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Lollypoptee
Beginner November 2008

Videographer has cancelled our booking with 7 WEEKS TO GO!!!

Lollypoptee, 11 September, 2008 at 14:38 Posted on Planning 0 28

Rec'd this email today... any advice? How am I going to get another one in such little time. Would my insurance cover any additional cost do you think?

I have some quite strong doubts that our company is going to be in a financial position to be able to renew our insurance before your wedding, which would mean that we would not be allowed to film inside Ashridge, and we should not be filming any weddings without insurance. Our company has been struggling financially this year due to the high cost of fuel and energy and because several customers have defaulted on their payments to us. We have a very busy December, which will help us bounce back, and then very strong sales right from the beginning of next year, however this is too late for your wedding. We have been very very close to having to close down our business and we are continuing to struggle through a difficult time. We no longer feel that we may need to close the business because we our selling our car and some other assets, and I am getting a full-time job and making the business a part-time business now. Because your wedding will take place in a time when we have no other bookings for almost a month on either side of it, our income is at it's lowest level for the year, so this makes the situation difficult.

As you can imagine, it has been our intention to operate as normal throughout the year, however we have been let down by several customers that have been unable to pay, which has hit us quite hard, financially. I hope you understand.

As there is now only 7 weeks or so until your wedding and still time to organise another videographer, and I still have doubts that our company will be in a position to renew our insurance in time, I think the safest decision to safeguard your wedding video will be for us to cancel the booking that you have made with us, and for us to refund all of your money in full. You should shortly receive an email from WorldPay to say that your £100 booking fee has been refunded. I will also cancel the automatic payment for the remaining balance, which would normally be processed on the 1st of October.

I am sorry to have to make this decision, but I hope that you agree with me that making this decision now, rather than hoping (and possibly failing) to get the insurance nearer the time of your wedding, will give you time to find someone who will certainly be able to provide the proof of insurance, and to ensure that you get your wedding video.

28 replies

Latest activity by Mintyslippers, 13 September, 2008 at 16:17
  • L
    Beginner August 2010
    louisep ·
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    Oh my god you poor thing, i would get in touch with your wedding insurance asap to find out if they will cover any extra costs that you may incur. they may also have a list of photographers in your area that they could recommend.

    where are you getting married?

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  • D
    Beginner May 2009
    Damiana ·
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    Didnt want to r&r, and really sorry to hear that. where are you, there may be HIBs here that can help

    Good luck!

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    Thanks ladies. I am just so stunned by it all now as only read the email an hour ago.

    I am going to call the insurance company when I get home tonight.

    We are getting married in Berkhamsted on 1st Nov.

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  • penguin1977
    Beginner
    penguin1977 ·
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    Hey date twin. What a complete pain - how much had you paid them? Was it just the £100? Are you likely to incur any extra costs as a result?

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    Hi Penguin! We paid them the deposit of £100 and the balance was due on 1st October. So, we have that back but...

    If we manage to find someone else (what are the chances?!) then they would probably be more expensive, as we booked the videographer when he had an offer on. We dont have any spare money in the budget to cover this now if we secure one at a higher rate. ARGH!

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  • penguin1977
    Beginner
    penguin1977 ·
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    I'm surprised your original videographer hasn't arranged for someone else to do it at the same price as a goodwill gesture - that would make up for the inconvience!

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  • KJX
    Beginner August 2005
    KJX ·
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    What a ball ache for you - hopefully someone on here will be able to help.

    And what a shame for the Company - must be gutting to have something you have worked hard for go under like that. At least he did the decent thing and let you know.

    Good luck with getting it sorted.

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    Well, rang the insurance company. As he has paid me back the deposit and I have not 'lost' anything, I cannot claim for anything. hey ho!

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  • Mintyslippers
    Mintyslippers ·
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    Chances of finding somone else should be quite high as its not peak season.

    Have a search on www.visualbride.co.uk its a great big directory of videographers and photographers. infact quite a few in the hitched directory as well.

    good luck!

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  • D
    Super November 2008
    donnaj36 ·
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    Hiya date twin

    what a nightmare. I`m sure if you check out other companies, you`ll find something. as someone said, it`s off season so you should be ok. will the insurance definately not cover you for the cost of replacing the videographer with a more expensive one if you have to-it isnt your fault that this has happened, so by rights they should (but then this is an insurance company we`re talking about)

    hope you get it sorted.

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  • dreammachine
    dreammachine ·
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    My sympathies to both you and the struggling video company.

    I'd be wary of booking anyone based on online showreels. These are usually best bits of weddings with a good music track and can be misleading.

    There are plenty of wedding shows coming up this month, so I'd call in and have a chat with a few video operators. That way you can check out their 'complete' weddings and also negotiate a deal for the coverage you want.

    Best of luck!?

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    Sorry to hear that but I'm sure we can find you someone else. I'll email you a few good ones who may be able to help. x

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  • bookgirl
    Dedicated June 2007
    bookgirl ·
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    It is a disappointment but I'm not sure if you can claim on the insurance - after all they are refunding you in full so you've not lost any money.

    Can you post here where you are - there may be B2Bs or smug marrieds in your area who can recommend their videographers? 7 weeks is 1st weekend in November, isn't it? Not really peak season so you might get lucky.

    Good luck.

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  • ebee
    Beginner January 2008
    ebee ·
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    If you're near Glasgow I might be able to help ?

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  • Mintyslippers
    Mintyslippers ·
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    Online showreels are a great way to find a good videographer. I see a lot of people with really poor showreels and if this is the best they can produce then what on earth will the final thing look like?

    Many people including ourselves dont really use showereels anymore. They use actual, delivered products.What if the final DVD was as snappy, fun, enjoyable and moving as that highlight you saw? Wouldnt that be just the most fantastic thing ever?

    Wedding fayres are great but very limited. Ourself and many other modern videographers don't do wedding fayres. Infact every wedding fayre ive visited tend to have 1-2 videographers and often the type who give the rest of us the "cheesey, boring, nothing but black and white" name. We get all of our business by the web and will never ever do a wedding fayre again.

    As I said before, it may be short notice until your wedding day but there are pleanty available and some are not half bad.

    Visualbride.co.uk really is a great place to start. Findyour area and search through until you find somone in your price range. Click the button to enquire if they are available and you should be ok.

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  • Mintyslippers
    Mintyslippers ·
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    Lol, good point. Lollypoptee, whats your location and budget as other brides maybe able to recommend somone.

    Also try in the Just Married forums. Here are typically your brides to bee but there you can find some recommendations from newly weds.

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    Thanks for all the advice ladies/gents.

    I really would like to meet someone face to face, I just seem to be so booked up between now and the wedding I don't know where to start!

    The wedding is at Ashridge Business School in Berkhamsted on the 1st Nov so if any HIBS are available please feel free to email me!

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    Hiya

    I've texted the details of someone to you. I've worked with him a few times and he's really good but quite quiet - which is probably a good thing for a videographer!

    He is currently available on the date and works in our area.

    Are you sure you don't want an OTDC? ?

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    Thanks Debs! You make me laugh with your little winks!

    Will go check my phone!

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    Hey Debs! Have you sent the text yet? I don't seem to have rec'd it.

    Thanks

    Lx

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    I sent it ages ago! It must be going the long way round!

    I'll email you the link to their website. ? (makes a change from winks!)

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    Okay, I've emailed you.

    I know you said you would like to meet them face to face, but to be honest, it's not that important with a videographer. They won't be talking to you in the same way as a photographer does on the day - they will just be following you around and sticking a camera in your face!

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    LOL! debs - that is the one who cancelled! Did he tell you he was free?!

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    Oh no! Yes he said he had another enquiry for that date but that he was free at the moment!

    Oh bum! Back to the drawing board!

    I'll email you some more tomorrow. Sorry!

    Now if you had an OTDC, they'd sort this out for you..............

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  • Lollypoptee
    Beginner November 2008
    Lollypoptee ·
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    LOL! Cheeky git! What a total arse!

    Tbh, I think he doesn't have any insurance, and when we asked him for a copy as Ashridge wanted it, he said he had never been asked for it before. Ashridge will not let him work without a copy of it, so I think this is why he has cancelled our booking.

    Why would he say he was free?! Surely he cannot film at all without insurance etc?

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    I'm not impressed and he will now be going on my blacklist!

    We'll get you one sorted - I've got plenty more contacts but I happened to have his number on my mobile so I just texted him straight away.

    I'll be on the case tomorrow. Don't panic.

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  • DebbieD
    DebbieD ·
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    Hiya

    I've emailed you another 2. I'll text you as well.

    Debs xx

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  • Mintyslippers
    Mintyslippers ·
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    I think your right, no insurance at all. Not sure why he would say he doesnt think he can renew in time. Its the same as car insurance, we bought online, paid and you print off a cover note. Docs come in the post within a few days. No ones ever asked to see it but its always there in the bag.

    You found anyone yet?

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