Need advice on post-wedding issue that''s come up...

[newbie124]

OK, so I was informed by our rental company this week that apparently 6 of our rented linens were missing from the returned items. They talked to our DOC and the hotel and they were only able to locate 1 linen. They think what happened is that the hotel staff member who broke down the tables that belonged to the hotel also took the linens b/c they look similar to ones that the hotel owns.

However, after talking to the housekeeping department and also checking their storage rooms, apparently the other 5 never turned up.

So now the rental company says they need to close out our contract and will be charging us the replacement fee for the linens (at $45 each!) They will refund the fee if the linens are found later and returned, but will subtract an extended rental fee that the linen company charges.

I just talked to our DOC and she said she''s going to call the others again b/c she can''t imagine how only 1 linen was found and the other 5 just went missing.

This is frustrating b/c obviously the loss of these linens was not our fault. We hired other people to take care of this stuff for us. But I don''t know if we should be looking for reimbursement from our DOC or the hotel? Should I try disputing the charge through my credit card company? I don''t know if that''d work, though, b/c it is a fact that the rental company didn''t get their property back and we were the ones who they were directly dealing with...

Are we just going to have to suck this up? Ugh...sucks to have these things to think about after getting back from an otherwise "perfect" wedding

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I am sorry this happened...that''s horrible, and expensive! Have you discussed maybe having the hotel covering the charges since more than likely they are there?

I think you should keep calling the hotel, maybe they will pop up hopefully. I will surely keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[princesss]

So it seems like you hire a DOC to make sure everything runs smoothly.

1) Is it in your DOC''s contract that they were supposed to supervise set up/take down? Because if so, it seems like you should be able to deduct this cost from what you''re paying them.

2) If the answer to the above is no, I think you will have to pay the fee, and then if the linens show up, ask whoever finds them (probably the hotel) to reimburse you for the long term rental fee or whatever they call it.

 

[Mediterranean]

All good advice.

Only thing I would add is, do you know where you can source the linens yourself? If you can find a wholesaler for the missing 5, it may be less than $45.....unless they''re custom-made, it shouldn''t be impossible to source.

 

[newbie124]

We just got the standard poly linens. I''m not sure if they''d let us source our own...I guess it might be worth asking although it might be more of a pain than it''s worth

Part of our DOC''s "duties" was to supervise all of the breakdown, which she did. Both her and the hotel''s contracts just state that they''re not responsible for damages to property, but neither specifically states anything about loss. I feel, though, that it might be harder to convince the hotel to reimburse us, although it''s more likely it was actually the fault of one of their staff.

Any suggestions for the best way to ask for or imply that we should be reimbursed?

 

[AmberGretchen]

Newbie - I think you just have to come right out with it to the hotel. Ask to speak to whoever was coordinating your wedding, and if that doesn''t work, then try for a manager. If it were me, I''d be very assertive on this - you don''t want to let it go, and honestly, if they really put up a fight, I''d threaten (and be willing) to post negative feedback/reviews of the hotel anywhere and everywhere I could. I would think that their reputation would be worth way more to them than the amount to reimburse the linen company.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 4/24/2009 8:57:14 PM
Author: newbie124
We just got the standard poly linens. I''m not sure if they''d let us source our own...I guess it might be worth asking although it might be more of a pain than it''s worth

Part of our DOC''s ''duties'' was to supervise all of the breakdown, which she did. Both her and the hotel''s contracts just state that they''re not responsible for damages to property, but neither specifically states anything about loss. I feel, though, that it might be harder to convince the hotel to reimburse us, although it''s more likely it was actually the fault of one of their staff.

Any suggestions for the best way to ask for or imply that we should be reimbursed?

I''m not good at confrontation...so I''d probably just go with the flow.

But, if I was braver, I would probably just flat out ask. The worst thing they can say is "no"...but at least you tried, right?

Was your DOC through the hotel or was she private? If she was private, I could imagine her probably putting up a bigger fight, $250.00 is a lot of money to loose on a wedding, so I''d start with the hotel. Call the catering manager and just lay it out...tell them that you''re extremely unhappy because this has nothing to do with you and yet you''re going to be held responsible. Let them know that you were so thrilled with your wedding and would love to recommend them in the future, but this is a genuine deal breaker.

 

[newbie124]

Thanks everybody. I hate confrontations, too, but I also really don''t like the idea of being stuck w/ a nearly $300 bill for something we weren''t responsible for!

I think I''ll take everyone''s suggestion of approaching the hotel first. And in fact, I just talked to our DOC (she was hired privately) and apparently our caterer told her that apparently one of their staff members actually SAW the hotel employee pick up the linens and take them with him. So now we actually have an eyewitness so hopefully that will help our case...

 

[meresal]

Date: 4/26/2009 3:10:09 PM
Author: newbie124
Thanks everybody. I hate confrontations, too, but I also really don''t like the idea of being stuck w/ a nearly $300 bill for something we weren''t responsible for!

I think I''ll take everyone''s suggestion of approaching the hotel first. And in fact, I just talked to our DOC (she was hired privately) and apparently our caterer told her that apparently one of their staff members actually SAW the hotel employee pick up the linens and take them with him. So now we actually have an eyewitness so hopefully that will help our case...

Newbie... I know this isn''t what you want to hear, but technically you are responsible. They were rented under your family''s name and CC, so eventhough it was the DOC''s job to supervise, unless it''s in her or the hotel''s contract to cover any losses, it is still ultimately YOUR responsibility that everything is returned.

I have a feeling you are probably going to have to eat the cost. I would do like others have said and keep hounding the hotel, it''s probably the only place that would possibly be willing to accept fault. Your DOC should have been counting them as they were returned/packaged and should have made everyone there THAT evening, find the linens. I''m sorry this happened to you.