A Cancelled Event - Harrogate

[marcandal]

We were due to exhibit at an event on Saturday and I have just today received a letter stating that they have cancelled the event!!

It was the Mumsworld Christmas Event in Harrogate - I am so annoyed at the mo (just read the letter so will calm down shortly!!) as I have spent a LOT of time getting ready for this and also bought in a lot more stock to take with me and also spent a lot on leaflets and order forms and accessories to decorate the stall!! (it was our first event and wanted it to go well)

I also turned down 2 other events in favour of this one.

Sorry about the moan - just upset at the time and money I have spent on this.

Alison

[Chiggs]

oh, that is annoying- and short notice, too.

Have they said why they are cancelling? I have to say, though, I live in Harrogate (and obviously have an eye open for 'baby' related things!) and I've not heard of the event! What sort of advertising have the organisers done?

[Laura@FYP]

Oh no thats terrible! What kind of notice is that to give!?

I would be very upset too, I know how costly it can be stocking up and preparing for events!

[knotjustjigs]

Crikey that rough! i would be steaming!
Its takes a lots of palling and cost to do events, i hope you have a claim for some sort of compensation?

Ketty x

[marcandal]

Apparently they have had problems with the roof leaking at the venue (this may be true not sure) It was supposed to be at the Ladies College in Harrogate and I had spent ages on it (even done a lucky dip and wrapped all the presents!! - took me hours!!!) Only bought the table covering this morning! And then they say in the letter that my payment can be transfered to next years event - I think I will pass and ask for a refund.

Alison

[Girlzmum]

Can you approach the other fairs and see if they have any stalls available?

[craftynclothy]

I am hopping mad too. Haven't had a letter yet...I found out about it by seeing it marked as Cancelled on Stallfinder :angry-smi123

I too turned down another event so I could do this one and have made stock for it :no:

[partybabe]

I also was booked in for this one, I am not too cross about it though as I double booked myself for that day so at least have an event to fall back on.

So sorry to hear you have gone to a lot of expense Alison, I don't think they would have cancelled it unless they had no choice, I do know the organisers a bit through Usborne and they seem like pretty straight up people.

[marcandal]

Well they are not even replying to any emails - I sent one on Monday asking what time we can arrive (before I knew about this) and they didn't even respond. I have sent them one asking for a refund and they still haven't replied to that email, so I'll wait to see if I do get a refund or not :-(

Alison

[craftynclothy]

Well I've just had an email from them. They claim to have sent me an email earlier but I didn't receive it and I don't have a spam folder - I don't filter my email. They say in the email you can have a refund.

[partybabe]

Oh no, that's not good. I hope you get your refund.
I went to a previous event of theirs and it was ok, tables were a bit crammed in but they did have a lot of people turn up.

I will give the next one a go and take it from there I think.

[Slug]

Hi,
We got a call this afternoon from the organisers asking us to amend the event listing on Stallfinder as there's a hole in the roof of the venue. My husband took the call, haven't got any more details I'm afraid but I think they're pretty upset at having to cancel.
Gail.

[marcandal]

I need some advice please - I emailed them asking for a refund on the same day I got the letter (18th November) - no response, so I wrote to them asking for a refund - no response, sent another 2 emails and they replied to one of them saying they would get the refund sent that day (over a week and a half ago) I have emailed them again asking where it is - no response. What shall I do now cause they are not replying to emails and no refund has arrived. I am totally p****d off with them now!

Thanks
Alison

[craftynclothy]

I haven't got mine yet either :cursin:

[marcandal]

I haven't got mine yet either :cursin:


It is so annoying isn't it - they have had my money for ages and now I don't know what to do - They said the money could be transfered to next years event but I told them I didn't want that, I really don't think next years 'event' will happen and if they can't even refund us it all seems very dodgy to me.

[craftynclothy]

I have sent another email giving 10 working for them to issue my refund before I seek legal advice from my solicitors.

[partybabe]

Oh no, Alison, I am so sorry you are getting messed about (and others). If I see them around as they are local to me, I will mention it, and if I was you I think I would give them a time limit as craftyclothy has, they shouldn't have spent the money before the event in case such a thing happens.

[lajlaj]

Stop emailing them and put it in writing, by recorded delivery or GND so you have a solicitor. Give them 7 days to pay or you will start a claim for reimbursement with the small claims court.

[craftynclothy]

Stop emailing them and put it in writing, by recorded delivery or GND so you have a solicitor. Give them 7 days to pay or you will start a claim for reimbursement with the small claims court.

I am following it up with a letter but was hoping I might get a reply quicker with an email.

[lajlaj]

Stop emailing them and put it in writing, by recorded delivery or GND so you have a solicitor. Give them 7 days to pay or you will start a claim for reimbursement with the small claims court.

Ooops that didn't make sense did it - I was cooking my dinner at the time and doing the kids homework! I meant so that you have a signature not solicitor, sorry!!

[lajlaj]

I am following it up with a letter but was hoping I might get a reply quicker with an email.

They can argue they didn't get your email, lost in cyberspace, caught in spam filters etc etc etc.

Also a RD/GND letter is more official and shows you mean business.

They are no doubt inundated with people wanting refunds and he who shouts loudest often is the one who gets noticed!

[craftynclothy]

See this is what annoys me...they can't have that many refunds to issue (only about 20 stalls) and they had the day of the fair free when they would have been at the fair. Tbh their communication has been appauling. I found out it had been cancelled because I happened to be browsing Stallfinder - they sent me no email. I emailed them to ask whether it was cancelled and they replied saying it was and they'd sent a letter (I haven't had a letter from them & they also claim to have sent an email I didn't receive - I don't believe that they've sent all these and they've got lost). They also said they would carry the fee over to their March event unless I asked for a refund. Now while I can see why they're offering that I think it's a bit unfair for them to keep my money for that amount of time - they haven't issued a refund nor have they sent me a booking confirmation for March and I would have expected them to send one or the other.

I've emailed asking for a refund and had no response as have other people, so I really don't believe that all these emails have gone missing.

[marcandal]

See this is what annoys me...they can't have that many refunds to issue (only about 20 stalls) and they had the day of the fair free when they would have been at the fair. Tbh their communication has been appauling. I found out it had been cancelled because I happened to be browsing Stallfinder - they sent me no email. I emailed them to ask whether it was cancelled and they replied saying it was and they'd sent a letter (I haven't had a letter from them & they also claim to have sent an email I didn't receive - I don't believe that they've sent all these and they've got lost). They also said they would carry the fee over to their March event unless I asked for a refund. Now while I can see why they're offering that I think it's a bit unfair for them to keep my money for that amount of time - they haven't issued a refund nor have they sent me a booking confirmation for March and I would have expected them to send one or the other.

I've emailed asking for a refund and had no response as have other people, so I really don't believe that all these emails have gone missing.

Hi craftynclothy

Just to let you know that we are going to start a claim against them in the small claims court - I will start the ball rolling on the 15th Dec, this gives then enough time to get my letter and respond to it. I think they are disgraceful in what they have done and I certainly will not be recommending them to anyone - they have got everyones money so have made a tidy little sum of money for themselves! And with ref to the event in March - I really don't think it will happen, I think this just gives them more time to keep peoples money (I think there is a time limit on the Small Claims Court, and I am wondering if they are fobbing people off with the March date so it goes past the time they can claim? only a thought) If I don't get my money easily and the event in March does go ahead I fell like going there and confronting them myself for all the hassle they have caused. I am just so pleased it wasn't for a larger amount of money.

Will let you know how I get on.

Alison

[partybabe]

I think I may be asking for a refund too now, not fair how you have all been treated and it doesn't inspire confidence. I would much prefer to have my money back and take it from there.

[craftynclothy]

Well I sent my letter on Thursday morning by recorded first class, that means they should have got it on Friday. I've had no contact from them at all yet. I at least thought they would have emailed.

I absolutely would not book with them ever again. It's the lack of correspondence and general communication that's the issue for me. I feel like they've wrote to some people but not others, emailed some people but not others, ignored emails. It hardly suggests they're capable of running en event.

[partybabe]

My letter requesting a refund went recorded delivery today, so will see what happens and keep you all posted.

[craftynclothy]

UPDATE:

I have managed to contact Nicki via a personal email address I found for her and have had a response. She says she has forwarded my email to Steph as Steph is the one handling refunds. She also says that Steph has not received my recorded delivery letter.

I have replied telling her that at least 2 other people have sent letters via recorded delivery so Steph should perhaps check at her local sorting office. I have also said that we have all emailed too and that my date for receiving the refund before starting small claims proceedings still stands.

[craftynclothy]

Got my refund today :hyper::party05:smiledance20061010:clapping:

[marcandal]

Got my refund today :hyper::party05:smiledance20061010:clapping:

You must have really threatened 'em!!!! I'm still waiting :(

They did email me yesterday to say I will receive it today but hey it never arrived - not that I believed them anyway. I will still have to go down the route of claiming it in the Small claims court - I will start this on Monday.

I did email them AGAIN yesterday to say that I think it is really awful how we have been treated and that they must have made a tidy sum from over 20 people - I did also say they didn't have any intention what so ever of holding the event - they didn't deny this. But I did have a thought and also told them that this is fraud. I am so pleased you have received yours - put it in the bank a.s.a.p!!

Alison

[partybabe]

I have received mine too, so hopefully yours is on the way too Alison. I will try to get to the bank today.

[VirginGoddess]

Have any of you done a mumsworld event since this one was cancelled?

[partybabe]

No, but have started my own events which is something I had always wanted to do - just went in a bit of a different direction to the original plan. They are still running events and they seem to be going without a hitch so maybe it was a one off.

[Chiggs]

Have any of you done a mumsworld event since this one was cancelled?

no, but I did visit the one at the Cairn hotel a couple of months ago