Venue Charging for toilet flooding

^Yep. What does your contract say?

What does the contract say? If your insurance has a deductible then that has to be met. But it is really up to the venue. Ask for a reciept for any charges they bill you for

Definitely check your contract. Did you get any wedding insurance as well?

Here's what it says:

The total cost for use of (venue) and its facilities described in this contract is $$$$. To reserve services on the date requested (Venue) requires this contract be signed by both

parties and an initial deposit of $$$$. The remainder of the deposit is due 30 days

prior to the event date. Deposits and payments will be made by money order or bank

check made payable to (venue) on the schedule noted below. A

receipt from (venue) will be provided for each. There will be a

$$$ cash cleaning/small damage deposit collected prior to the start of the

rehearsal. If the rehearsal is held at a different location then the cleaning deposit will be

due prior to the start of any activities on the day of the event. The $$$ cash

cleaning deposit will be refunded when all facilities are inspected by (venue), at the end of the event, and deemed clean.

Second what all PP said, but I would think that a toilet overflowing would cost much less than $1000.

Looks like it's in the contract that they have a deposit to keep/spend on damages/repairs from the toilet incident.

And this part:

(venue) does not accept any

responsibility for damage to or loss of any articles or property left at (venue) prior to, during or after the event. The CLIENT agrees to be responsible for

any damage done to (venue) by the CLIENT, his/her guests,

invitees, employees or other agents under the CLIENT’s control. Further, (venue) shall not be liable for any loss, damage or injury of any kind or character

to any person or property caused by or arising from any act or omission of the CLIENT,

or any of his/her guests, invitees, employees or other agents from any accident or

casualty occasioned by the failure of the CLIENT to maintain the premises in a safe

condition or arising from any other cause. The CLIENT, as a material part of the

consideration of this agreement, hereby waives on its behalf all claims and demands

against (venue) for any such loss, damage, or injury of the CLIENT,

and hereby agrees to indemnify and hold (venue) free and harmless

from all liability for any such loss, damage or injury to other persons, and from all costs

and expenses arising there from, including but not limited to attorney fees.

But does that include a toilet getting clogged? Wondering if anyone has ran into this. Also, mind you that the bathrooms were in a trailer. Not actual toilets. So how do we know that they are functioning correctly?

Toilets being clogged isn't an unusual occurrence, but work experience is telling me that this clog had to have gone above and beyond normal for them to charge you for it.

I would ask for an estimate/breakdown of the damages.

I don't think a clogged toilet falls under damages-if it were to overflow and damage tile/drywall or something else then maybe, or if your guest flushed something odd that caused the clog that might be damages. Toilets clog, it seems more like wear and tear/normal use.

I'm thinking that it might depend on the cause of the overflow. If your guests did nothing wrong, I don't see how you could be liable. On the other hand, if someone stuffed anything down the toilet that doesn't belong there, you could be at fault.

I would want some proof from them about the cause of the overflow.

The challenge is, right or wrong, they have your money. You would probably have to go to small debt court to get it back.

Damage to toilets would be damage to the venue, which you are responsible for under that phrasing of the contract.

I would bring in someone to get an estimate, not go by their quote. They are seriously upcharging you if they think 1k is legit.

Looks like you have to pay. Our insurance didn't come with that hefty a deductible.

Based on the contract they can keep the deposit. It doesn't matter if the damage done is $50 or $5000, damage was done.

That's super shitty, OP! I hope you can get this resolved.

Thank you! I haven't received an actual number from the venue yet. I just wanted to get some opinions and thoughts about it before we got too far. I have left a message for my insurance and also emailed the venue for the updated price breakdown. I appreciate the help!

On another note, I talked to my day of planner. She notified the venue and she only got "the toilet" and the venue owner stopped her and said I'm on it. Went and got the tools before actually checking it. My planner said it looked liked something that had happened before.

I see what you did there, GymRat.

@GymRat