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HAVEN cancelled children’s holiday

154 replies

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 10:44

My lovely husband died suddenly leaving me widowed with two young children, understandably this has been an awful time for me and my family.

Before he died he had booked a half term holiday with Haven which was fully paid for. As my husband was the lead guest, I called Haven to amend the booking and their representative told me I was not able to do this and the holiday would have to be cancelled, despite questioning this she was absolutely adamant that the holiday could not go ahead. I was shocked that they thought cancelling my children’s holiday after the death of their Daddy was in any way acceptable, to me it was completely heartless.

After coming off the call I sought advice and called them back a couple of hours later, this time Haven admitted that they could easily amend the booking on seeing the death certificate. I was then informed that the holiday had already been cancelled, I assume by the first representative I spoke to, despite not having gone through any security checks or sending the documentation yet. They then told me that our accommodation had already been resold and therefore they could not reinstate it.

They’ve now spent the past couple of days faffing around and temporarily rebooking us on to a downgraded caravan whilst they try and resolve their error. This has caused me to feel very anxious and distressed so I’ve decided to no longer go and I am looking at booking another holiday far, far away from Haven.

So, am I unreasonable for expecting better from a company aimed at families? And what type of resolution would you be happy with?

Thank-you x

OP posts:
MsFaversham · 04/05/2024 19:09

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 11:03

I’m in two minds, radio might be a good call as I don’t want my ‘sad face’ plastered all over the media! I just want Haven to realise they can’t treat people this way

I’d go on Twitter (X) and call them out on it.

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 18:54

It was tempting to hold out for an all inclusive trip to Bora Bora, lounging by an exotic beach having my feet massaged by Tom Hardy while Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice version - obviously) hand fed me Pringles, but alas, a few nights in a tin can by the North Sea with a gaggle of toddlers will have to do! My husband spent weeks convincing me to stay in a caravan, telling me how much fun it would be…then he’s bloody well gone and died, he wasn’t right very often so I’m not overly optimistic! Who knows, I might be converted and become a seasoned caravaner.

Absolutely nothing against caravans by the way, just prefer a bit more space, mainly to escape the chaos of my own children 😆

OP posts:
RM2013 · 04/05/2024 18:28

Just seen your update after I posted. Very glad it has been resolved

RM2013 · 04/05/2024 18:27

Very sorry for your loss OP. Absolutely shocking customer service. I’d be wanting minimum of a full refund and not having to wait a month for them to process. They’re a multi million company it can’t be that hard to send an immediate refund. It’s the least they can do.
I certainly would never book a holiday with them again

Amsterdamming · 04/05/2024 18:27

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 16:16

Firstly, thank-you to everyone who took the time to post, I really appreciate the support and great advice given.

Haven called today and have re-instated the original booking and given a full refund. Whilst I’d much rather not have gone through this experience, I think that this resolution is reasonable and I’m glad it is now sorted.

Oh well that's good - a free holiday. Ignore what I said about shitholes 😳

Amsterdamming · 04/05/2024 18:26

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 10:44

My lovely husband died suddenly leaving me widowed with two young children, understandably this has been an awful time for me and my family.

Before he died he had booked a half term holiday with Haven which was fully paid for. As my husband was the lead guest, I called Haven to amend the booking and their representative told me I was not able to do this and the holiday would have to be cancelled, despite questioning this she was absolutely adamant that the holiday could not go ahead. I was shocked that they thought cancelling my children’s holiday after the death of their Daddy was in any way acceptable, to me it was completely heartless.

After coming off the call I sought advice and called them back a couple of hours later, this time Haven admitted that they could easily amend the booking on seeing the death certificate. I was then informed that the holiday had already been cancelled, I assume by the first representative I spoke to, despite not having gone through any security checks or sending the documentation yet. They then told me that our accommodation had already been resold and therefore they could not reinstate it.

They’ve now spent the past couple of days faffing around and temporarily rebooking us on to a downgraded caravan whilst they try and resolve their error. This has caused me to feel very anxious and distressed so I’ve decided to no longer go and I am looking at booking another holiday far, far away from Haven.

So, am I unreasonable for expecting better from a company aimed at families? And what type of resolution would you be happy with?

Thank-you x

That is awful but honestly Havens are a shithole so they sort of did you a favour. Book somewhere nicer and forget them. Plaster them all over your social media and tell them how crap they are. Sorry for your loss x

EnglishBluebell · 04/05/2024 18:24

@saraclara I already had? I was just explaining what would've happened Hmm

EnglishBluebell · 04/05/2024 18:23

Very happy to see your update OP! Let's hope the lady you spoke with gets some additional training!

Please try to enjoy that holiday, despite what you're going through. He wanted you all to be there and to enjoy it. I'm so sorry for your loss Flowers

saraclara · 04/05/2024 18:22

EnglishBluebell · 04/05/2024 18:19

Sadly they will just say that the contract was with OP's late DH and as he's deceased, that contract is null & void now :(

Maybe you should read the OP 's updates.

EnglishBluebell · 04/05/2024 18:19

MsCheeryble · 04/05/2024 13:56

Point out to them that they are in breach of contract, and that means that either they refund everything plus pay damages for disappointment and inconvenience, or they book you in somewhere else that is at least equivalent or better. After that sort of mess-up, they should be offering you a luxury hotel, FFS.

Sadly they will just say that the contract was with OP's late DH and as he's deceased, that contract is null & void now :(

jasminocereusbritannicus · 04/05/2024 18:09

ArcticOwl · 04/05/2024 10:52

Bollocks had they 'resold' it within a couple of hours, they overbooked and just gave it to the next person in line.

So sorry for your loss OP.

Absolutely atrocious behaviour from them. I'd definitely be seeking a full refund and/or some compensation as an apology.

Edited

I used to work for Haven, in the call centre, booking holidays, some years ago. If a holiday was 'cancelled' it became immediately available to be booked by whovever is looking it up on their computer and could be re-let straight away.

Think that was totally wrong of them to tell you that you couldn't amend it,though. Sounds like someone couldn't be bothered to go and ask someone higher up...I could maybe understand it if you were trying to add a name, but not 'removing' them! How ridiculous!🤔Definitely needs a letter to the CEO.

myfavouritemutant · 04/05/2024 18:04

It shouldn’t have taken so long but I think that’s a decent outcome at least. So sorry for your loss.

MumTeacherofMany · 04/05/2024 17:58

Go to the papers with this! It is absolutely disgusting how they've treated you OP. I'm so sorry for your loss

Amx · 04/05/2024 17:25

I'm glad it's been resolved and I'm sorry for your loss OP.

Irishmama100 · 04/05/2024 17:18

So sorry for your loss. You don’t need this hassle. I would def go media on this.
It is pure the”computer says no” and there is no empathy or human decency in this situation. Def start with emailing the CEO
[email protected]

Minister01 · 04/05/2024 17:18

OP, I’m so sorry to read this. You really are super mum.

I cannot believe (well, I can as some people have zero common sense) what Haven have done. It’s really a case of ‘computer says no’.

Actually complain, with their error you’d expect a minimum of an upgrade on the caravan your husband purchased. I’d be laying it on thick that your late husband planned this special trip for yourself and your children. No refund can compensate for that, and more over, if you were happy to compromise and go elsewhere you wouldn’t be able to due to the funds not being in your bank account. You expect to be able to stay on site on those dates, in either the caravan your husband booked, or an upgrade. If you get another computer says no person, ask for your email to be escalated. Honestly, keep pushing it higher. I also find if you speak to someone in a call centre ask for their name, and then use their name, I generally find them a bit more useful as all of a sudden they have to do their jobs correctly out of fear of a complaint.

I’m so sorry Op, this is the last worry you need.

mumda · 04/05/2024 17:12

I'm.so sorry for your loss and for havens incredible insensitivity.

I hope you go more public with this as it's absolutely ridiculous behaviour on their part.

The nearest insanity I dealt with after my dad's death was some nonsense from the buildings insurance wanting a copy of the will just before Christmas.
They did apologise to me but not to my mum who really didn't need the nonsense. I did spend the compo on flowers for her.

StormingNorman · 04/05/2024 17:06

I’m so pleased you got it sorted. It’s the least they could do ❤️

Silvers11 · 04/05/2024 17:04

So glad they saw sense, eventually, but they shouldn't have put you through that. I hope you can manage to enjoy it reasonably well with your children and make it special for them. So sorry about your loss

Ticktapticktap · 04/05/2024 17:00

This is awful - I'm so sorry your family has been treated like this OP.

Haven are always claiming to be family -focused company but this customer service is Sports Direct-ish

loobylou10 · 04/05/2024 16:52

Goodadvice1980 · 04/05/2024 11:14

I think they’ve treated you very shabbily OP.

Perhaps an email to the CEO Paul Flaum?

[email protected]

This definitely. Or Twitter to shame them. Appalling. Sorry for your loss x

MrsCarson · 04/05/2024 16:48

I'm glad to see the update.
I was waiting to twitter away for you on this. Shameful behaviour. I hope they are upgrading you once you get there if they say they sold your holiday onto someone else.

KirstenBlest · 04/05/2024 16:40

@HavenAreHeartless , if you go to a reputable newspaper (i.e not the red tabs) your name and photo won't be plastered over it.

Sorry about your bereavement. Flowers

Vastlyoverrated · 04/05/2024 16:34

I'm so happy they have resolved this.

BUT, they are not the only company who is just idiotic in relation to people dying. My husband died and when I rang up to inform the car insurance (1st Central), they said it would cost me £35 to remove his name from the policy for 'admin' reasons. I said 'how much would it cost to leave it on' and they said nothing, so I told them to stuff off and left it on, a dead person, so I didn't have to pay an admin charge.

You are young and this is awful and any additional silly stress is too much, Haven need to get a policy together so they know what to do when the main booker dies, it is not that unusual a happening and they need to have a better way of dealing with it.

saraclara · 04/05/2024 16:28

I'm relieved to read your update. Thank goodness someone saw sense and had some empathy.

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