Complaint Review: Carde Event Coordinating

Despite being unable to deliver services for which we contracted, Carde' Event Coordinating refuses to return our deposit.

During our intitial consultation, Nicolette Carde' represented that she could provide catering services at the wedding/reception location of our choice. Based on her statement, we signed a contract for her event coordination services package, which included catering, and gave her a deposit of $100.

She advised that we should contact the location -- the University of Tampa -- and give them 2 names of caterers with which she was affiliated and which were on UT's 'Approved Vendor List'. Unfortunately, upon doing so, we were advised that ONLY the University caterer (Sodexho) could be utilized.

Upon advising Ms. Carde' of this fact, she tried to salvage the contract by offering 'upgraded' services to reach the contract price. As this would have put us over budget, we told her we would be unable to use her services.

In speaking with an attorney, we were told that as she was unable to perform the contract as agreed upon, the contract was null and void and any deposit should be refunded. The attorney then wrote a letter to Carde' Event Coordinating demanding return of the deposit.

At this date, Carde' Event Coordinating has still not refunded our deposit, citing that the contract states the deposit is non-refundable. A contract which she could not perform.

Royal
Tampa, Florida
U.S.A.