Celebrations Unlimited- Lynn Kotz Celebrations Unlimited-Lynn Kotz- Misrepresentation- Unethical Owings Mills Maryland

I hired Lynn Kotz/Celebrations Unlimited to design, implement and manage a party at a local country club. Her "Agreement" indicates she charges $100/hr but we have to pay for 28 hours, non-refundable, up front. I paid her $2,800. When I received an estimate of the costs she received from the various vendors, I was quite surprised how high it appeared. The cost of certain items just didn't make sense (i.e. furniture, dance floor, etc.). I inquired whether she priced the costs out with multiple vendors and she indicated she did. I asked her if she marks up the costs and she said she does not. So I picked up the phone and called a local party supply company...which happened to be the same company she was using. The prices I received for the identical items were MUCH lower. It seems that she marked up the prices up to 47%!

When I confronted her, she first said that perhaps the company was hurting for business so gave me a lower cost. Then she finally admitted that she adds a "Management Fee" on top of the vendors cost. This was never disclosed to me. She also informed me that if I hire my own vendors, she would not manage them. I let her know that I would need to find another planner that would manage ALL the vendors on the day of the event if she wouldn't. She not only misrepresented her fee structure, but she also refused to perform the work I contracted for. I demanded 1/2 of the fee back (I really should have demanded the whole fee but I was being nice I guess). She refused so I sued her.

Today, the judge ruled in my favor I suppose agreeing with me that she misrepresented her fees. The judge did credit some of the hours I guess for whatever work she did perform...although it was useless to me unless I wanted to pay 1 1/2 times the actual cost.

Celebrations unlimited unethical
Owings Mills, Maryland
U.S.A.