Refund & Cancellation Policy

Policy at a Glance

Here is exactly what happens depending on what you have paid and when you cancel:

• 25% Deposit only paid → Cancel any time: Deposit is non-refundable. No further charges apply.
• 100% paid in full → Cancel any time before the event: You receive a 75% refund of the total amount paid.
• Any amount paid → Cancel on the day of the event: No refund is issued.
• Date change request → At least 7 days notice: No fee, subject to availability.
• We fail to show up: 100% full refund, guaranteed.

The 25% Deposit

When you book with By The Hour Bartending, a 25% deposit is required to secure your event date. This deposit is non-refundable under all circumstances.

Here is why: once you pay your deposit, we immediately block your date on our schedule, assign and coordinate your bartending team, begin pre-event planning, and turn away other clients interested in that date. The deposit compensates for this work and commitment — not just the hours on your event day.

We understand this can feel significant if plans change unexpectedly. If your event date needs to move, we strongly encourage requesting a date change rather than a full cancellation — see Section 5 below.

Full Payment Cancellations

If you chose to pay 100% upfront and later need to cancel, you are eligible for a 75% refund of the total amount paid — regardless of how far in advance you cancel, as long as it is before the day of the event.

The remaining 25% is retained as the equivalent of the non-refundable deposit described above. There are no additional cancellation fees beyond this retained amount.

Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5-10 business days of your cancellation request. Stripe processing fees are non-recoverable and may be deducted from the refunded amount.

Same-Day Cancellations

If an emergency arises on your event day, please call us immediately at +1 (760) 899-2036. While we cannot offer a refund in these situations, we will do everything we can to help — including exploring rescheduling options where possible.

Date Changes and Rescheduling

We want your event to happen — not just your booking to disappear. If you need to move your event to a different date, here is how we handle it:

• 7 or more days before the event: Date change at no additional fee, subject to bartender availability on the new date
• Less than 7 days before the event: We will do our best to accommodate, though a rescheduling fee may apply depending on scheduling complexity
• Same day: Date changes on the event day are treated as cancellations

To request a date change, email info@bythehourbartending.com or text +1 (760) 899-2036 with your booking name, original date, and preferred new date. We will confirm availability within 24 hours.

If We Cancel

In over 4,500 events, we have never cancelled on a client. That said, if By The Hour Bartending is ever unable to fulfill your booking due to circumstances on our end, you will receive:

• 100% full refund of all amounts paid, processed within 2 business days
• Our genuine assistance in finding alternative bartending coverage for your event

This guarantee does not apply to cancellations caused by Client actions, venue issues, or circumstances outside our control (such as severe weather or natural disasters declared as emergencies).

How to Request a Cancellation or Refund

To cancel your booking or request a refund, contact us through any of the following:

• Email: info@bythehourbartending.com — include your name, event date, and booking confirmation number
• Text: +1 (760) 899-2036
• Call: +1 (760) 899-2036 · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm PST

We will confirm your cancellation in writing and process any applicable refund within 5-10 business days. Refunds are returned to the original payment method only.

Disputes and Chargebacks

We ask that you contact us directly before initiating a chargeback through your bank or credit card provider. Chargebacks initiated without prior contact will be contested in accordance with our Terms of Service and the applicable card network rules. Fraudulent chargebacks may result in legal action to recover funds and associated fees.

We are a small business and we take every concern seriously. If something went wrong with your event or billing, just talk to us — we will make it right where we reasonably can.

Contact Us

Questions about a specific booking or refund? Get in touch:

• Email: info@bythehourbartending.com
• Phone / Text: +1 (760) 899-2036
• Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm PST for calls · 8am–10pm PST for texts · 7 days