Cancellations

[CRAZY K]

It never rains---just pours

Answerphone message left Saturday---called by a clients wife to say were cancelling Saturday---no reason --no request to ring them--very rude I thought!

Rang through and they said our Barns flooded so we are not having the Party-explained that I had turned a speciifc job away and passed it on and now as a result im losing a nights work.

They are not in a flooded area or anywhere near as far as I know--could have happened some other time.

She thought the "deposit" covered it:eek:

Non refundable booking fee she means:eek:

I had to control my inital instinct to say---whaaaaaat--- and asked her to get the client ( husband ) to ring me. He booked it.

My Contract plainly shows the cancellation fee and my covering letter clearly points it out and draws their attention to it.

Do any of you verbally confirm the cancellation fee every time before agreeing to accept a booking?

I think I will have to in future--I thought a letter and a Contract would be sufficient---appparently not for some people :eek:

Imagine the Catering people--I bet they will be happy with a £50 deposit---NOT :bang:

I just give up with people thinking they can cancel at 6 days notice and pay b..... all!

I suppose getting paid 14 days in advance is the answer in future.

What do you think--would people in Gloucester ask for their money back though?

Might be asking for THAT link to the Debt Recovery service ;)

CRAZY K

[BeerFunk]

Well.... I would say if you are turning other work away, then you should make sure that you have a sufficient amount up front, an amount which you will be happy with if the gig is cancelled. Or alternatively - payment in full 14 days beforehand, as you mentioned. It's the only way to prevent this from happening again, really :(

[Danno13]

I was sent this link by "Guides for brides" (whoever they are..) today..

http://www.guidesforbrides.co.uk/information/planning-your-wedding-_28/-legal-financial-and-insurance-_106/insurance-_47flood-update-23707-_cont361.html

Basically, they should have insurance to cover this, and it seems most policies are paying out, so they shouldn't have a problem paying you and claiming it back off the insurance.

[rob1963]

My Contract plainly shows the cancellation fee and my covering letter clearly points it out and draws their attention to it.

Do any of you verbally confirm the cancellation fee every time before agreeing to accept a booking?

CRAZY K

Crazy,

One of my terms & conditions states:

"If the client cancels a booking one month or more before the function date, the deposit will not be refunded, although it will be held against any future booking with us. If the client cancels a booking within one month of the function date, the full outstanding balance will become due"

I've never had a booking cancelled within a month, so have never been in the position where I have to request full payment for a gig that didn't happen.

I certainly don't verbally confirm the cancellation fee when I take a booking, as I don't feel it's necessary.

After all, the terms & conditions are shown on my site & a copy is sent out with the booking form. The clients have to sign the booking form to say that they've read & understood the terms & they agree to abide by them...so I think I'm pretty well covered!

[PropellerHeadCase]

Do any of you verbally confirm the cancellation fee every time before agreeing to accept a booking?

I think I will have to in future--I thought a letter and a Contract would be sufficient---appparently not for some people :eek:

I would strongly advise against belabouring the point verbally. It sounds really negative and could give your client reason to believe that you're the one planning to do the cancelling. So long as it is in the contract that they've signed (and in signing are confirming that it is read and understood) then if they haven't read and understood it (which is usually the case) they have no out and you are covered.

It sounds a little underhanded and shady, I know, but you can't be expected to re-iterate every aspect of your contract that might need to be invoked. So long as the terms are reasonable (and such a 'late cancellation' policy IS reasonable), then carry on as you have been.


<today's lesson>The world would be a better place, and there'd be far fewer bankrupted and dead people if everyone took the time to read contracts and user manuals.</today's lesson>

[DJ Frankie]

My cover letter states that a non refundable deposit of £50 is to be paid to secure the booking and the remaining balance of £*** is to be paid 2 weeks prior to the event, this way you dont loose out. :(

[CRAZY K]

I would strongly advise against belabouring the point verbally. It sounds really negative and could give your client reason to believe that you're the one planning to do the cancelling. So long as it is in the contract that they've signed (and in signing are confirming that it is read and understood) then if they haven't read and understood it (which is usually the case) they have no out and you are covered.

It sounds a little underhanded and shady, I know, but you can't be expected to re-iterate every aspect of your contract that might need to be invoked. So long as the terms are reasonable (and such a 'late cancellation' policy IS reasonable), then carry on as you have been.


<today's lesson>The world would be a better place, and there'd be far fewer bankrupted and dead people if everyone took the time to read contracts and user manuals.</today's lesson>

Thanks Rob and Al.

My contract is a single sheet of paper and at the bottom has 2 conditions one of them confirms the cancellation terms clearly===its pointed out also in the covering letter.

30days or less cancellation is the fee less an amount saved on travelling.

I agree raising this issue probably puts a negative spin on it---but then again maybe shows people that we are business like and they will be dealing with professionals--

I guess Holiday companies for example dont mention this on the phone( never do to me) because they expect any half wit to know that if you cancel these things at short notice you wont walk away for nothing.

Maybe it will put off the less than committed interested punters--who I dont want anyway.

I had a problem this week with a guy who ran a business and couldnt understand why we would charge full fee if his party was rained off in 2 weeks time--

Because his business was the sort where he could do the job next Thursday instead of a specified date if it was delayed he couldnt relate to the concept.

Anyway --it was a take it or leave it conversation---- so he took it after I pointed out he could have his party in the house---doh!

The point I will be making to these people who have cancelled me (when and if they return my call) is how you would like it if I phoned up the week before
and said I was cancelling cos I had been offered a lot more money elsewhere?

Well I cant do that because im committed by contract to work for them.

Its a two way thing --seems to me people want it all their own way these days--

Ah well---time to start drafting my first ever threatening letter for a cancellation, MOST PEOPLE say the cheque is on its way-

CRAZY K

[jamesh]

hmmm tricky one really but only if they really have been flooded... Having just been through a weekend of cancellations due to flooding it's hard to say whats for the best....

In my contract it states that cancellation up 30 days before the function still requires full payment - Cancellations before this time they just loose their £100 booking confirmation fee. I also have this on the booking form as most people can't be bothered to read the terms and conditions and just sign where it says to sign anyway. Then should it come up and they cancel for a cheaper option or for any other reason i can point out that it clearly stated it on their booking form AND in the terms and conditions.

But as i say it really is a tricky one especially if they really have been flooded.

Why not phone the venue and ask if they really have been flooded. At least that will give you something to go back to the client with.

[CRAZY K]

hmmm tricky one really but only if they really have been flooded... Having just been through a weekend of cancellations due to flooding it's hard to say whats for the best....

In my contract it states that cancellation up 30 days before the function still requires full payment - Cancellations before this time they just loose their £100 booking confirmation fee. I also have this on the booking form as most people can't be bothered to read the terms and conditions and just sign where it says to sign anyway. Then should it come up and they cancel for a cheaper option or for any other reason i can point out that it clearly stated it on their booking form AND in the terms and conditions.

But as i say it really is a tricky one especially if they really have been flooded.

Why not phone the venue and ask if they really have been flooded. At least that will give you something to go back to the client with.

Thanks James--its held on their own Farm Land where they have a Barn.

I did a gig there in the middle of winter in a Marquee when it was absolutely freezing so im surprised they cant just get rid of the excess water--being fairly adaptable types of people.

As I recall its on a fairly high piece of land nowhere near a River so I think its just heavy rain ---which could happen at any time basically anywhere.

The wife said--oh everyone is flooded out --as in England --I said ---NO were covering lots of functions where theres no trouble-and in Dazs case where there is trouble:D

Sounds like its an excuse to me because they have decided to cancel what was supposed to be a family "social" event--

Im not expecting a phone call back that I requested from the husband who booked it--I thought they were reasonable people but im not so sure now.

If they dont ring me its the warning phone call next Monday followed by the Invoice for cancellation within 14 days --then on to the legal bit----I really dont see why I should lose money when I think they are trying it on.

If they lived in Gloucestershire I might have more sympathy.

The venue is Lincolnshire and whilst I know theres been trouble in towns this is not in any of the main towns, I COULD PHONE THE LOCAL PUB AND ASK THEM I GUESS.

To me this is no different to having a fire in the Barn--bad luck but not my fault.

Probably what grates is that the last gig I did in their Marquee in the middle of freezing weather meant I had to provide masses of mains cables and generally help them out of a big mess.

This is the thanks you get--:eek:

CRAZY K