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Slug-gate! How much reimbursement should I request?

161 replies

youdontwantasluginthebedroom · 02/12/2025 12:49

NC for this, and posted shamelessly in AIBU for traffic.

The story, in a nutshell; I had to go away at v short notice last month and booked 4 nights in a self-catering place. On arrival (day1) I noticed slug trails on the bedroom carpets. But it was late, I was tired, I didn't have the owner's number so I left it until the following morning, when I contacted the owner.
Nothing was done about this by the owner on days 2 (which I queried that evening) or day 3 (when I kind of gave up).
But early hours of day 4 I got out of bed to go to the loo and almost stood on a slug on a carpet next to the bed. (There was no bedside light so I had to cross the room in the dark, and no furniture other than a tiny bedside table so my case had had to stay on the ground; thankfully I couldn't see any slug trails on it). Decided I couldn't stay there any longer so moved out with daybreak and had to find alternative accom at even shorter notice for that evening.
I've contacted the owner and by text and phone but am getting nowhere with a refund so have now opened a case through the CC company (luckily I'd paid with my card).
My question - how much refund would you go for? I'm asking for a refund of the unused night plus some more to reflect distress and inconvenience. I think a total refund for 2 out of the 4 nights is reasonable, and I'm sure that some people would ask for more. But a couple of people have told me not to make such a fuss about a slug!
Well, who wants mashed slug between their toes when they get out of bed?
So what does the MN jury think?
Poll - YANBU = refund well deserved (but how much? Freetext please!)
YABU = suck it up (but I'll still write an honest review!)

OP posts:
Mygardenandme · 02/12/2025 17:31

Distress? Really?

What did you expect the owner to do exactly? Even if they would use slug pellets (which should be banned) it wouldnt work immediately.

Sidebeforeself · 02/12/2025 17:27

housethatbuiltme · 02/12/2025 14:11

Legally you do not have a leg to stand on.

You booked a room for 4 nights, you received a room for 4 nights and the key legal point is you STAYED in the room for those 4 nights.

You cannot use the product/service to its full as intended then claim after you have benefited from its use that it was not fit for purpose. It was proven to be fit for purpose when you actively used it for its purpose.

The only way you would have had a claim is if you refused to use it an left. Not left mildly early on the last day but actually left at the beginning thus not using the service you booked because it was deemed 'unusable'.

As for your appall at slugs, I live in a damp rural mountain area in the north and lived in houses with slugs my whole life. Half of all houses I have lived in had them, especially in later extensions of Victorian houses used to add plumbing and bathrooms, its really not rare. Its also really not a big deal, they aren't harbingers of disease to humans unless you eat them.

Surely it’s the slug who doesn’t have a leg to stand on?

Pollqueen · 02/12/2025 17:26

Oftenaddled · 02/12/2025 13:31

I prefer live slugs to dead and messes with salt. They hate light so if you are scared of them, leave a light on. But they won't hurt you.

Thank you! I get the odd slug in my kitchen in the evening. I live pretty rurally and they drive me nuts. I will now leave kitchen light on

Anyahyacinth · 02/12/2025 17:26

How would you prove you didn’t bring it in on your case, shoes etc..?

RecordBreakers · 02/12/2025 17:18

I also find it a bit icky that the evidence was already there when I arrived so when was it last cleaned?

I can clean my house, go to bed, then when I come down in the morning, see multiple trails from a slug in the hallway. So you are being daft there.

In fact, the idea of you trying to get a refund, or compensation for a slug getting in is just ridiculous.

Witheringlights · 02/12/2025 17:18

thecatneuterer · 02/12/2025 17:07

Reimbursement for one night because of one slug! That's not in the least bit reasonable.

And also slugs may not thrive in a dry home, but that doesn't stop them popping in for a bit to have a scout around.

Edited

That’s your opinion that it’s not a reasonable request. I am entitled to mine!

If you are letting a property out for money; the facilities should be above that which you would expect in an ordinary home.

Witheringlights · 02/12/2025 17:16

ShodAndShadySenators · 02/12/2025 13:33

Slugs appearing in houses are most likely cellar slugs, they are different from the ones outside that eat your plants. It's not a sign of dirtiness/squalor, although it is not nice and they can be a bloody nuisance (especially when they crawl onto your dishwasher's PCB and fry themselves and trip your electricity at the same time).

I could understand OP leaving early if it was rodents or wasps or something potentially hazardous, but slugs are not. Annoying as hell, yes. Standing on one would be gross (much worse outcome for the slug though) but not THAT bad.

I can see the property owner or agent disputing this, as slugs - or one slug, as that's all OP saw - are not a health hazard.

They can be hazardous if you have dogs who eat them as they can transfer lungworm which is potentially fatal!

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 02/12/2025 17:08

Ketzele · 02/12/2025 16:16

I live in London too, and think slugs are the devil's bogeys - I really hate them - but they do sometimes invade. I have a very visible slug train all over my ceiling (FFS) from an invader who did eventually die and drop to the floor right beside my sleeping face!

There are NO words

Every day is a school day I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️🥴

sick cringe GIF
thecatneuterer · 02/12/2025 17:07

Witheringlights · 02/12/2025 17:03

I am certainly NOT disconnected from nature, live in the countryside, work with animals etc but I still detest slugs in my house! We had an issue with them when we moved in and it’s all about eliminating damp. Once this is achieved and you have no moisture, the slugs cannot thrive.

Op fwiw I think a reimbursement for one night would be reasonable. And I would write in the review about the issue.

Edited

Reimbursement for one night because of one slug! That's not in the least bit reasonable.

And also slugs may not thrive in a dry home, but that doesn't stop them popping in for a bit to have a scout around.

RedTagAlan · 02/12/2025 17:06

Northumberlandisbest · 02/12/2025 16:59

We have a slug visits our hallway. I’ve never seen it but I have seen the silver trails. My hallway is not damp at all and I’ve no idea where the slug is getting in. However it just visits a night and leaves a fresh trail every day. It’s amazing how far it travels. Judging by the wiggly lines I suspect it may have been drinking. It occasionally visits the bathroom too.
did you know they have a homing instinct? You can take them a mile away and they’ll find their way home.

Edited

Not sure about slugs having a homing instinct. But I do know snails never leave their home.

:-)

Witheringlights · 02/12/2025 17:03

MrMucker · 02/12/2025 16:03

Am I the only one to be astonished at how humans are so disconnected from nature these days?
Why o why don't people pack sensibly anymore? I always take a distraction lettuce leaf, a small pot of fine salt, and a dedicated liquidised-slug-spoon for precisely these overnight scenarios.

I am certainly NOT disconnected from nature, live in the countryside, work with animals etc but I still detest slugs in my house! We had an issue with them when we moved in and it’s all about eliminating damp. Once this is achieved and you have no moisture, the slugs cannot thrive.

Op fwiw I think a reimbursement for one night would be reasonable. And I would write in the review about the issue.

Northumberlandisbest · 02/12/2025 16:59

We have a slug visits our hallway. I’ve never seen it but I have seen the silver trails. My hallway is not damp at all and I’ve no idea where the slug is getting in. However it just visits a night and leaves a fresh trail every day. It’s amazing how far it travels. Judging by the wiggly lines I suspect it may have been drinking. It occasionally visits the bathroom too.
did you know they have a homing instinct? You can take them a mile away and they’ll find their way home.

Zippedydodah · 02/12/2025 16:53

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 02/12/2025 13:30

What did you want the owner to do?! Jesus Christ. You didn't even step in it. Move on.

This ^^
Pathetic and one slug isn’t an ‘infestation’ ffs
Daily Mail next with sad-faced photo?

KilkennyCats · 02/12/2025 16:48

youdontwantasluginthebedroom · 02/12/2025 12:54

I think that if you're paying to stay somewhere and there's a slug infestation, the property owner should sort it out!

Would you want to stand on a slug in your bare feet in the dark?

There’s no such thing as a slug infestation. They slither in and out, nowhere is immune unless it’s hermetically sealed.

thecatneuterer · 02/12/2025 16:46

Moving out because of one slug?? Jesus wept. That's too snowflakey for words.

RedTagAlan · 02/12/2025 16:29

MrMucker · 02/12/2025 16:03

Am I the only one to be astonished at how humans are so disconnected from nature these days?
Why o why don't people pack sensibly anymore? I always take a distraction lettuce leaf, a small pot of fine salt, and a dedicated liquidised-slug-spoon for precisely these overnight scenarios.

A saucer of beer too ?

I heard they like beer. I think that's what Alan Titchmarsh said.

Do you get the fine salt through customs ok ?

:-)

Maryberrysbouffant · 02/12/2025 16:23

I mean, I’m not a slug fan but one slug sneaking in wouldn’t have me running for the hills demanding a refund. A bunch of slugs having a slug party would be a different matter.

Boomer55 · 02/12/2025 16:21

One slug? You’ve got no chance of a refund. 😂

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 02/12/2025 16:18

Blimey, slug or no slug, good luck when your credit card provider discovers you have misused the claim back system….

Ketzele · 02/12/2025 16:16

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 02/12/2025 13:19

I live in london!!!

Shocked this is common 🤢🤢🤢

Excuse me while i dry wretch 😅

Edited

I live in London too, and think slugs are the devil's bogeys - I really hate them - but they do sometimes invade. I have a very visible slug train all over my ceiling (FFS) from an invader who did eventually die and drop to the floor right beside my sleeping face!

CluelessAboutBiology · 02/12/2025 16:09

I’m with you OP, I’m absolutely terrified of slugs, I’d have run away screaming in the middle of the night.

ContentedAlpaca · 02/12/2025 16:07

I couldn't vote. I would have voted yabu but I'm not sure 1 slug represents an infestation or the need to leave a bad review.

Megifer · 02/12/2025 16:06

RedTagAlan · 02/12/2025 15:57

I have to admit it.... I looked up how fast they can move.

0.05 to 0.5 inches per minute.

Taking the full sprint speed of 0.5 inch per minute. For a 12 foot room, it will take (12x12)/ 0.5 = 288 minutes for a slug to cross it. 4.8 hours.

So, if the slugs are hiding in along the edegs of our 12 foot room. and all set off at the same time to infest the middle of the room, we are looking at 2.4 hours for them to form their marauding pack.

So plenty of time for a cuppa before taking anti infestation measures.

:-)

👏👏👏👏

MrMucker · 02/12/2025 16:03

Am I the only one to be astonished at how humans are so disconnected from nature these days?
Why o why don't people pack sensibly anymore? I always take a distraction lettuce leaf, a small pot of fine salt, and a dedicated liquidised-slug-spoon for precisely these overnight scenarios.

RedTagAlan · 02/12/2025 15:57

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 02/12/2025 14:42

Slug infestation 🤣, thats a first

I have to admit it.... I looked up how fast they can move.

0.05 to 0.5 inches per minute.

Taking the full sprint speed of 0.5 inch per minute. For a 12 foot room, it will take (12x12)/ 0.5 = 288 minutes for a slug to cross it. 4.8 hours.

So, if the slugs are hiding in along the edegs of our 12 foot room. and all set off at the same time to infest the middle of the room, we are looking at 2.4 hours for them to form their marauding pack.

So plenty of time for a cuppa before taking anti infestation measures.

:-)