Deposits / insurance

Can you not do a transfer from the credit card? It may incur additional fees, but most will allow for a credit transfer. That way you'll still get the protection x

Surely if it's a reputable venue they would have the facility to pay by CC 🤷‍♀️

Please be careful with this. If you pay by BACS and they go bust or refuse to provide the service, your bank can only claim it back on a best endeavours basis - dependant on funds being available in the account. Using a debit card or credit card offers you chargeback protection with visa and MasterCard. They should have the facility to do at least debit card payments I would imagine, like you say for the bar.

Walk away I'd seriously be concerned at the fact saying bacs as it's so hard to get money back if any issues

I would read what the venue contact includes in regards to money back. Also depends when your getting married I'm sure it won't be too long until wedding insurers start insureing again 🤞

I would steer clear of any company that only accepts BACS payments

I'd find somewhere else. If the venue is big enough to cater weddings no logical reason for them not to have card facilities... also if they don't all your guests will have to carry around large amounts of cash on day to pay for drinks etc. We used credit card and paid 20% deposit

That's a huge deposit!!!

What is a BACS

I find it very strange they don't have a card machine If it's a wedding venue. To me that would be flagging up red. You won't have any protection paying by Bacs.

Ohh interested! We're viewing our venue next weekend so if we put a deposit down, the credit card would be better just in case it went bust following Covid? It's doubtful it would but would rather be safe than sorry! I didn't realise this.

I would t pay BACS it’s the same as cash and you are not covered. Can you do PayPal goods and services. Even my local market stalls take card payments now so I would request this or walk away x

I'm sorry but this sounds dodgy to me. Huge deposit but no cc facilities? Very strange. Is it a new venue?

My venue took £500 deposit to secure the date which was originally 3rd June next year, supposedly "non - transferable". In light of the current situation, we decided to postpone until 2022 and they transfered the deposit. Good luck x

That sounds extremely dodgy to me.

Alot of places cant always take credit card unless your stood infront of them and they can process it on the card machine. Maybe worth asking if you can go in and do the payment on the machine.

Don’t do!! If the company goes bust you won’t be covered, the fact there saying there is no card facility sounds very strange

Use a credit card 100%

Yeah that’s very odd 😕

I work at a hotel and you can pay via credit/ debit card whilst not being there to put in your pin. We send you an authorisation form which you complete and sign. We then have permission to take your funds without you putting your pin in.

I have had a couple book a wedding with us since their original venue closed and as they paid via BACS they have told me they have now lost £5,000?

What about PayPal? They are very good about protecting the consumer. I don't understand any business in this day and age that would not take some form of credit card! Particularly during shutdown places prefer contactless payments. it's not like people walk around with thousands of pounds and their pockets to pay for things...

They most definitely can take card over the phone. They must have a card facility for the bar as most have said and you only need to press one button for the reader to ask for the card details such as long card number, expiry etc. Most likely they know you want to use a credit card so that you can claim it back and deposits are often meant to be non-refundable and non-transferable. They are trying to protect themselves but I wouldn't pay a deposit when you can't get insurance xx

From a business point of view..... and to play devils advocate...... it’s not a given that a business can have a card payment machine! I own a bridal boutique and it was INCREDIBLY hard to get a company to trust us and provide us with a machine when we first opened and equally as difficult when it comes to renewing our contract, if they think that business is in any way in shaky ground they will refuse to provide you with the facility because they are liable for refunds if that business goes bust....... any business taking large deposits like wedding venues, bridal boutiques etc but who then don’t technically provide a service or product for several months later are a HUGE risk!
We could t get anyone to supply a card payment machine for the first 6 months and had to use a PayPal card reader which is crazy expensive! 🤦🏼‍♀️
So just something to consider...... it doesn’t always mean they’re dodgy they may simply not be granted one by the banks! 😔