Legal advice?

[lethe]

well, she responded to our last email offering to do the work out of our personal time. Her response is... ''special''.

Not sure if i mentioned this before, but it was a wedding and engagement photography business.
Please keep in mind that we have been nothing but apologetic to her and have explained the circumstances (no business license or insurance, etc.).

So that being said, there's no way i'm taking photos for her! Like i'm going to be able to make this girl be all smiles and kisses when both parties are upset!
Now it's just determining whether we say 'tough luck' and be done (hopefully not having to deal with small claims), or offer to cash her out...

show up with a bag full of disposable cameras and dressed like a magician

[mitt]

show up with a bag full of disposable cameras and dressed like a magician

or clown

and have someone videoing it or wear a go pro.

mitt   

[RAT900]

like I said before...cash her out...she's an entitled octopus

[Vindingo]

You said in the first post that it was a "free prize"  She didn't pay for it...

F her, don't give her a dime! 

Tell her you sold your cameras to pay for hookers, and her moms ain't cheap.

[Triple J]

The company is out of business. The company attempted to give the prize to her when it was still in business. The "prize" is gone just like the business. Tell her to take the company to small claims court. If you lose you pay the $300. Big whoop.

Agreed (except don't tell her to take you to small claims court. Let her decide to do that on her own).

[lethe]

Ok, first step to receiving your free prize. You need to attend a 4 hour long seminar that I am holding in the graveyard at midnight. Please bring your long robe and a red candle.

[ZLTFUL]

Ok, first step to receiving your free prize. You need to attend a 4 hour long seminar that I am holding in the graveyard at midnight. Please bring your long robe and a red candle.

If you can't provide your own virgin sacrifice, one will be provided for you at a nominal charge...

[MrFryMoto]

hm we never clarified what we would take the pictures with...

perhaps i should show up with one of these:

[hbliam]

The difference between a gift certificate and a prize is one was paid for. I already said it, but after having read her email, definitely do no business with her. Give her nothing. Let her figure out what she wants to do.

I would just say (via email, all documented, all professional, no phone calls) "Sorry the business closed down permanently before you made the time to take advantage of a special promotion. We tried to accommodate you prior to the closing but you would not make yourself available. We cannot be expected to wait months, years, or decades for someone to claim a service they spent zero dollars on. I'm sorry it didn't work out."

[Buckethead]

The difference between a gift certificate and a prize is one was paid for. I already said it, but after having read her email, definitely do no business with her. Give her nothing. Let her figure out what she wants to do.

I would just say (via email, all documented, all professional, no phone calls) "Sorry the business closed down permanently before you made the time to take advantage of a special promotion. We tried to accommodate you prior to the closing but you would not make yourself available. We cannot be expected to wait months, years, or decades for someone to claim a service they spent zero dollars on. I'm sorry it didn't work out."

Illustrating that ~50% of police work is diplomacy. 

Personally, I'd tell the pregnant dog to kick rocks. 

[r_ciao]

I would just say (via email, all documented, all professional, no phone calls) "Sorry the business closed down permanently before you made the time to take advantage of a special promotion. We tried to accommodate you prior to the closing but you would not make yourself available. We cannot be expected to wait months, years, or decades for someone to claim a service they spent zero dollars on. I'm sorry it didn't work out."

this.  good luck.

[ducrider45]

The difference between a gift certificate and a prize is one was paid for. I already said it, but after having read her email, definitely do no business with her. Give her nothing. Let her figure out what she wants to do.

I would just say (via email, all documented, all professional, no phone calls) "Sorry the business closed down permanently before you made the time to take advantage of a special promotion. We tried to accommodate you prior to the closing but you would not make yourself available. We cannot be expected to wait months, years, or decades for someone to claim a service they spent zero dollars on. I'm sorry it didn't work out."

This is what I would do if it were me.

[MrFryMoto]

thanks again everyone!
Unfortunately, we offered to pay her out just to be done with it.

I'm now more upset that someone this ridiculous is coming out ahead because of her disgruntled ignorance - but at least it will be out of our hair.

[Grampa]

Give her a baggie filled with sand.

[RAT900]

thanks again everyone!
Unfortunately, we offered to pay her out just to be done with it.

..........but at least it will be out of our hair.

BINGO!!...

you came out ahead...

think how much "possibly" saving 300 or whatever many bucks

could or would have cost you in aggravation, noise and BS

........unless you have a real taste for grinding away with human vermin

it was a wise investment to preserve peace of mind and quality of life