We hosted a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant for yds’s wedding a couple of weeks ago. We made a $xxx deposit on May 1st when we hired them and at the end of the dinner on rehearsal night, I conferred with the host, counted and agreed on empty wine bottles together, I inquired about the gratuity being included (it was) and he presented me with the bill which I paid by c.c. Otherwise, there was no written contract or agreement. Alas, I do not have an itemized receipt.
Now…since yds had been in touch with them at the end with how many people were coming and they have his contact info, they have contacted him saying we owe more money! I kid you not. Even though I feel badly if the guy made a mistake, he presented me with a bill that I paid and I consider it a done deal. Dh is a softy and said he’d probably send the money. Yds did work it out, itemized it and said maybe we really did underpay. But what the heck? That’s not my fault. IMO. What do you think? What would you do??? I feel vaguely guilty, of course. But what kind of business tries to “shake you down” after the fact like this?
Why in the world is the place contacting your son instead of you? That’s not cool. I would likely contact them and ask for a specific accounting and ask why the change? Did they find a case of empty bottles moved to the back or what? I’d want to know why I owed more later before paying or not.
It makes no sense that the venue contacted anyone but the person (you) who they had a contract with. They had to have had your contact information, and you are the person who they had the contract with and who paid the bill. I would contact the manager/owner/your contact person to find out what happened and why there is a late additional bill. It might be legitimate, but they should have contacted YOU about it.
They should have called you, not him. But perhaps the party was reserved in his name?
That being said, mistakes happen. Yours was in not asking for an itemized bill. Theirs was missing something on that bill, apparently. Did they perhaps charge per person expected but who did not show? Some places are up front about charging for reserved guests whether they show or don’t.
Mistakes happen. I would ask for an accounting and if I owed it i’d pay.
If it was a server’s mistake understand that the money will come out of their meager pay. Agree you should ask for a full accounting and pay if the mistake was honestly made.
She stated there was no contract/agreement. Perhaps the venue was working through the daughter regarding number of attendees, food, etc.? Why wouldn’t you try to determine if a mistake was made and pay the difference? Since there is no contract I assume this was all handled verbally and mistakes can be made when there are multiple people having conversations that are not documented.
The first bill we got from our wedding venue was not correct…under by several thousand dollars. We paid, of course.
I would call the place and verify the reason for the additional charge. It is very possible they made an error. Talk to the highest person on the food chain (no pun intended) at the place. Explain that YOU already went through the numbers and thought you had paid in full. See what their explanation is for additional costs.
“Yds did work it out, itemized it and said maybe we really did underpay. But what the heck? That’s not my fault”.
I’d be a bit ticked as you are but I’d pay it if owed. Mistakes do happen. If your son worked it out and thinks you owe it then pay it. Then forget it. (What would your son think about you if you don’t pay?)
What is WDYT?
And who is yds? Young dear son? Not recognizing some of these abbreviations. Could be due to lack of first coffee of the morning.
WDYT is what do you think. I don’t know about yds.
If the initial bill had been presented to you for the total amount they are now trying to charge and you agreed with the itemization of the costs you would have paid it right? So while I can appreciate the frustration of thinking it was one cost but now finding out it’s another I’m not sure I’d take the approach of trying to find a reason not to pay the additional charge (again assuming they can articulate to you what it’s for and you agree that it’s legitimate).
LOL. I have no idea what a yds is! I figured out WDYT (yay, me) I really can’t stand the current way of “talking”.
Young Democratic Socialist?
Yale Divinity Society?
Yorkshire Dialect Society?
Yosemite Decimal System?
Yogi Divine Society?
OP here. I spoke with the chef/host and will pay the difference. He made a simple mistake in tallying up. I don’t like it but I don’t want to feel guilty. They were very accomodating and attentive and the food was excellent.
So Yds?
Yes, I’d pay. It’s the same as if I bought a pile of clothing and they forgot to ring up my chartreuse velvet bell bottoms. Just like if they charged me for two pair by mistake and I discovered the error when I got home, I expect they’d correct it when I went back about it.
“my chartreuse velvet bell bottoms.”
See you over on the “bag a week” thread!
I thought she paid for a rehearsal dinner for ME! I’m OG yds. 
Yds is youngest dear son. Sorry.
@VaBluebird I think you did the kind (and right) thing. I am sure it took a lot for the restaurant to call and admit that they messed up. You were very gracious in paying the additional amount.
Almost all restaurants operate on a very small margin. By paying them, you may have helped them stay open.
From the OP, it sounds like the groom (yds) made the arrangements and was the contact person. The restaurant likely did not have @VaBluebird contact info.