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AIBU?

holiday cottage damage

88 replies

careergirl · 17/08/2010 23:43

Came back from a lovely self catering holiday in a cottage
Night before leaving cleaned the place thoroughly. Mopped all floors. Hoovered the rug. Washed and dried all towels we'd used.
Saturday morning just before leaving I straightened a chair and it knocked over a vase. And smashed it.
I'd no idea how much it was worth so left a note (I thought) swept up the bits and popped them in the bin.
Lady phoned me today (cottage owner) did I know anything about a missing vase. Said I'd left a note but apparently it wasn't there?
She said the vase was 15 years old and expensive £200 when bought new. She would take £100 as a replacement amount.
She asked if I used the hoover I said yes she said when the cleaner came to use it it wasn't working it was only a month old. I said it was working fine when I used it and it was.
Also she said some of the cleaning items were missing from the cottage (i used their bleach and disinfectant) and also there were no loo rolls left in the house or kitchen rolls. I used my own kitchen rolls and loo rolls.
She said she was aware that we had damage insurance. I was going to send her the money for the vase but am going to hold fire until I've spoken to the insurance company.
fed up feel like I can't have done much more than I did?

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paisleyleaf · 17/08/2010 23:46

Who on earth puts a valuable vase in a cottage for holiday let? Duh!

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ShinyAndNew · 17/08/2010 23:50

I think she's having you on, personally. I'd ask to see proof of purchase or a receipt for the vase. It probably cost about £20. No one would be dumb enough to put a £200 vase in a holiday rental. Not unless said rental cost you about £800 per night? In which case she can afford to replace it herself Grin

I'm not sure what she expects wrt the cleaning stuff. She wanted you to clean the cottage but nit use the stuff provided? And what's with the loo roll? Does she expect you to replace it?

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iamamug · 17/08/2010 23:51

Think you are being had - do you really think they would leave a valuable vase out to be stolen/broken?? I suggest that you offer £20 for the broken vase and say you will be posting a nice review on the internet of her cottage (or NOT!!!)
We have just stayed in a fabulous cottage which was very well equipped - we broke several glasses/bowls etc and there were clear instructions to leave £1 for each minor breakage. We left more than enough (but she did have a £250 deposit from us!!)
Everyone happy and deposit fully returned.
Think she might be after your insurance!

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Buzzybb · 17/08/2010 23:52

Paisleyleaf has said what I was going to say, also I would have assumed that cleaning products were there to be used, the same goes for toilet roll, Very strange
Defiantly speak to your insurance before you do anything

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careergirl · 17/08/2010 23:53

I think she's after the insurance because when she said she would take £100 for the vase she kept asking how I was doing that was I claiming it off the insurance? I'll speak to the insurance company tomorrow. As you say why have such a high value item in there? Just annoyed as I took such time to leave it clean. Luckily took photos before we left of how we left it. Such a shame this had to happen first bad experience I've had. The rental was nearly £600 for the week as it was.

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foxytocin · 17/08/2010 23:55

She is having a giraffe. Tell her to claim it and hoover back on the business insurance. Loo roll and cleaning products? WTF?

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preposterouspillock · 17/08/2010 23:57

I also think you went over and above the call of duty by washing all the towels Shock
Every self catering place I've been to asks for me to leave the place tidy and strip beds and put the dirty linen by washing machine. I've never been expected or asked to wash the stuff.You sound like you did a fabulous job of tidying up based on that. It seems very much like you're being had. Plus if she's stupid enough to put a very expensive vase in a self catering property, then she should be prepared to claim on her own insurance.

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careergirl · 17/08/2010 23:58

just wish I'd left it there now but the bits were sharp so swept it up as you do. Don't want her accusing me of thieving it! She has said she has sent me an email itemising the damage but I've not had one. She says she didn't get my note but that's our word against hers and I'm sure I left one.

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Mowiol · 17/08/2010 23:58

Great idea to take photos - I would never have thought of that! Nobody in their right mind would leave a valuable vase in a holiday let (and she probably has insurance too surely??). As for the hoover not working, if it's only a month old then presumably it's still under guarantee.

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TheCrackFox · 18/08/2010 00:02

Tell her to piss off. Who would put a £200 vase in a holiday let? A bloody liar.

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careergirl · 18/08/2010 00:04

Oh I take photos in every holiday let just in case there's any issues and this is the first time there has been. I think that hoover is more than a month old the cylinder was clogged with dust and dirt surely more than a month's worth? Do feel awful about the vase but accidents happen you know. She said shed only put it in there as they were moving house and wanted somewhere to put it. I suggested storage was usually a good option.
Oh I said I used their bleach and disinfectant, theirs, but left a box of dishwasher tablets and a box of cleaning wipes plus one toilet roll so surely one cancels the other out.
She said the cleaner reported her dishcloth was missing. I told her I threw it away it was filthy and I wouldnt use it.
I am going to take this up with the letting agency as among other things the cottage was not clean in all areas, an electric socket was cracked all across the front and there were big cobwebs everywhere. Also shower curtain dirty and mouldy and dirt around the taps in the bathroom.

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custardismyhamster · 18/08/2010 00:06

Tell her to go to the insurance-as they will want proof of purchase/ownership from her.

(I work in insurance so know this)

Then, if it WAS £200, she isn't out of pocket. And if it wasn't, neither are you x

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ShinyAndNew · 18/08/2010 00:06

I'd be wanting a refund if I paid £600 for a week in a cottage and it wasn't spotless. She sounds like a chancer to me. Great idea about speaking to the letting agency.

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Mowiol · 18/08/2010 00:07

A missing dishcloth-- for gawd's sake! Well obviously you stole it out of pure dishcloth envy!

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foxytocin · 18/08/2010 00:09

Please tell where it is so I can avoid.

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careergirl · 18/08/2010 00:09

this is reading like something off the telly. Swear I'm not making it up!
she said it was nice of me to clean the cottage but it was unnecessary? I said that in the t's and c's you had to leave the property clean so I'd, well, cleaned it? You can't get told off for cleaning.Can you?

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weegiemum · 18/08/2010 00:09

I'm a holiday cottage owner and I can tell you that no-one puts a £200 vase in a holiday let, as breakages are all too common.

She's having you on. She shoudl also be fully insured. If you booked through an agency, please let them know, as she will probably be breakign a lot of t&c by not being properly insured.

Sounds like she is trying to get money out of you!

ps I wish more of my letters worked as hard as you to tidy up/clean!

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Lotkinsgonecurly · 18/08/2010 00:09

I wouldn't contact the insurance company. I really would suggest that she gets a vase for £3 from Ikea like most other rental properties.
I would say that you were going to recommend this to lots of friends but now you feel unable to.!!!!! Negative feedback is really what people don't want.

I think breakages etc should come out of the rental price apart from the example above of £1 for each breakage etc.

Let us know what happens.

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careergirl · 18/08/2010 00:11

just remembered (getting incensed now) I left a thank you note and box of chocs as I always do. Sheesh!

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MmeLindt · 18/08/2010 00:12

Nutter. And scamer.

Never heard of having to account for toilet rolls and cleaning cloths.

If she cannot show you proof of purchase of vase, pay nothing. What a cheek.

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SweetApril · 18/08/2010 00:13

If it makes you feel any better, I know someone who has a holiday cottage and she would never treat a customer like this, especially one who'd gone to such trouble to tidy up after themselves. She provides cleaning products and, when they get used up, replaces them. Loo roll/kitchen roll is often left over by the last people but she would just put in a couple of rolls herself if there was none left.

If the hoover really is broken, there's no proof who, if anyone, broke it. And the vase thing is ridiculous. Definitely don't send her any money. Let her/your insurance company deal with it.

Hope this hasn't spoiled your holiday.

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TheCrackFox · 18/08/2010 00:14

Charge her for the cleaning and box of chocolates.

£100 should have covered.

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preposterouspillock · 18/08/2010 00:15

How does she treat less caring renters if she's behaving this badly with you? She sounds demented.

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careergirl · 18/08/2010 00:15

it does put you off a bit but I've had holiday lets before with NO issues at all. First time I've taken out insurance but in light of this will do it every time now. I'll speak to the insurance guys they can deal with her.

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BaggedandTagged · 18/08/2010 00:17

No-one puts a £200 vase in a holiday let unless they secretly hate it and hope it's going to get broken...........so you've done her a favour!!

She is definitely trying it on, and I bet the cleaner broke the hoover and is trying to blame you now or it's fine and she's on an insurance scam. In any case, if it's under a year old it's surely still under warranty.

re "missing" cleaning products- I am speechless.

Do not pay, except maybe token amount for vase .

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