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amihohu
Beginner September 2013

Sweetie cart supplier disappeared, argh!

amihohu, 25 August, 2013 at 22:56 Posted on Planning 0 17

So, I booked and paid for in full a sweetie cart for our wedding in 3 weeks (booked it in March). Over the past week the supplier has been getting some bad feedback on her FB page (she apparently cancelled on a bride at 9am on her wedding day, not sure what the service was, as she also does venue decoration etc), she has said she is suffering from depression so is struggling with bookings at the moment. I messaged her to say I was concerned and would my booking still be ok. She messaged back to say it would be fine, however the FB page has now been taken down.... I'm worried that she is just not going to be reliable. We are supposed to be using the sweetie buffet as our favours, and have made up personalised bags with a sweetie poem on them for place names, so without a sweetie buffet, we're a bit screwed ?

I have found another company locally that have said they are free and can do it, so I'm tempted to book with them. Thing is, what do you think the chances of getting a refund from the original women are? She did say on her FB page a couple of days ago that she would give refunds to people who cancel, however, in her Ts & Cs it does say no refund if cancelled within 8 weeks to go. I'm not sure if our wedding insurance would cover something like this, or only if she goes bust/we keep the booking and she doesn't turn up?

17 replies

Latest activity by morristobe, 29 August, 2013 at 08:47
  • *Ducky*
    Beginner July 2012
    *Ducky* ·
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    I booked a chocolate fountain on a whim at a wedding show and paid in full.

    A couple of days before the wedding I tried to cktact the man to confirm times and venues. Turned out he had gone to prison for fraud!!

    I obviously never got a refund from him and found a llay minute suitable (and better!) alternative. You may have more luck getting a refund as at least you can contact the woman. If a sweet cart is important to you I would rebook and try and get your money back. Or claim on your wedding incidence if she is being difficult bug you have met all her T&cs.

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  • mariannechuaphotography
    mariannechuaphotography ·
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    On the upside at least it's not something key like the dress! Considering that your reasons for terminating the contract are because you don't feel sure she can fulfill the service, I would try and get a refund, you might lose a deposit but that's better than nothing. Or you could just wait it out, perhaps she'll feel better nearer your date and it will go off without a hitch. I wonder if they were relatively cheap, I've seen a lot of stories kicking around recently of people being let down by their suppliers and it's always the case that they service was ridiculously cheap to begin with.

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  • mickeyandminnie
    Beginner July 2015
    mickeyandminnie ·
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    I know the supplier you are talking about and her FB hasn't been taken down.

    I have seen the messages she's been putting on Fb and i must admit i did think it was so unprofessional what she was saying. You don't need to tell your customers your personal life - you can just say im not well etc.

    I would contact her, tell her that due to other feedback that you are nervous she will not fulfil the contract and that you would be willing to cancel with full refund to ease up pressure on her. See what happens.

    Unless she folds in the next week or so or cancels herself or doesn't turn up, i cant see an insurance company paying out but its worth a phone call to get exactly what you'd need

    I'd also keep the messages to emails and not FB as im not sure this would be classed as formal communication.

    Hope you get it sorted xx

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  • amihohu
    Beginner September 2013
    amihohu ·
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    Have just seen this morning its back up, but yeah, have emailed her the above pretty much! Her last Facebook message has said she's not replying to anything until tomorrow mind!

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  • mum-wants-a-hat
    Beginner June 2013
    mum-wants-a-hat ·
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    Oh dear... This sounds very much like a 'lady' (I use the term loosly) from my area. She had a bridal bouquet and left brides devastated and was eventually pretty much Facebook mobbed into shutting business. She then reappeared under a different name doing all things weddingy and taking bookings and payment for candy carts, again letting couples down on their big day without warning. The candy cart wasn't even hers, it was my friends!

    Not alot I can suggest other than going with the other supplier or going to the cash and carry and stocking up on sweets of your choice- cheaper and can easily be displayed in dishes.

    Good luck xx

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  • Peter
    Peter ·
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    Or even MORE important Marianne...the photographer!!!?

    Seriously though, the dress will be with the bride well before the wedding day.....its the suppliers on the day that give brides worries like this...

    At my own wedding, the car company let us down 3 hours before the ceremony. Fortunately, due to contacts, I was able to get a replacement in time....

    Peter

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  • amihohu
    Beginner September 2013
    amihohu ·
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    Oh dear it's not looking good! https://www.facebook.com/ALITTLEBITBLING/app_168151469879028

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  • M
    Beginner September 2013
    morristobe ·
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    Hi chick

    I'm also using this company for my wedding on the 14th September! She is supposed to by supplying my candy cart, postbox and backdrop. I must admit I am anxious about the whole situation, however since day 1 I have had really good communication with her. I contacted her last week and she said she was suffering with depression, but was still ok to fulfill my booking. As it's nothing 'major' i'm sticking with her and if she doesn't turn up or anything goes wrong then i'll claim through my insurance. I have spent alot of money with on these items but with the short amount of time left before my wedding I haven't really got the time to be re-arranging things.

    She did post on facebook that she will give full refunds if you put your request in writing and post it to her! Although by the time she receives it, sorts out the bank transfer etc you may not be left with much time.

    Let me know if you hear anything else from her. Good luck whatever you decide x

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  • mariannechuaphotography
    mariannechuaphotography ·
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    Oh that's the same company I have heard of that people are saying on fb there were some concerns, I don't know the detailed story though, maybe join some of the kent wedding groups, I think a few of their other clients were in there and can probably update you with what they know.

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  • amihohu
    Beginner September 2013
    amihohu ·
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    Oh dear Smiley atonished Thing is, I have a feeling she is outsourcing her bookings, and maybe not paying those people. I didn't see about the refunds, just the bit about cancelling via post. I messaged her to confirm this was correct and how to get a refund, she said I could cancel via post but completely ignored the bit about refunds..... If you look on her 'contact' page, there seem to be quite a few people who haven't been paid!

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  • amihohu
    Beginner September 2013
    amihohu ·
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    Would you mind pointing me to some of the groups please? ?

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  • mickeyandminnie
    Beginner July 2015
    mickeyandminnie ·
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    Will you insurance pay out if its not a legitimate company? they don't appear to be registered with companies house...

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  • amihohu
    Beginner September 2013
    amihohu ·
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    I'm not sure... if we leave it booked with her and she doesn't turn up, then I presume they will. If we cancel she has said she'll do refunds, but judging from other peoples comments on her page I wouldn't hold my breath... Thing is, in her contract we are past the date for a full refund with cancellation, so I imagine she might just fall back to that. I'm not sure if insurance will pay out for a non-registered company or for 'losing faith' in a company....

    Saying that, I can't remember off the top of my head what our excess is on the insurance, may not be worth it anyway ?

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  • Forever Wedding Dance
    Rockstar September 2013
    Forever Wedding Dance ·
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    I have seen this company crop up a lot on the Facebook group 'Brides Tying The Knot' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bridesonlytyingtheknot/?hc_location=stream including something posted up only today by a very unhappy customer (it's under photos as it's a screen dump). Not good news but I hope at least you can get some more information - good luck with it!

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  • overtherainbow
    overtherainbow ·
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    Just want to mention that if she is a sole trader which a lot of businesses are in the wedding industry, you don't have to register with Companies House. You only need to do this if you are a limited company. Fingers crossed that she comes good for you though.

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  • mariannechuaphotography
    mariannechuaphotography ·
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    I've emailed you the FB groups btw through the contact link on hitched. There's a fb group just dedicated to helping with the company closure with 299 members :s

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  • amihohu
    Beginner September 2013
    amihohu ·
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    Crazy Smiley atonished Thanks though!

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  • M
    Beginner September 2013
    morristobe ·
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    Uhohima - Did you manage to find anything out? xx

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