Guys, these are what you would call business risks - how can you expect to be in business without the risk of being in business, So IOW you want the reward but dont want to take on the risk. We write off literally thousands in lost fees a year because people take the work that we do and code it on efiling themselves and SARS has made it easy for them by a click of a button they can transfer the profile from us to them and there is naught we can do about it.

The CPA is to protect the consumer against unscrupulous operators of which there are many and the retail trade are the worst. They dont give the consumer the correct advice, put them in the picture regarding warranties and guaranties so that they can make an informed decision.

Life happens, and I promise you that if you had a good business and a good name you will be able to recover your costs, re hire the venue and be able to only deduct the reasonable wasted costs. If it were me, I would create so much goodwill out of the exercise and ensure that I received at least a referral so that I could occupy the venue for that time. If you played your cards right, you would be able to get that referral and much more.

Businesses need to learn how to leaverage their situations and not take advantage of consumers by being unjustifyibly enriched which is what has been happening in the past.

Just for interest sake the CPA does not take on cases where there is no case so there is fairness involved. If you get a reference number for a complaint, then you know you have a valid complaint.