I've gotten a response from Michael, Riu's Photographer

[PrecisePlans]

I'm not paying a breaching fee....i got a letter from the main headquarters. Here is what was said:

 

Hi Carolina,

 

I have a question regarding Michael, the Photographer, at Riu Ocho Rios Resort. I indicated to him that I will be having a close family friend who I requested to take some pictures during the wedding. She will be a guest at the hotel for our duration of our stay. He specified that there would be a $200 charge. I'm a bit confused as to what this charge is for? Is there anyway to have this fee waived. Please explain RIU's policy regarding this matter.

 

Thank you for addressing this issue. Have a great day!

 

Marsha D.

May 10, 2008 ROR Bride

 

 

 

Here is her response to me:

 

Dear Marsha,

 

Thank you for contacting RIU Weddings Sales Department.

 

I would like to inform you that you are able to bring your own photographer, please be aware that he needs to be a guest at the hotel or pay the day pass. I kindly inform you that you do not need to pay any fee for the pictures.

 

If you shall require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

 

Warm Regards,

 

Vanessa Pedraza

Weddings Sales Coordinator

Ocho Rios & Negril, Jamaica

Weddings By Riu

America's Division

Email: [email protected]

Wedding Packages by Destination. Honeymoon Holidays. Weddings by Riu

[Hartyt509]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlmostMrsForbes drbrainfreeze - yes, we are using brian nejedly. we are supposed to pay a $200 breach of contract fee to michael. i have it in writing from both he and chandlyn that this will be accepted. i don't agree with paying the breach of contract fee because i have no contract for photography with michael or the riu, but was going to do it to make life easier ...

You probably won't get any chew if he's paid off!

[drbrainfreeze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlmostMrsForbes drbrainfreeze - yes, we are using brian nejedly. we are supposed to pay a $200 breach of contract fee to michael. i have it in writing from both he and chandlyn that this will be accepted. i don't agree with paying the breach of contract fee because i have no contract for photography with michael or the riu, but was going to do it to make life easier ...

I agree. After you posted about Brian on here a few months ago, I looked at his stuff and its amazing. My FI and mom are in complete agreement and really like him as well. I think at this poing I'm going to pay the fee just to keep him away from me!!

[drbrainfreeze]

I think the issue is that Brian is a Jamaican (well, not Jamaican, but he lives in Jamaica) and therefor I can just see Michael giving us a hard time (he prob. knows all the photogs in Jamaica). So I cant get away with the "guest of mine" and I don't want to pay for him to spend 3 nights there, so the $200 is honestly worth it for the pics!!

[PrecisePlans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbrainfreeze I think the issue is that Brian is a Jamaican (well, not Jamaican, but he lives in Jamaica) and therefor I can just see Michael giving us a hard time (he prob. knows all the photogs in Jamaica). So I cant get away with the "guest of mine" and I don't want to pay for him to spend 3 nights there, so the $200 is honestly worth it for the pics!!

The person that I've been corresponding with at the main office said that you would just need to purchase a day pass if your photgrapher is not staying on the resort.....i don't know where this $200 bucks came from! Read my earlier post on this page.

[AlmostMrsForbes]

I think it is Michael's attempt at extortion. And ... I think that the Riu has been either too busy or not bothered enough by it to care and/or do anything about it.

[PrecisePlans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi !!!!!!!!!!IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just received the following email from the photographer I (and three others while I was at ROR) hired & brought to Jamaica with me... Hey honey! Just walked in my door - I need for you to make a post on the BDW forum to warn all girls that are planning on bringing in outside photog & any destination wedding photogs that have weddings booked there. I have never in my life been as scared as I was yesterday evening (my last night at the resort) - the goons at the Photoshop had one of the bellboys come threaten me during (another bride's) reception in the disco. He was trying to pull me out, demanding my room #, etc. Was so glad it was my last day there & would be leaving this am. I am going to lodging a formal complaint with the main office of the RIU, and so is the bride - she was livid!!! I'll also put out there that we had ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS AT ALL with Michael or Photoshop. We booked a FREE package - and Michael is not notified of those weddings. HOpefully, if you book the free package and bring an outside photographer nobody will bother you...

Bumping for all the people that did not see Heidi's message!!

[jajajaja]

Oh my goodness, you girls are still dealing with this?! That's nuts. I hope it wasn't one of our BDW brides that had the struggle.

[drbrainfreeze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by md_ocr The person that I've been corresponding with at the main office said that you would just need to purchase a day pass if your photgrapher is not staying on the resort.....i don't know where this $200 bucks came from! Read my earlier post on this page.

Honestly, this changes from moment to moment! Sometimes its breach of contract ($200) and the day pass, other times its day pass, sometimes its NO you cannot bring outside vendors at all unless they are a guest. I think its however they feel on a particular day. I am really not all that worried as I am a year away!

[DLyteful]

I am so so tired of this....really it is crazy. The RIU website states NOTHING about only using the resort photographer. The fact that we have to go thru emailing eveyone and there mother to get confirmation that we can bring out own photo without their being a problem is crazy. Plus we are all getting different information....

 

What we need is a reliable contact person at the corporate Riu (not the jamaica branch) that we can complain to while we are at the resort with our photogs should we have problems or we start to feel unsafe. I SWEAR if they give my cousin a hard time I will really show them how "bout it" I can be.