Refund from Farrier

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Sillyfish88

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Hey. So about 3 weeks ago I had to have my horse shod. The livery yard were against me using a different farrier ( its complicated). Anyway long story short, I made the farrier aware of the situation as I wanted to cancel him going, he assured me he didnt care about the situation going on in the yard and was going to shoe my horse. But I had to pay before he got to the yard which I did, plus i added as a kindness another 10£ for the hassle.
He ended up being there for 1 hour and a half and they had deliberately moved my horse so he couldn't shoe her so I asked if he could shoe her when she moved.
I managed to move her a week later and send him a text to say that she did on the Thursday was told he would book her . Come Wednesday I still haven't heard anything... Sunday I get a text saying he is on holiday and will book her in the following week. Days go by and I here nothing. Sent another text friday and saturday - nothing.
Today I sent a text asking for a refund for the money so I can reschedule a different farrier.

I get this reply..

Hi Anna, I haven't been ignoring, Iv been getting my work done and been away with the family, havnt been able to rebook you in yet as have work booked in and when people cancel or are having trouble at a yard and the farrier isn't able to do the horse through no fault of his own, it's not as easy to just fit someone in as clients are already booked in with there slots! I'm happy to refund you some of the money, but as I did explain I was there for 1 and half hours trying to get to your horse to be shod, plus the 45 minutes drive there, I'm afraid I'm going to have to charge you for my time! I was told the horse was going to be there and ready and someone to
Hold the horse! The things that's going on between you guys is nothing to do with me, but was a waist of my time.

I was honest with him on the phone from the start and he said he was local from where my livery was..
3 weeks later my horse has still no shoes and I have paid him 90£...
 
when you say they had deliberately moved her so he couldn't shoe her could you just clarify what you mean by this?

I actually think a partial refund is being very generous here and I'd take that and be done with it. He did show up and keep to his side of the business agreement, you didnt present a horse in a manner that made it possible to do his job. I'd agree his time was wasted and he should be compensated.
 
Sounds like there's bigger problems going on here. Your horse is 3 weeks over due to see the farrier due to some yard politics. Therefore the yard are impacting on the welfare of your horse.
Surely you need to move your horse asap.
As for the farrier, a partial refund is very fair, he shouldn't be expected to work for nothing.
 
Sorry I but I think farrier is being entirely reasonable. I also think he’s being honest about not being able to book you in. Most farriers book customers in in advance so he may we’ll have a full diary for the foreseeable future.

I’d reply to the test “That’s very reasonable of you, thank you very much and please accept my apologises for your wasted time”. You may need his services again one day and farriers talk to each other so I think it pays to be polite.
 
I'd like to know why he was there 1 1/2 hours if he couldn't find your horse and what was he doing all that time?
I also would like to know what prevented him getting to her - you say they had moved her, but to where?? I agree with the others I'm afraid in respect of wasting time and being unable to schedule an appointment for you straight away at your new yard.
 
meleeka said:
Sorry I but I think farrier is being entirely reasonable. I also think he’s being honest about not being able to book you in. Most farriers book customers in in advance so he may we’ll have a full diary for the foreseeable future.

I’d reply to the test “That’s very reasonable of you, thank you very much and please accept my apologises for your wasted time”. You may need his services again one day and farriers talk to each other so I think it pays to be polite.
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This seems sensible. It wasn't his fault and he shouldn't have to suffer financially for someone else's actions - it sounds like you need to apologize to the farrier (in a general sense, because you haven't really done anything wrong yourself) for his wasted time and then get onto sorting out the situation with the yard. It sounds bizarre. Can you move? Sounds like a nightmare to be dealing with.
 
I think the farrier is being reasonable but why was the horse moved & why did the farrier there so long? Were the yard staff not around, was the horse in or out? I would want to know what was happening on the yard. It seems very odd indeed?
 
Anyway long story short, I made the farrier aware of the situation as I wanted to cancel him going, he assured me he didnt care about the situation going on in the yard and was going to shoe my horse.
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I dunno, consensus seems to be that the farrier is reasonable, but OP did try to cancel and he insisted on going?
 
I agree with partial refund, as he did have to drive there and wasted his time. The only thing which sounds strange (apart from the original scenario!) is that he was there for 1.5 hours. Depends on how much you like him shoeing your horse as to whether you take that further, but I'd accept the partial refund and move on if you plan to use another farrier.

ETA: I missed the bit about you wanting to cancel. Did you explicitly say that on the phone?
 
meleeka said:
Sorry I but I think farrier is being entirely reasonable. I also think he’s being honest about not being able to book you in. Most farriers book customers in in advance so he may we’ll have a full diary for the foreseeable future.

I’d reply to the text “That’s very reasonable of you, thank you very much and please accept my apologises for your wasted time”. You may need his services again one day and farriers talk to each other so I think it pays to be polite.
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I agree with every single word.
 
Sounds very complicated but ultimately your yard problems are not the farrier's fault. He was willing to try to shoe your horse for you even despite you telling him it might cause problems, he turned up as arranged and was unable to do it. I think you absolutely should pay him for his time. It is a reasonable request. If you really wanted to cancel him, you should have done so, not let him carry on and even pay him in advance! If you knew the yard was going to be a problem why didn't you arrange to be there yourself? You sound like hard work, I can see why he is not prioritising you over other reliable clients.
 
I wouldn't have been quite as blunt as Leandy but are you normally asked to pay upfront, OP?

I've only ever come across clients being asked to pay before the work is done if they have a habit of being late to pay :(

Hope you can get her shod soon.
 
To be honest if it was me I'd forget about the farrier and move the horse ASAP.

Struggling to see why you would keep it there when they deliberately prevented your horse from being shod? Sounds absolutely pathetic.
 
ester said:
but by the people on the yard, presumably to somewhere else on the yard? not by the OP to somewhere less problematic?
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I managed to move her a week later and send him a text to say that she did on the Thursday was told he would book her .
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I think OP has moved yards, if I'm reading correctly?

I should have said, I'd accept the partial refund and be thankful I got that. I wouldn't have dared ask the farrier for a refund in the first place, I'd have taken that up with the YO, seeing as the farrier turned up to do his job and the YO was the one who stopped him doing his work.
 
Nasicus said:
I think OP has moved yards, if I'm reading correctly?

I should have said, I'd accept the partial refund and be thankful I got that. I wouldn't have dared ask the farrier for a refund in the first place, I'd have taken that up with the YO, seeing as the farrier turned up to do his job and the YO was the one who stopped him doing his work.
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see correction :)
 
Farrier is being fair I think. I'd expect nothing but if he wants to refund a partial amount thats more than fair.

He went there and wasted his time, it wasn't his fault. I don't understand why you weren't there and why your horse was hidden? All sounds a bit odd. Can see why he doesn't want to risk it again IMO.
Apologize, be polite and find someone new. As someone else said, farriers talk (a lot!) so keep it friendly.
 
If anything, I'd ask for money back from the yard, as they moved the horse so it couldn't be shod.

What were they thinking?! What kind of yard rules/politics gets in the way of a horse and its welfare? If you have moved away from this yard now, I'd be very glad - I'd be breathing a sigh of relief and I'd be apologizing to the farrier.

Poor horse. And poor farrier!
 
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