Can I Get Refunded for My Wedding Rental?, By Christopher Elliott

FEATURED COLUMNIST Can I Get Refunded for My Wedding Rental?

By Christopher Elliott

The COVID-19 outbreak cancels Mike Feehrer’s wedding. But Relics Rental, a wedding rental business, wants to keep the $3,534 he paid. Can it do that? •••

Ineed your help getting a refund of $3,534 from Relics Rentals, a wedding rental business. The State of Illinois closed all restaurants and bars last March. Our wedding, which was scheduled for March 28, was canceled. We still got married, but just with a priest and no reception.

I called Relic Rentals, but it would not provide a refund. A representative offered a $3,534 credit for that amount to be used over the next year or a refund of our deposit, which is about 50 percent of the total amount.

I explained that I would not have an occasion to use the credit. The representative said the business had “damages and costs” associated with providing the services. My fiancé, Amy, spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Relic Rentals.

The representative also claimed other wedding vendor companies were not giving refunds. That’s not true. All our vendors, including our caterer, florist and hotel, have all issued full refunds.

I propose a full refund, less $250, to compensate the company for the time. I think that’s a fair solution. But when I call the company, it just goes to voicemail. Can you help me?

— Mike Feehrer, Plainfield, Ill. •••

I’m sorry about your canceled wedding. In a situation like this, I believe the business should offer either a credit or a full refund. And you’ve already tied the knot, so it’s not like you’re going to have a big ceremony anytime soon.

As I read the correspondence between you and Relic Rentals, I could see both sides. You’re trying to keep your money during a challenging economy. Relic wants to protect its business.

We’ve seen this countless times in the last year. A company tries to hold its customers to original agreements even in the face of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. And it doesn’t always end well.

I should note that Relic Rentals was accommodating when it offered to refund your deposit or give you a one-year credit. Its normal policy is no refunds or credits, according to its website. And you agreed to that policy when you paid your deposit.

As a reader, I sympathize with Relic and wish it the best of luck in getting through the pandemic. But as a consumer advocate, I believe its refund policy is, well — a relic.

I contacted the company on your behalf. Jan Oelke, the owner, responded.

“While current events have obviously required dramatic alteration to long-developed plans for weddings and events, those engagements and clients have been the recipients of time, work and resources to date,” she told me. “It is the policy of Relics Rentals to work with the client in rescheduling or postponing their rental reservation. However, simply canceling an event and refusing to reschedule or postpone is not a requirement of the current environment and it does fall under the cancellation portion of our standard policy as outlined in our contract.”

Oelke said the company offered other clients a credit for future rentals and services, valid 365 days from their original event date. She offered you two options: Either a credit or a 50 percent refund of the total rental reservation.

You filed a credit card dispute under the Fair Credit Billing Act, but your bank sided with the merchant. You received a $1,767 refund from Relics Rentals. n •••

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@ elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at http://www.elliott.org/help

“Capitola Notes” from page 18

Residents and return visitors appreciate the continuity and familiarity of these businesses, some open for over 50 years.

“As a visitor to my grandmother’s cottage for 25 years, I made the move to Capitola permanently in 1968 to care for her. I opened the Craft Gallery in 1969. My 6-year-old daughter, Daun, helped out. She is now my partner in the business and her son, Brandon, works in the store. We often have customers who remark that they started visiting the store as children or teenagers with their families and now are bringing the next generation to Capitola Village.” — Carin Hanna, Capitola City Council member 1978-82 and business owner.

Nearly 70 percent of all the walk-in establishments in the Village, from hair salons to jewelry stores, are owned or run by women. The strong spirit of Capitola is a tribute to women entrepreneurship.

One of Capitola’s early businesswomen was Patty Reed Lewis. She and her children moved to Capitola in 1888 where she took over management of the Capitola Park Hotel for F. A. Hihn.

As a child, Lewis was a member of the Donner Party that became trapped by a Sierra blizzard in the winter of 1846-1847. In Capitola, she was highly respected as an innkeeper and used her notoriety to draw visitors to the town and to her inn.

The Capitola Park Hotel, later known as the Lewis House, was located in the McCormick District of Capitola near where New Brighton Middle School is today. For a while, Lewis also ran the Hotel Capitola down by the beach. The family was also involved in establishing the Episcopal Church in Capitola.

Her son, Frazier Lewis, was Capitola’s first postmaster and later became famous as a candy maker.

Women-Owned Businesses

Another unique feature adds to the ambiance of the Village, 12 independently owned women’s clothing and apparel stores such as Mia Bella, owned by DeeDee Wilson.

“Our goal is to make you feel confident,” says store owner DeeDee Wilson, by providing you the styles that truly compliment who you are because we want every person to embrace who they are as an individual because personal style comes from within.”

More at www.MiaBellaBoutique.com

Another new business popping up in Capitola is Cheese Shop 831 Tasting Room.

“I could not be more grateful to be a member of this community,” said store owner Jillian Pirolo. “Opening a business during a pandemic could have easily turned out as a disaster, but people have been so supportive. They are the reason we are surviving, and hopefully thrive! I look forward to giving back and making the community proud. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and we will get there together.”

More at https://www.cheeseshop831.com/ •••

As we all continue to wear masks, socially distance and follow CDC guidelines, I am optimistic we will see our City recover. Please continue to support our local businesses and one another. n •••

I am hosting a series of Town Halls; visit our website for information: https://www. cityofcapitola.org/cityadministration/page/ meetings-w-mayor-series. If you have any questions feel free to email me at brooksforcity council@gmail.com.