ComplaintsforRhode Island School of Mixology

• Initial Complaint

  03/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am writing about the events that occurred today 3/24/23. At 9am I received a notice in writing from ******************* that Rebar (RI bartending school) could no longer provide the bartending services outlined in our contract due to inability to obtain necessary licensure/insurance. ******************* is the same representative who planned and executed our contract. This can only be interpreted as breach of contract due to failure to provide contractual services. I attempted to reach *** as **** recommended to obtain the refund of my deposit of $519.36. When my fianc and I spoke to *** at 10:39a, she verbally agreed that she would either obtain the necessary licensure/insurance by 4/16/23 or refund the full deposit. When *** called at 3:33p she confirmed that she would be unable to provide the services agreed to in our contract. She only agreed to refund half of the deposit, but as she breeched the contract, and I have not received and will not receive the contractually obligated services from Rebar due to breech on their end, I am entitled to a full refund, which she refused to provide despite our written contract and verbal agreement.

  Business response

  04/02/2023

  The complaint is being held against us for breach of contract, which is incorrect. So basically what had happened was the bride booked us and did not tell us that we need to book liability insurance until two months before the wedding after we went to go get the liquor liability license. They then came back to us and said, oh by the way you need to have a cash bar you cannot have an open bar which prevents you from being here. So she put down $500 deposit and I told her and our contract does say that there is no refunds because the deposit is used for time that will be working on the wedding. So she made a $500 deposit we were willing even though we have no refund and our contract. We were willing to give 50% back because we have been running around to the state, paying meteors, using gas, getting prices so our time needs to be compensated. She is not happy with not getting a full refund, again I told her its in the contract that there is no refunds she can have the credit for a year but there is no refunds, I am willing to do 50% but she has to pay us for the time that we have used our manpower for.

  So, that's what the complaint is for. So far, ****** has removed the review because they agree with us, the state has removed the review because they agree with us, she does need to compensate us for our time. 

  50% of 250 would be 250 back, that is more than fair for our time that she has wasted and the money we have already put into this. 

   

  Customer response

  04/03/2023

  Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered. 

  ReBar/** Bartending School contracted with me to bartend my wedding at ********************************************** 7/2022.  The venue is run by the government and has required liquor liability insurance for the 20+ years they have been around.  If ReBar wasn't sure whether they had the correct licensing/insurance for the event, they could have contacted the venue and the authorities prior to agreeing to bartend the event.  I am not in the bartending industry, and it is not my responsibility to investigate the vendor's credentials if they agree they can provide a service.  That is the responsibility of the vendor.  Rules and regulations do not change.

  You can see in the attached communications and documents that ReBar was aware of the venue at which they agreed to provide services since I originally contacted them over 10 months prior.  In the contract they did say the deposit was non-refundable, but they also agreed that they could provide bartending services for my wedding.  My wedding is NOT canceled, and because ReBar breached the contract and ReBar canceled, I have had to put time and money into finding a last minute replacement.  When a company breaches the contract, the client is entitled to a full refund of a deposit that was put down in good faith to secure the contractually obligated service.  ***, the owner of ReBar, also verbally agreed on the phone to give us a full refund of the deposit if she could not obtain the licensing/insurance, but changed her mind.  I have also attached the receipt for my deposit, and I cannot and will not be able to receive anything that we agreed to. 

  I do not believe that ****** reviews are a reflection of what is lawful, but I had taken those down myself and just reposted them.  Please see below from the State Board's response:

  "In my conversation with ReBar, question #2 was discussed [ReBar does not purchase the alcoholic beverages to be served, does not sell the beverages to the event attendees and does not charge for the service of the beverages to event attendees]and I made it clear that ReBar cannot purchase and deliver the alcoholic beverages, even if they were to be reimbursed by the event host for the cost. The only entity that can deliver alcoholic beverages is a Class A (liquor store) owner or employees.
  
  Since ReBar is not doing the event that potential violation cannot be addressed. They were put on notice, however, that this type of activity is a violation and if the Department becomes aware of it in the future action could be taken."

  
  Businesses and Customers should be civil, courteous and polite in their responses to complaints. It is important to remain professional and productive when participating in the BBB complaint process.
  
  FAQ
  
  Regards,

  Brea

   

   

  Business response

  04/03/2023

  She withheld information on the liability of insurance needed! We were willing to get the proper licensing got this event and she still wanted to cancel the bartending service. Our contract clearly states there is no refund for events after signed agreement. ****** has taken down all reviews and has agreed that we as a company have acted accordingly. see copies response from ******* Also ** School Of mixology is not even the company that has the contract with the client its our sister company **************** LLC.

   

   

  Thank you for alerting us to certain reviews associated with your ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Profile on ******.
  We found these reviews in violation of ****** policies, so we've made all the removals you asked for. Learn more about our policies.
  Because this request is complete, this email address can't accept replies. We regret any inconvenience.
  You already know that reviews can help customers engage with your business. Did you also know that replying to your reviews can help build customer trust? Learn more about replying to reviews.
  
  Thanks,
  The ****** Support team

  Customer response

  04/03/2023

  Better Business Bureau:I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ********. Please add your rejection comments below; if you do not provide any details, your complaint will be closed as Answered. 

  No information was withheld.  As I am not in the bartending business, I legitimately do not have knowledge of what licenses and insurances are required to provide bartending services.  That is the responsibility of the company providing the bartending services.  In July 2022 we contracted for ReBar to provide bartending services at ********************************************** for my May 2023 wedding.  Prior to contractually agreeing to provide services ReBar should have made sure they had the necessary licensing and insurance.  They could have contacted the venue and/or licensing authorities if they were unsure what was needed to provide bartending services at any time prior to agreeing that they could provide services for my event.  As previously mentioned, ********************************************** is run through the state of Rhode Island and has required liquor liability insurance (a commonly required insurance according to my search) for the 20+ years they have been around.

  As you can also see in our communication in the attached document, ReBar contacted me that they could not provide bartending services for our wedding.  This is breach of contract given that the contract states that they will provide bartending services for our wedding.  It is fraudulent behavior for a business to present the ability to provide a service if that business does not have the licensing/insurance to provide that service.  

  Because I paid a deposit of $519.36 in contract for bartending services for my wedding, and ReBar cannot provide those services, I am entitled to a full refund of this money put down in good faith in exchange for those services, which I have not and will not receive.

  I do not believe ****** reviews have anything to do with whether a business practice is ethical or lawful.

   
  
  Businesses and Customers should be civil, courteous and polite in their responses to complaints. It is important to remain professional and productive when participating in the BBB complaint process.
  
  FAQ
  
  Regards,

  Brea

   

   

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