photographer advice please! 7 months from wedding and no photos!

MrsSunshine

We have recently posted our problem regarding our photographer under the photography part of this website.

We came across boards.ie after looking online for others who have had the same problems with this photographer and would appreciate any advice on what we can do from here.

We got married in Dec 2011, our photographer was very helpful before the wedding and of course wanted paid in full before the wedding. We had to hound him to get our thank-you cards. Apart from the photo on the thank-you card we have seen no others. We have emailed him many times as he does not respond to phone calls. He has said a couple of times when we could expect to see our photos online and then nothing. He rarely replies to emails.

We have since came across other couples who have been/ are in the same predicament. The contract says nothing about time scales. We would appreciate any advice on where we stand legally or what we can do in order to get our photos.

Thank you

clint_silver

MrsSunshine wrote: »

We have recently posted our problem regarding our photographer under the photography part of this website.

We came across boards.ie after looking online for others who have had the same problems with this photographer and would appreciate any advice on what we can do from here.

We got married in Dec 2011, our photographer was very helpful before the wedding and of course wanted paid in full before the wedding. We had to hound him to get our thank-you cards. Apart from the photo on the thank-you card we have seen no others. We have emailed him many times as he does not respond to phone calls. He has said a couple of times when we could expect to see our photos online and then nothing. He rarely replies to emails.

We have since came across other couples who have been/ are in the same predicament. The contract says nothing about time scales. We would appreciate any advice on where we stand legally or what we can do in order to get our photos.

Thank you

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer_affairs/consumer_protection/consumer_rights/your_rights_when_you_buy_a_service.html

small claims court.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courts_system/small_claims_court.html

ring, text and mail and tell him youre bringing him to court if you dont get the photos in 1 week. then tell everyone who will listen on every website that could affect him how bad he is. then mail those site posts to him.

You could take it as far as you want. If he complains, ask him was he complaining when he was taking your money for a service that he didnt provide for your wedding that can never be repeated.

Splinters

Unfortunately taking him to court or any other legal option is out the window as there was no time frame in the contracts. Its an unfortunate situation but the reality is he hasnt broken the law or even the terms of the contract if a time frame is not agreed and stated in the contract in the first place. All he has to do is claim the pictures are still in some degree of progress and that fulfils his end of the contract. Its annoying, I know.

The rest of that advice is fine though. As I mentioned on the other thread in the photography forum, call him from another number. I guarentee hes still happy to take calls from new potential customers. Or even if he doesnt answer, have a friend, family member or even better your other half leave a voicemail under the pretence of a new customer and leave a contact number he wouldnt have a record of. I guarentee he'll be in contact then.

Ireland is a small enough place though and by leaving posts like this on this forum and a good few others word will quickly spread of the way he does business. Thats the way to do it, and you'll be hitting him where it hurts.

clint_silver

Unfortunately taking him to court or any other legal option is out the window as there was no time frame in the contracts. Its an unfortunate situation but the reality is he hasnt broken the law or even the terms of the contract if a time frame is not agreed and stated in the contract in the first place. All he has to do is claim the pictures are still in some degree of progress and that fulfils his end of the contract. Its annoying, I know.

who told you he hasnt broken the law? He hasnt provided the service within a reasonable timeframe. Whos to say he isnt going to provide them at all. While yes there was no timeframe specified, he cant hide behind that forever.

I'd still go down the court route. He has your money. he has your photos. He's taken too long, he hasnt a leg to stand on at this stage. The court route is pretty painless by the way.

Either that or find out where he lives and literally go and knock on his door, bring loads of people to just stand there with you, not threatening mind you, just inquisitive as to why he wont asnwer the phone to you seeing as he took your money.
Film it, put it on youtube. Send it to everyone. Make him as pissed off as he's made you.


Youre either serious about getting the photos or not.

Splinters

clint_silver wrote: »

who told you he hasnt broken the law?

The original poster

If a timeframe isnt stated in the contract, then the contract isnt broken. It really is as simple as that.

Dont get me wrong, Im very much on MrsSunshine's side. Im just trying to give as honest and helpful advice as I can.

clint_silver

Splinters wrote: »

The original poster

If a timeframe isnt stated in the contract, then the contract isnt broken. It really is as simple as that.

Dont get me wrong, Im very much on MrsSunshine's side. Im just trying to give as honest and helpful advice as I can.

Ah grand, I wasnt suggesting he had, was wondering how its known for fact that he hadnt.

I would mail him first and ask for an ETA on the photos. If he doesnt reply or reply in a proper timeframe, Mail him back and say youre taking legal advice for suing for undue stress that he has caused and I would go ahead and get that legal advice.

Sale of goods act 1980 says he has to provide the goods or service. If theyre not as expected or faulty, you can send an official letter of complaint to "right the wrong" to the service providor. for me, its "not as expected"
sample letters here
http://www.nca.ie/nca/complaint-template-letter


quick google....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6263595/Couple-sue-wedding-photographer.html


Id still call out to his house. He has the money and is obviously still trading..

MrsSunshine

Thanks everyone for your replies.

We have actually had some legal advice and happily the law is on our side

Although there was no time in the contract with him, the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 does state that 'work must be completed within a reasonable time'.

No photos after 7 months is not likely to be considered reasonable from what we have been advised.

totallegend

MrsSunshine wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies.

We have actually had some legal advice and happily the law is on our side

Although there was no time in the contract with him, the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 does state that 'work must be completed within a reasonable time'.

No photos after 7 months is not likely to be considered reasonable from what we have been advised.

Just before you go writing to him, that Act is UK legislation; the equivalent one in Ireland is the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980, so you need to review your situation in the light of that legislation, unless of course you're in the UK...

MrsSunshine

totallegend wrote: »

Just before you go writing to him, that Act is UK legislation; the equivalent one in Ireland is the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980, so you need to review your situation in the light of that legislation, unless of course you're in the UK...

Yeah should have said, we are in Northern Ireland

Fionn

clint_silver wrote: »

Id still call out to his house. He has the money and is obviously still trading..

yeah thats what i'd recommend along with any other methods of contacting him, face to face is much better than telephones or email etc. failing that I suppose it wouldn't look great for him if you called to an event that he's working at!!!

MrsSunshine

Thank you all so much for your advice and support. Just to update you on our progress we have contacted the photographer who recommended Chris Nelson and she replied to say she now no longer recommends other photographers if she cannot do the work herself.

We have also received legal advice which has explained were we stand legally regarding the act that some of you have mentioned - thankfully we have rights

We were directed towards a film making website that he has and his twitter were he mentions having a wedding to do this week so unfortunately there are still people out there who are going to go through this experience

Unfortunately we still have no photos but we do know were we stand and what he can do from here which makes us feel a lot better.

Thank you all once again, we will keep you posted and will be taking on board a lot of your advice and suggestions

pipsnips

Hi their

We are in the same boat got married start of last year. Could someone pm his address please. not sure what to do.

Many thanks x

Karona

I was in something of a similar predicament, I had gotten photos taken of an extremely important event for me and after 6 months I still had no photos. I rang him, I called to his house and everytime I was being fobbed off. So I got completely ***sed off one day and called to his house demanding my pictures when he told me that oil had somehow gotten onto his camera and that he would have to refund my money.

I couldn't believe it took him 6 months to tell me that!! I really wasn't impressed.

Monty Burnz

Tell him that you will get the word out about him if he does not produce the work he promised. It might concentrate his mind if he sees his business drying up.