Reclaim a wedding deposit when a supplier cancels
When a wedding supplier cancels on you, whether it is the photographer, venue, caterer, florist or band, the deposit you paid does not belong to them. They broke the contract, so the usual rules about non-refundable deposits do not protect them. This guide is for couples whose supplier cancelled or pulled out, leaving them out of pocket and scrambling. If you were the one who cancelled, the position is different, but a supplier who walks away owes you your money back.
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When a supplier cancels on you, they are in breach of contract. A deposit is an advance payment toward a service, and a supplier who fails to provide that service cannot keep your money. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, and a cancellation by the supplier means they have failed to perform at all, entitling you to a full refund of your deposit. You may also be able to claim the extra cost of booking a replacement at short notice as damages for breach of contract. If you paid the deposit on a credit card and the booking had a cash price over £100 and up to £30,000, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your card provider equally liable, so you can claim from them directly. A debit card deposit may be recoverable through chargeback.
Step by step
- 1Save everything that proves the booking and the cancellation: the contract or booking confirmation, proof of your deposit payment, and the message where the supplier cancelled.
- 2Write to the supplier requesting a full refund of your deposit, stating that as they cancelled they are in breach of contract and cannot retain money for a service they will not provide. Give them 14 days.
- 3If you had to book a more expensive replacement, set out that extra cost and claim it as well, since you are entitled to be put back in the position you would have been in.
- 4If they refuse, raise a Section 75 claim with your credit card provider, or a chargeback with your bank if you paid by debit card, and prepare a small claims case for the balance if needed.
What they'll say, and your comeback
“The deposit was clearly marked non-refundable.”
Comeback, A non-refundable deposit only protects the supplier when the customer cancels. As you cancelled on me, you are in breach of contract and cannot rely on that clause to keep my money.
“We had to cancel for reasons beyond our control, so it is not our fault.”
Comeback, Whatever the reason, you have not provided the service I paid a deposit for. I am entitled to a refund of money paid for a service that will not be delivered.
“We will only move your deposit to a different date.”
Comeback, I did not agree to a new date, and a credit I cannot use is not a remedy. As you cancelled, I am entitled to my deposit back in money.
FAQ
Can I claim more than just the deposit back?
Yes. If the supplier cancelling forced you to book a replacement at a higher price, you can claim that extra cost as damages for breach of contract, on top of recovering your deposit.
What if the supplier has gone out of business?
Chasing them directly may be hopeless, but a Section 75 claim against your credit card provider still stands even when the supplier has folded, which is exactly the situation it is designed for.
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Reclaim it now, free →More money you might be owed
- UKHow to get a refund for a faulty product (even 'out of policy')
- UK / EUHow to get a refund when your order never arrived
- EUResolve a cross-border online purchase dispute (ECC-Net)
- SpainCómo reclamar la devolución por un producto defectuoso en España
- PortugalDevolução de produto com defeito em Portugal
- FranceProduit défectueux : garantie légale de conformité en France
A self-serve tool, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice.