AN urgent inquiry was launched after thousands of school leavers' formal and post-party plans were cancelled at the last minute by a website that had taken their money but not arranged events. The website yourformal.com yesterday appeared to operate as normal but its contact number went to a generic voicemail and emails to "enquiries" were returned "undeliverable".
Students across Sydney have been left reeling from losing hundreds of dollars each.
With up to 12 private schools understood to have used the company's services, as well as a similar number of public schools across Sydney's south and Sutherland Shire, the government yesterday moved in.
Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts said an urgent inquiry into yourformal.com and associated entities was under way.
"It is important organisers of school formals who used yourformal.com and have been left out of pocket contact Fair Trading," Mr Roberts said. "Those concerned about future bookings made through yourformal.com are also advised to contact Fair Trading."
But it wasn't just the lost funds leaving a hole in families across NSW.
"My daughter's Year 12 formal will not be the wonderful memory that so many people reflect on during their life," Stephen Zegarac said.
His daughter Danica's school Presbyterian Ladies College Croydon is among the worst affected.
They had booked their formal back in May, each girl paying $300.
But four days before their special night, the girls received a text saying the formal was cancelled and to go to the website to arrange a full refund.
There is nothing on the website that refers to refunds or cancellations.
Not only was his daughter out of pocket $300, she had also forked out hundreds more on a dress, shoes and all the trimmings.
"You can imagine that this is multiplied dozens of times over when you consider that it effects the entire class," he said.
Danebank School,
Hurstville, Year 12 captain Nicole Moir said about 90 of her classmates had paid $40 each to yourafterparty.com for a post-formal event, the funds to cover a venue, a DJ and security. "I don't think they booked anything at all," she said.
