Payment for a Trip that Arrived Late
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Question
To the esteemed Beit Hora'ah, Brief details of the incident: A bus was ordered for a friend's wedding at the yeshiva (ordered through a company representative, a student at the yeshiva) for a specific time. We waited about ten minutes, the company informed us that by mistake the bus was sent to another location, and another bus was dispatched and would arrive within fifteen minutes. Half an hour after the above message, all the boys traveled independently (it was too late and not feasible to wait), no one stayed. A boy called and canceled the trip, claiming it was no longer relevant (the company does not deny this). About ten minutes later, the bus arrived, the driver claimed he was unaware of any cancellation. Two boys who came to the station to travel independently boarded it and waited to see if others would come. Later, two more joined who also planned to travel independently, and they went to the wedding. Now the company demands 150 shekels for this trip, claiming that 4 boys actually traveled. The groom's father provided the full amount, and when told that it seemed they would not need to pay for the trip there, he said to give the money to a certain group of boys (the money is now held by another boy not connected to the company or the aforementioned group). The questions are as follows: A. Is there an obligation to pay for this trip as the company demands? B. Assuming yes, should the groom's father pay or the boys who boarded the bus? C. Assuming the groom's father should pay, can he use the money that was designated for this, or have the boys already acquired it, requiring him to provide an additional amount? D. Assuming the boys who boarded should pay, should the two who joined later also pay? E. If the company does not receive the money, should the boys pay at least the amount equivalent to public transportation fare (since they benefited)? Please guide us, and may Hashem bless you.
Answer
Hello,
After consulting with the Dayanim of the Beit Hora'ah:
1. The passengers should pay according to the benefit derived from the trip, meaning the market value of such a trip.
2. It is customary for the groom's father to pay for this.
3. The payment should be taken from the money given by the groom's father, and although it could be argued that there was already a waiver of the money, this is a waiver by mistake and is not valid.
4. There is no difference between the first boys and those who came later, as the payment is for the benefit of the trip.