About fifteen brides-to-be and grooms have filed lawsuits against Chalet des Érables, a reception hall north of Montreal, which allegedly refused to refund deposits made during the pandemic.
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The JE show revealed on Friday that customers lost thousands of dollars and experienced a real ordeal after trusting the Saint-Hyacinthe champagne boutique to get their dream dress. But it's not just the clothes that can give future spouses headaches.
Gabriel Saint-Hilaire and Esther Vandal from Repentigny wanted to celebrate their wedding a second time with their loved ones at the Chalet des Érables in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines. So they made an initial deposit of $2,300 toward a total bill of nearly $13,000 for the wedding scheduled for June 2020.
Credits: Screenshot EVER
But the pandemic thwarted their plans and the couple was forced to postpone the celebration. In the fall of 2022, the future husband contacted the reception room to find a free date for 2023. But surprise: the prices are no longer the same!
“The chapel went from $495 to $1,500. The room, from $1200 to $3500. Of course, the rest of the menu has also been expanded. All in all, the bill passed [qui était] about $12,000 to $21,000 and even more,” he explains.
Given the situation, the couple asked to end the contract. He also wants to find the $2,300 deposited four years ago. But the Chalet des Érables refuses. The case was brought to small claims court in early 2023.
Camille Latreille and Mathieu Chouinard from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu had a similar experience. The couple, who were scheduled to get married at Chalet des Érables on October 3, 2020, wanted to cancel their ceremony due to the pandemic. And get a refund of the $12,000 you paid up front.
Screenshot provided by JE
The reception room refused. Given the situation, the couple filed a small claims lawsuit. The defendant did not appear in court and the judge ordered Chalet des Érables to pay almost $9,000 to the future bride and groom.
A refund is required
It is clear to the Consumer Protection Agency that Chalet des Érables should have refunded these customers.
“If the consumer decided overnight to cancel their wedding, the restaurateur would not be able to keep the deposit,” explains spokesman Charles Tanguay.
“Of course, if the merchant has failed to provide the service or provided it poorly or has closed its stores, the consumer has the right to request a full refund,” he continues.
A storm”
In a statement to the JE Show, the owner of the Chalet des Érables was keen to recall the particular context in which these events occurred.
“This pandemic has been an unprecedented event on a global scale. Neither our precious couples nor our team were prepared to weather this storm, one of the most difficult for the hospitality industry, but especially for the events industry,” wrote Daniel Laurin.
Screenshot by JE
He claims to have acted with “the utmost compassion” toward the soon-to-be bride and groom during this time, even though his company had “no source of income” and still had to meet its financial obligations.
“Our intentions were always good and respectful,” assured Mr. Laurin.
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