BRANDON, Fla. — A Tampa Bay area couple was looking for answers after the ballroom for their wedding was canceled just weeks before the big day.
The ballroom was set to host 250 guests for the wedding. They made a call to Consumer Reporter Jackie Callaway after the incident because they said they were never refunded.
Keondra Kilpatrick said she booked the Crystal Ballroom in Brandon because it was everything she dreamed of for her wedding day.
“It was a very big deal because we both have big families,” said Kilpatrick.
But Kilpatrick and her future husband panicked after discovering the venue was still under construction just weeks before their wedding day last summer.
“They actually called and notified me June 25, ‘Oh yeah, we are having some difficulty and the venue is not going to be ready for you,’" Kilpatrick said.
Kilpatrick said they had already paid for the venue in full, more than $8,000.
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Both families scrambled and found the couple another wedding venue, but seven months later, Kilpatrick said she was still waiting to get her money back from the venue.
She showed ABC Action News text messages from the Crystal Ballroom last June stating the venue was processing her refund.
ABC Action News called and emailed the Crystal Ballroom in Brandon in January about the long-awaited refund.
The business reported it was under new ownership and responded in an email.
“Payment has been made out and ready to be sent to Keondra... We are doing the best we can to satisfy her refund in a timely manner...,” the email stated.
Kilpatrick says the venue has sent her a payment and that they've set up a schedule to pay her back in full.
If you are dealing with a consumer issue Jackie Callaway would love to hear from you; just email her at jcallaway@abcactionnews.com.
