A young Aussie who paid a $500 booking fee at a popular Sydney restaurant claimed she was ‘ripped off’ after she and her friends turned up that day to find the venue closed.
PR worker Lucy Finter, 27, racked up more than 260,000 views after detailing the frustrating saga on her TikTok account.
The Australian expat who now lives in London recalled how she booked a “bottomless brunch” for herself and a dozen friends at a “very renowned” restaurant in Bondi for December 29 and paid a $500 deposit.
Ms Finter claimed she even received an email the day before she confirmed the booking.
“I come to this venue on the day, to a place that is completely closed, the fans are going, the tables and chairs are all packed up,” she explained.
“I just thought something had gone very wrong or something had happened to the owner and they were going to contact me.”
Ms. Finter declined to name the restaurant, saying she wasn’t “that stupid” and that they “didn’t answer her anyway.”
Lucy Finter claimed a ‘very reputable’ Sydney restaurant ‘defrauded’ her of a $500 deposit by closing on the day it was meant to host her and a dozen friends
Ms Finter was embarrassed by the incident but says the group managed to find another location nearby.
She claims her $500 deposit has yet to be refunded, despite repeatedly calling and texting the restaurant.
“I reported them to the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) and left a nasty review,” Ms Finter said.
However, she said the restaurant replied on Instagram that this was not their normal way of communicating.
“Pass me my $500,” Mrs. Finter said.
After her TikTok went viral, Ms Finter claimed she was contacted by the restaurant owner and they were ‘looking into it’.
Despite being promised an immediate refund, there was no further contact, she claimed.
‘I was home visiting family from abroad, so I definitely missed that $500. “I’m also thankful that I didn’t ask all my friends to transfer me when I paid the deposit because then they would have been stuck in the mess too,” she said. news.com.au
The Australian expat and her friends managed to find another location in Bondi to have brunch (stock photo of Sydneysiders dining in Bondi)
Mrs Finter has now gotten her money back by filing a dispute with the bank.
She described the ordeal as ‘stressful’.
“I’ve never had a company accept a booking, take a deposit, close completely and then go radio silent,” she said.
“I think if they hadn’t taken my money it would have been a different story, but to take $500 and then not respond to me for two weeks is incredibly unprofessional and unfair.”
TikTok viewers were equally outraged, as many offered advice on whether Ms. Finter should handle the saga.
‘Go there. Walk in and demand in your very best Karen voice to speak to the manager!’ one commented.
“Take them to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal,” another suggested.
“I bet as soon as they are notified of the request, your money will be refunded.”
Ms Finter was contacted for further comment.