AG Gets Wedding Venue To Give Refunds For COVID Cancellations

CENTRAL VALLEY, NY — Couples who were refused refunds when their weddings were canceled because of COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns will be seeing money returned to them.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday her office recovered more than $40,000 in refunds for New Yorkers whose events were canceled at the Falkirk Estate & County Club in Central Valley.

Couples had reported the club wouldn't give them their deposits back when the restrictions on large gatherings went into effect.

In an agreement with Falkirk, the venue will repay two couples $18,300 and provide additional refunds payments for any other individuals who made deposits between June 26, 2020, and May 19, 2021, and were denied refunds.

James said the agreement gives joy and money back to those who were unfairly denied refunds for their canceled weddings.

"Although the pandemic forced many couples to cancel their weddings," she said, "they shouldn't have been left waiting at the altar for their refunds.

James said she encourages anyone who paid a deposit but was denied a refund for a canceled event to call her office.

The attorney general's office received complaints from couples that Falkirk refused to refund their deposits.

In a letter, the club claimed it used the deposits to fund the venue's operations instead of earmarking it for the couples' events.

Following previous negotiations with James's office, Falkirk already returned $22,500 to two couples for their canceled weddings.

Individuals have 180 days from the date of the agreement was signed to submit a request for a refund.

Contact Assistant Attorney General Cheryl Lee at 845-485-3925 to submit a request for a refund.