Lincoln woman says DJ never showed up to her wedding – and she’s not alone
What was expected to be one of the happiest days of their lives quickly became one of the most stressful for a Lincoln woman and her husband.
Kendra and Devin Beller booked a DJ for their June 8 wedding and put down a $200 deposit a year in advance. But when it came time for the DJ to show, Kendra Beller said he couldn’t be reached.
“They called him and called him and texted him and Facebook messaged him and he just blocked us on everything and ignored our phone calls,” Beller told Channel 8 Eyewitness News.
Beller quickly discovered she wasn’t the only bride that the DJ, Jeremy Fields with AllPlay Entertainment in Grand Island, had done this to.
Channel 8 Eyewitness News found court documents showing at least four lawsuits filed this year against Fields in small claims court. Three of the lawsuits claim Fields was hired to perform at weddings but never showed, and the fourth alleges he never returned a deposit despite the couple canceling more than six months in advance.
The lawsuits were filed by people living in North Platte, Cozad, Omaha, and Franklin – and Beller said she thinks there are others. She said she’s talked with 13 other brides who experienced a similar situation.
“Every weekend it just keeps adding up,” Beller said. “Like we can sit there and say ‘Okay so who found out who got stood up next.’ Because people can post on Facebook or we’re trying to figure out where he’s trying to be so it just keeps growing.”
Beller said Fields requires couples to submit a deposit through PayPal, and blocks them or doesn’t return calls when they try to get refunds.
“Fourteen of us in just this past year, three months I believe,” Beller said.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuits against Fields are seeking combined damages of $3,484, according to court documents. One cited “emotional distress” and another cited “mental anguish” as a result of having to scramble to find a fill-in performer for their weddings.
Channel 8 Eyewitness News attempted several times to contact Fields, but never got a response from him.
Beller and her husband decided not to pursue legal action against Fields. But she says she wants to warn other brides to help prevent the stress she had on her big day.
“I don’t really care about the lost money ourselves its just whats adding up and whats going to happen in the future,” she said. “So we’re trying to get the word out that way and kind of help people that way instead of pursuing the a lawsuit.”
Channel 8 Eyewitness News did not find any criminal charges filed against Fields related to his role as a DJ.
Anyone who feels like they are a victim of a scam is encouraged to file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. You can do that by clicking here: file complaint.
