A gutted couple say they were refused an £8,500 refund for their wedding day which was scrapped due to Covid.
Coreen Marshall and now-husband Christopher were meant to get hitched in June 2020 but the pandemic put a halt to their plans.
The couple, from Bathgate in Edinburgh, were offered an alternative date but refused because the venue was not willing to refund the difference, Edinburgh Live reports.
Their original wedding date, a Saturday during the summer, cost £10,000 and they weren't prepared to trade the prime time spot for a winter weekday.
Coreen explained the couple were not prepared to swap dates if the hotel would not issue the refund.
The couple claim they repeatedly asked the hotel for this option before their attempts at contact being ignored.
They added that legal letters sent by lawyers have also received no response.
Their refund has been refused and they don't ever expect to get the sizeable sum back, Coreen said.
Coreen adds: “We were supposed to get married on the 6th of June 2020 but couldn’t because of a lockdown.
“My initial reaction of the venue was how unorganised the staff were. When we were first sent the wrong contract for our wedding with another couple's name on it.
“It was corrected a couple of times before they sent the correct one and then signed it.
“Then covid-19 came and everything was out of our control.
“The wedding was cancelled and they offered us a later date for a weekday during winter but we had paid for a Saturday in summer which is a lot more expensive.
“I challenged them and asked if they couldn’t provide us for what we asked for then we want a refund.
“We never agreed to sign a contract for the second date they offered which was a Saturday in November, I’m so glad we didn’t sign it.
“They refused to give us a refund, but there is nothing in the contract that states I have to agree to different dates.
“We have lost £8,500 from the company and another £2,500 spent on lawyers after they started to ignore me.
“The lawyer has sent emails and letters which were all ignored then we took it to the Sheriff officers who said that because the company has no assets we won’t be able to sue them or get anything back.
“Every angle is covered so nothing will happen but he can just continue to steal thousands of pounds.
“It's the frustration and impact on my mental health. How can you do this to another person?
“It’s not about this money anymore it's the principle, taking advantage of young vulnerable couples.
“It’s just cruel and wrong.”
The couple switched venues and got married in last November, but say they're still fighting to make sure the venue doesn't do it to anyone else.
The bride says she's received dozens of messages from distressed brides with similar stories about the hotel chain.
