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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wait and see if I can get away without paying?

32 replies

MightyNice · 15/03/2012 11:18

Booked flights and hotel a couple of weeks (ish) ago for Easter hols, have confirmed the booking in triplicate and company are 100% positive they have received payment but it definitely hasn't left my account. They suggest I contact my bank if I am worried but otherwise not to worry as the booking is definitely secure and firm and paid for as far as they are concerned.

Would you wait and see or would you contact the bank? I like the idea of a free holiday, had a free stay in Novotel in Genoa once before as result of similar glitch. Or is it sort of stealing? Confused

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/03/2012 11:22

As much as I'd love the idea of a free holiday, I'd contact the bank because otherwise I'd panic something would go wrong on the day Sad

The holiday company can say what they like now, but if it's eventually proven that you haven't paid, you won't be going anywhere.

Coconutty · 15/03/2012 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 11:25

yes that's an awful thought isn't it, although my confirmation email/e-ticket is a receipt which clearly says 'paid in full' - I suppose I could come up with a plan B just in case it all goes horribly wrong when we show up

OP posts:
marathonrunner · 15/03/2012 11:25

I would be worried they would notice in 6 months time and want the money then when I won't necessarily have it.

ParanoidAnnie · 15/03/2012 11:28

I used to work for a bank and this sort of thing did happen. It could be 'pending' on your account and can sit there for quite a while. The money would either be taken off your account eventually (it is up to the holiday company to action this) or it will drop off, if you see what I mean. If and when it 'drops off' the holiday company would then notice and I would assume contact you to say they haven't received the funds...

HTH

WorraLiberty · 15/03/2012 11:30

The thing is, the holiday and flights may be double booked now.

So even if you take the confirmation saying 'paid in full', if they can prove you haven't...and have already sold the holiday to someone else, it could fuck everything up.

You might get a small amount of compo or a voucher, but I doubt that would mean much to you on the day.

Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 11:35

Ok, thanks, so by contacting the holiday company (three times!) I have sort of done the right thing?

Just read and re read the email about a dozen times and it is very much a receipt with only the contributo di soggiorno to pay on check out - will give it until about 72 hours before we fly and if they still haven't taken it will see what happens. Perhaps we can have an adventure in the Luton Travelodge instead? Grin

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/03/2012 11:38

It's the bank you need to contact!

The holiday company could send you a boquet of flowers with "Thank you for your payment...we love you"

But it won't make a jot of difference if/when they find out it was an error and you didn't pay a penny.

Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 11:43

my bank are SO ANNOYING to contact by phone these days, it's a good thing I like the element of surprise and expecting the unexpected and so on otherwise I would be hounding them - I'll call them if the money still hasn't gone by this time next week though

I suppose having got away with it once (although that time it wasn't my card) I am wondering if it is some sort of gift from God :)

OP posts:
saturdaygirl · 15/03/2012 11:56

You know the answer, this is stealing. It is because of this sort of attitude that prices keep going up all the time, everybody wanting something for nothing. OK, you may have tried to do the right thing, although not to the bank I notice, but you still ask the question as to whether it is a "gift from god".

How would you feel it this was your business and you made what could be a mistake, nobody told you and you went bankrupt, it can happen!!!!

Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 12:00

bank says it isn't even pending!

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 15/03/2012 12:02

if you want to be honest and do the right thing, you need to tell them I'm afraid.

Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 12:12

Oh I have now, there are a couple of other transactions not showing as well but while they found those pending they haven't had any request for the holiday amount at all. There is just no record of it, they said contact the agent which I have, three times (phone and email) and they are starting to treat me as a total neurotic because they say they have received the money so it is a mystery.

Went through the whole verified by visa thing when I paid with debit card so it's not as if I randomly entered the wrong card number or anything. Plus is all linked to billing address isn't it? Really bizarre. Better warn my daughter that the booking might not be entirely safe and see if she has any ideas for alternative plans!

OP posts:
wheremommagone · 15/03/2012 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 12:19

yes, they sent them the next day (well, the e-ticket print out thing)

OP posts:
Original poster
MightyNice · 15/03/2012 12:45

just bumping to see if this has happened to anyone else

OP posts:
Original poster
MightyNice · 16/03/2012 15:15

another bump just in case

they still haven't taken the money, I'm a bit tempted to book my summer holiday through them too (sorry if this means am singlehandedly bringing the global economy to its knees etc)

OP posts:
MichaelaS · 16/03/2012 15:47

sounds to me like you've gone out of yoru way to tell them you haven't paid, you've told them several times AND contacted your bank.

Personally i'd still be nervous about last minute cancellations but to say that "this is stealing" is ridiculous. What are you supposed to do, march round with a wad of cash and force them to take it?

I'd be prepared to pay should they change their minds, be prepared that the tickets might get last minute cancelled, but i'm not sure you can do anything else on the honesty front!

CakeMeIAmYours · 16/03/2012 15:55

Its not stealing, for it to be considered theft, you have to have firstly been dishonest and secondly, you must have intended to permanently deprive the rightful owner of the 'thing'

So, you haven't been dishonest, as it was their mistake which you have tried to rectify, and you have made every effort to 'return' that which you had 'taken'.

It's not theft at all - frustrating when people bandy around words like 'stealing' without fully understanding their meaning.

Morally, well that's a different question, and one that is up to you.

lollipoppet · 16/03/2012 16:08

I personally would leave it and see what happens, you've got your tickets...

Sometimes the universe makes nice things happen?

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 16/03/2012 16:46

I'd leave it and hope for the best. Why won't they listen to you when you say you haven't paid though? Wierd!

If it all goes well, make a donation to charity when you get back.

Goawaybob · 16/03/2012 17:43

HAve you put it in writing to them that you have paid? I would possibly email them, save the email saying that despite many attempts to inform them that the money has not left your account, they have insisted that there is no money to pay - and unless they action this immediately, you will not be liable for any attempts to take the money from your account in the future. Or something like that .

fatherchewylouis · 16/03/2012 17:50

Are you sure the money didn't go out immediately? Have you looked through entire statement for the month you paid?

fatherchewylouis · 16/03/2012 17:52

Actually ignore my comments. A couple of weeks abroad over Easter is going to cost too much to just not realise it has left your account.

Stratters · 16/03/2012 17:53

Are you checking the right card? I've done the same, then discovered I'd used the credit card (which I never use and is my emergency back up card), rather than my debit card.