NY Attorney General issues consumer alert on wedding service providers

As the wedding season rapidly approaches, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has issued tips to help couples in the state avoid deceptive and fraudulent practices by wedding service providers.

“Planning a wedding should be an enjoyable and exciting experience,” Schneiderman said in a news release. “Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous vendors out there eager to prey upon couples who may already be under a great deal of emotional and financial pressure. Couples planning a wedding should be armed with information that will help them recognize and avoid potential consumer scams.”

The attorney general issued the following tips for consumers who are hiring wedding vendors, such as photographers, videographers, and caterers:

• Use a credit card to pay for products and services as it offers a dispute process that may help protect consumers.
• Check a company’s record with the Better Business Bureau and review any complaint records.
• Insist that the business identify the individual who will be shooting photos at your wedding and make the identity of the photographer part of the contract.
• Check at least three references for weddings that took place within the past three months, because up-to-date references can offer critical insight into a vendor’s recent job performance.
• Review any contract carefully before you sign it.
• Talk to multiple vendors to have more options and a better understanding of the services available before you sign a contract.
• Do not pre-pay in full. Holding back 25 percent of the total cost until you have the products in hand will create a “powerful incentive” for service providers like photographers and videographers to complete the contract.
• Make sure the contract contains due dates for each task, including the pre-bridal photograph, the proof, and the final product.

The attorney general says he encourages consumers who suspect they may have been victimized by an unscrupulous wedding service provider to file a complaint with his office online or to call 1-800-771-7755. 

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