Imagine booking a brunch for you and your friends at a popular restaurant, only to show up and find it closed.
That’s exactly what happened to Lucy Finter, a 27-year-old PR worker from London.
She had booked a girls’ bottomless brunch for 12 friends at a restaurant in Bondi, but when they arrived, the restaurant was “completely shut” and no one was answering the phones.
The Booking and the Blunder
Lucy had paid a $500 deposit and received an email confirmation the day before the booking.
She thought something must have gone terribly wrong, and the owner would get in touch to explain and refund her money.
@notactuallylucy Anyone else owed money by a famous Bondi restaurant ?? #bondi #bondibeach #bondirestaurant #sydney #scam #sydneyscam #bondibar #bar ♬ original sound – Lucy Finter
But as the days went by, she heard nothing. She sent emails and direct messages on Instagram, but the restaurant didn’t respond.
Feeling Scammed and Frustrated
Lucy felt like she had been “scammed” out of her money. She left a review and sent multiple messages, but the only response she got was a reply to one of her direct messages, asking her to send an email instead.
“I don’t care what platform you use to communicate,” she said. “Give me my $500 back!”
A Viral TikTok and a Half-Baked Apology
When Lucy shared her story on TikTok, it went viral, amassing over 200,000 views.
The owner of the restaurant finally got in touch, claiming they were “looking into it” and promising a refund. But that was just a hollow promise – Lucy still hasn’t received her money back.
A Stressful and Unfair Experience
Losing $500 over Christmas was a significant blow for Lucy, especially since she lives abroad and was visiting family in Australia.
She was thankful that her friends hadn’t transferred her the money, or they would have been “tied up in the mess” too. In the end, Lucy had to file a dispute with her bank to get her money back.
A Cautionary Tale for Businesses
Lucy’s experience is a reminder that businesses need to be professional and communicative, especially when it comes to customer transactions.
“I have never had a business accept a booking, ask for a deposit, completely shut, and then go radio silent,” she said.
The whole experience was “stressful” and “unfair,” and Lucy hopes that other businesses will learn from this restaurant’s mistakes.