Catering Bill... 8 Years Later, What Would You Do?
Lounge By alicegop Updated 1 Aug 2007 , 6:25pm by cakeatopia
Tell him you will review the bill and get back to him in 2015
YES!! I almost wet myself laughing over this! It is the absolute PERFECT reply to him!
This is the perfect reply. Rich, really rich! (and I would LOVE to see his reaction)
It would be the perfect end to a perfectly weird problem.
JoJoMick
He told me that he was just covering his costs... which I am sure in his mind he thinks he is.
Yes, but not covering all costs he might have incurred since the day you got married!!
He told me that he was just covering his costs... which I am sure in his mind he thinks he is.
Yes, but not covering all costs he might have incurred since the day you got married!!
LOL, that was a good one!!!
Seriously, tell him you need an itemized bill or you cannot and will not pay it. The whole thing is just ridiculous.
Katie- if that wedding was within the last year, I would send the bride another copy of the topper bill, and just note that this is a reminder, you still have a balance.
I just wanted to say that I almost never visit the lounge, since I don't get a lot of time on CC, but I have come back since I am now hooked on this thread and can't wait to find out what happens!
It might be helpful to have a sit down with all three of you. That way you can bow out of it and your dad and the caterer can work it out.
In Eastern PA where I live, for that many people, a catered buffet luncheon for $4K would be reasonable.
I would say to do what you do with any old debt that someone is trying to collect (whether you owe it or not, you can be rid of it hanging over you).
Settle it for pennies on the dollar. Offer to pay $400 or $800 or anything you and/or your dad agree on up to $1500 or whatever. Have a discussion with the caterer and explain that you technically don't owe any of it after this amount of time, but you did use materials and services and you think he should get something.
However, don't hand over a dime until he signs something stating that the account is paid in full. You don't want your payment legitimizing his ability to continue to go after you for whatever amount he seems to remember you owe. Then go back to enjoying life.
Just my opinion. I would feel a little sick every time I thought about the situation if it wasn't settled in some way. Integrity is worth a few bucks at least ---Though I admit you don't technically owe anything at this point and it would not be wrong for you to refuse payment.
okay so this was 8yrs ago. Your dad is older. Is he even working anymore? Could he shell out $4000 at this point? I got married 10yrs ago--we planned on paying for things ourselves, but then parents started writing checks. My father is retired now--not sure I could just ask him for that kind of $$$ out of the blue. Having 3 kids myself, $4000 is a yrs' tuition for my preKer.
My lawyer hubby says after 8yrs..........the issue should be null at this point. It should have been settled YEARS ago. I think he is hurting for $ and all. What would have happened if you were out of the area, would he have tracked you down still? I agree, it does all sound fishy. How many others has this happened to with him being the caterer? My sister borrowed $ from my piggy bank 30yrs ago. she never paid it back, can I go after her AND get interest? lol
My lawyer hubby says after 8yrs..........the issue should be null at this point.
And I say, for all the pages of opinions on this, there's your expert opinion right there!!! Nothing else needs said .... this statement says it all.
I use to work at this little hole in the wall. Food is awesome but the owner is a bit... crazy. I had him cater my wedding (food was great but late, but I worked there I know that he is always late with his catering orders) and he also ordered all the rental stuff (plates and whatnot) since he got a discount since he is a caterer. I asked him for a price many many times before the wedding and he kept putting it off and didn't give me one. Grrr. Then after the wedding he told me "come in on Wed and we'll go over all the receipts..." so I came at the time he told me and then he looked at me like I was crazy for coming in during the lunch hour (seriously that is when he said to come) and told me he was too busy that I should eat and come back another time. This same story played out a few more times.....
Everyone told me that he wasn't going to charge me that he was making it my gift, but I know him, I told them I would be getting the bill and....
So anyway I got married in January of 1999 (you didn't read that wrong) and about 2 years ago he tells me he has the bill ready
. I told him my dad was willing and ready to pay for the bill in 1999 and he would have to contact my dad for payment. So I gave him my dad's info... he never called or anything.So last week (this is 8 and a half years later) he again is telling me he has the bill and actually gives me an amount this time. It is a reasonable amount ($4000 which includes the rentals) but my dad isn't willing to pay this 8 years later. First he doesn't have 4 grand just lying around and second he thinks it is too late for this guy to give us a bill. (to demo how crazy the owner is, he told me he was waiting for me to have my first baby to give me the bill.... HUH? How does it make sense to wait until I have a baby to give me a large bill... besides he had wanted to give me the bill right away he just didn't do it....arrgggh. OH and FYI I just had my THIRD baby 2 weeks ago!)
I am the sole breadwinner, my husband is a stay at home dad and I have 3 kids so it really is unreasonable for the owner to think that I am going to pay the bill, especially when my dad was totally willing and ready to pay for the bill EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS AGO! The owner is my friend though, even though he is crazy.......
What would you do??
I agree with your dad...I would pay anything 8 years later. If he initially was doing this as a gift why would he then charge besides he should have gotten a payment well within the 2 year after the service was rendered. I dont think he can sue either since its been well over the statue of limitation.
And here's another point: My Dad owned 2 companies. He always felt for the young guy who was trying to start out and always issued credit. Wll, many of these businneses were either slow paying or went under. Isn't there a rule of thumb that most new companies will, if they are, go under if they don't see some kind of profit within 2-3yrs?
Anyways, my dad always wrote it off within the 2yrs if the people could not pay or they moved on. One time I made the mistake and did not add teh totals correctly on the books--everything was done with pencil and adding machine--it was for about $500--my dad just wrote it off and ate the loss.
You don't hang onto debt for THAT long.
If it REALLY bugs your conscious, I'd settle with a $1000--write a check(as proof) and be sure to write Paid in full or final payment--tell him to take it or leave it if he keeps bugging you.
I know you got his services and all, but come on--8 years!!! And how mean was it to think he'd wait till you had your first baby--was it so he knew you were going to stay in the marriage. You have 3 right? What was he waiting for? And what if, God forbid, you had fertility problems. OMG--that makes me mad just typing this. Wait for your 1st child to be born--oh when there is all kinds of expenses--my deductible was $5000 and I had a c/section so there were some expenses that we had to cover and all.
Something is not being told to you in this whole story.
I think I would have laughed when he started the conversation.
And don't let him even try to charge interest. He was a bonehead for not having his books straight.
geesh!
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