, it's an enquiry.

[CRAZY K]

Hi Will,

The following is from my own t & c, which seems to cover what you want:

1) When requesting a booking, the client will be sent a booking form. This must be completed, signed and returned with a £50 deposit within fourteen days. Please make all cheques payable to ROB JAMES ENTERTAINMENT. Upon receipt, we will send a booking confirmation letter.

2) If the booking form and deposit are not received within fourteen days of the date when the booking was requested, we reserve the right to accept other bookings.

Hope this helps.

You are welcome to use it as a starting point & amend it for your own use.

:)

ROB !

Repeat after me---ITS NOT A DEPOSIT:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

You know the rest:)

Its taken me ages to learn to say over the phone--

and we will ask you for a non reundable booking fee which will be deducted from the total fee.:D

CRAZY K

[Tony Scott]

ROB !

Repeat after me---ITS NOT A DEPOSIT:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

You know the rest:)

Its taken me ages to learn to say over the phone--

and we will ask you for a non reundable booking fee which will be deducted from the total fee.:D

CRAZY K

Now, I don't know the rest..... but I'm sensing a bit of history here???

[rob1963]

ROB !

Repeat after me---ITS NOT A DEPOSIT:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

You know the rest:)

Its taken me ages to learn to say over the phone--

and we will ask you for a non reundable booking fee which will be deducted from the total fee.:D

CRAZY K

Sorry about that, Crazy! :p

[Dragonfly]

will if you explain on your t and c that people have 14 days to sign and return your booking form with THE NON-REFUNDABLE BOOKING FEE then to my mind you have this covered , i did actually have this earlier in the year the form despite emails and a call was sent back after 2 months.

I wrote a covering letter posted the cheque back enclosed a copy of my t and c with the 14 days bit hilighted and offered the numbers of a couple of other providers who may be able to help.

[rob1963]

OK, I'm lost, a booking form is a booking form, no rights to a particular date attach to it. A booking ain't a booking until you have completed forms and a non-refundable deposit, it's an enquiry.

Al,

I guess it depends on how you operate your business.

In my case, when someone wants to book a disco, I take the details & send them a booking form...which they have to complete & return within 14 days.

I couldn't operate without this 14 days stipulation.

For example, lets say 10 people asked for a booking & I sent out the 10 booking forms. A month later, if I hadn't received the booking forms back, I wouldn't have a clue which of those people had decided not to go ahead & which ones simply hadn't got around to returning the booking forms yet...so I wouldn't have a clue when to start chasing people up.

Therefore, if I started getting new enquiries for any of the same 10 dates asking if I was available, the honest answer would be "I don't know...someone else has asked for a disco on that date, but they haven't returned the booking form yet...but they might return it anytime between now & the date of the function this time next year"

That would be a nightmare! If I asked a disco if they were available to do my function & they couldn't tell me, I'd find someone else who COULD tell me!

[CRAZY K]

Al,

I guess it depends on how you operate your business.

In my case, when someone wants to book a disco, I take the details & send them a booking form...which they have to complete & return within 14 days.

I couldn't operate without this 14 days stipulation.

For example, lets say 10 people asked for a booking & I sent out the 10 booking forms. A month later, if I hadn't received the booking forms back, I wouldn't have a clue which of those people had decided not to go ahead & which ones simply hadn't got around to returning the booking forms yet...so I wouldn't have a clue when to start chasing people up.

Therefore, if I started getting new enquiries for any of the same 10 dates asking if I was available, the honest answer would be "I don't know...someone else has asked for a disco on that date, but they haven't returned the booking form yet...but they might return it anytime between now & the date of the function this time next year"

That would be a nightmare! If I asked a disco if they were available to do my function & they couldn't tell me, I'd find someone else who COULD tell me!

Good points there Rob, I have just taken a PROVISIONAL booking FOR 29TH DEC 2007 and held it for 14 days without money or forms, the Groom is serving in IRAQ:eek:

He has to make the decision apparently as he is paying--13 days and counting now:D

I WILL CERTAINLY NEED THE 30 DAY CANCELLATION CLAUSE ON THIS:eek:

CRAZY K

[DMX Will]

The idea of the clause is simply to say if you haven't returned it, we cannot guarentee a booking, as I don't really want to get into sub-contracting. Although I do have a clause earlier on stating we may replace the act with a suitable, different one.

Something that is quite interesting...I take all of the booking form details on the phone, or email (etc) then type them into the booking form, Send two forms, they check its OK, sign to say they've read the terms (on a seperate document) and then return.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Al,

I guess it depends on how you operate your business.

In my case, when someone wants to book a disco, I take the details & send them a booking form...which they have to complete & return within 14 days.

I couldn't operate without this 14 days stipulation.

For example, lets say 10 people asked for a booking & I sent out the 10 booking forms. A month later, if I hadn't received the booking forms back, I wouldn't have a clue which of those people had decided not to go ahead & which ones simply hadn't got around to returning the booking forms yet...so I wouldn't have a clue when to start chasing people up.

Therefore, if I started getting new enquiries for any of the same 10 dates asking if I was available, the honest answer would be "I don't know...someone else has asked for a disco on that date, but they haven't returned the booking form yet...but they might return it anytime between now & the date of the function this time next year"

That would be a nightmare! If I asked a disco if they were available to do my function & they couldn't tell me, I'd find someone else who COULD tell me!

Here's the bit I wasn't going to post until someone said that...

If I get another enquiry for the date in question I take their details and let them know that I have an enquiry for the date and that I will get back to them, then follow up with the other enquiry to see if they wish to progress - then I put a time stipulation on a deposit, etc.

People don't like to feel rushed or pressured, especially when deciding on wedding suppliers, but they do like to feel like they've beat some other sap to the goods (it's why eBay works) - so I allow market forces to apply pressure for me on popular dates, works well so far.

[rob1963]

If I get another enquiry for the date in question I take their details and let them know that I have an enquiry for the date and that I will get back to them, then follow up with the other enquiry to see if they wish to progress - then I put a time stipulation on a deposit, etc.

Al,

It's fine if you want to do it that way, but it means that you can't give an immediate answer to the person making the second enquiry (with my 14 day rule, I can) and it also means you're creating extra work for yourself as you're having to do more chasing up.

I also think it's more professional to be able to give someone an instant answer when they ask about your availability, instead of having to say "I don't know at the moment...someone wanted a booking for the same date, but they haven't returned the form, so I don't know if they want to go ahead or not. I'll try & get hold of them to find out, then I'll let you know as soon as I can"

[PropellerHeadCase]

Wouldn't you have to do that anyway if you get another enquiry within the 14 days? And what about a booking that comes in a day or two late, and it's been a hold up at Royal Mail?

Anyway, my point was that on the few occasions that it happens the second caller places more value on booking you because they know you might already be booked, and the first enquirer is forced to make a decision but you're not really the one giving them the hurry up.

As you say, it depends on how you want to run your business, but I've found this way works well.

[CRAZY K]

Wouldn't you have to do that anyway if you get another enquiry within the 14 days? And what about a booking that comes in a day or two late, and it's been a hold up at Royal Mail?

Anyway, my point was that on the few occasions that it happens the second caller places more value on booking you because they know you might already be booked, and the first enquirer is forced to make a decision but you're not really the one giving them the hurry up.

As you say, it depends on how you want to run your business, but I've found this way works well.

If someone has "booked" you but not sent back the stuff reasonably quickly
then theres a question mark.

I usually get on the phone or email and ask if theres a problem ( even if there isnt another customer after the date)

Had one this week where client had gone and booked someone else and not told us:eek:

There were perfectly good reasons for this which I wont go into but basically it annoys me people dont at least tell you,

CRAZY K

[colinm345]

Hi Will,

The following is from my own t & c, which seems to cover what you want:

1) When requesting a booking, the client will be sent a booking form. This must be completed, signed and returned with a £50 deposit within fourteen days. Please make all cheques payable to ROB JAMES ENTERTAINMENT. Upon receipt, we will send a booking confirmation letter.

2) If the booking form and deposit are not received within fourteen days of the date when the booking was requested, we reserve the right to accept other bookings.

Hope this helps.

You are welcome to use it as a starting point & amend it for your own use.

:)

Like that Rob ,save for the fact it could be called a reservation fee rather than a deposit?:)

[rob1963]

Like that Rob ,save for the fact it could be called a reservation fee rather than a deposit?:)

Thanks Colin.

Some people call it a deposit, some call it a reservation fee & some call it a booking fee.

Regardless of what you decide to call it, it's still basically the same thing - a non-refundable up front payment to secure the booking.

I've never had any problems with calling it a deposit, so I see no reason to change.

As the saying goes, if it ain't broke.....

[Corabar Steve]

Let's not get into the what do I call my deposit / booking fee / reservation fee again, we only did that a week or so ago.

[colinm345]

Sorry ,but I did not see it I was only trying to make a suggestion:(

[CRAZY K]

Thanks Colin.

Some people call it a deposit, some call it a reservation fee & some call it a booking fee.

Regardless of what you decide to call it, it's still basically the same thing - a non-refundable up front payment to secure the booking.

I've never had any problems with calling it a deposit, so I see no reason to change.

As the saying goes, if it ain't broke.....

Until they ask for it back Rob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which happened to me--but the client in the conversation said something like--well I know its a non refundable booking fee BUT ----------

So they knew they really had no chance of getting it back--which they didnt:D

Wonder what they would have said if it was a plain old deposit?

CAN I HAVE MY DEPOSIT BACK AS IM NOT GOING AHEAD---ERRR WHY NOT?

Not wishing to go on anymore--but maybe you can see where im coming from.

Out the goodness of my heart:D I agreed to offset it against a booking next
year--if it ever happens--oh look some flying Pink Elephants :)

CRAZY K