Fraudsters preying on brides threaten to ruin dream weddings

Happy couples planning their weddings have been warned of scammers who offer services but then do not deliver on the big day.

The cost of a wedding is on average around £30,000, and brides and grooms are increasingly becoming targets for the fraudsters.

Couples need to be careful of legitimate businesses going bust before their wedding day, which is always a risk when booking months or even years in advance.

Take care with Caterers, reception venues and travel companies

Trading standards officials say couples should make sure photographers, caterers, reception venues, travel companies and others which take large deposits will still be there when the big day arrives, Gloucestershire Live reports.

Images: short wedding dresses online

Many of these services require booking several months in advance, with an immediate obligation to pay a deposit or even the full balance, making them fertile ground for fraudsters.

Trading standards say that, although most of the companies which run their businesses entirely via social media sites, offering a low-cost service, are genuine, couples need to be careful.

Some may not be insured and some may even be fraudulent.

‘Too good to be true’

A spokesman said: “If something appears too good to be true, it probably is.

“Always take precautions and research that the options available are genuine when spending large sums of money on services.”

Being aware of the potential risks and following the following prevention advice could minimise the likelihood of fraud

Six steps to stop you falling victim to the fraudsters

1 Obtain a physical address and contact details for the vendor and verify this information. This will allow the opportunity to make a complaint to Trading Standards or consider pursuing via the Small Claims Court.

2 Obtain a contract before paying money for services. Fully read and understand what is offered before applying a signature and note the terms of cancellation.

3 Consider purchasing wedding insurance – policies vary in cover and can be purchased up to two years in advance. They can provide protection from eventualities not covered under the Consumer Credit Act.

4 Research each vendor, ensuring they represent a bona fide person or company. Explore the internet for reviews and ratings and ask the vendor to provide details of past clients you can speak to. This course of action is recommended by trading standards officers even if companies have been proposed by a trustworthy friend or source.

5 For services such as wedding photography, beware of websites using fake images. Look for inconsistencies in style, meet the photographer and ask to view sample albums.

6 Pay by credit card. This provides protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for single item purchases above £100 and below £30,000. Even if a company goes into liquidation before the big day, a refund can be claimed through the credit card company.

Related: http://www.sheindressau.com/backless-wedding-dresses-au

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