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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU paying for cancelled holiday

102 replies

Tinkerbec · 02/01/2018 11:42

We had booked as a group(6) to go on holiday paying a deposit. The deposit for the group was £1200.

My friend and her partner have split up and he thinks everyone should lose their money. She thinks they should pay £1200.

It is a lot of money to lose but we no longer want to go if they aren’t. I am not sure whether I should just let my £200 go. Well £400 for myself and partner.

Who is BU?
Also have you lost any money on holidays ? It seems that some things are beyond insurance control.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinkerbec · 02/01/2018 13:27

Tbh I'm just a bit jealous you cab afford to walk away from 400 without a second thought

I can’t. It would be no holiday for us.

The other couple don’t want to go either without the couple in common.
Aghhhh

OP posts:
MissDuke · 02/01/2018 13:30

Well if none of you want to go then don't go, simple! But definitely do not expect the broken up couple to pay all the money!

gamerchick · 02/01/2018 13:30

Why, are they bringing the drugs? What’s so great about them that you can’t just holiday with the couple in question? Confused

gamerchick · 02/01/2018 13:31

*the other couple rather

It’s a bit shit that those 2 are just dropping you all in it like that... selfish. I don’t think they’re that great.

Lweji · 02/01/2018 13:32

Well if none of you want to go then don't go, simple! But definitely do not expect the broken up couple to pay all the money!

This.

Unless you would still want to go, in which case the other four should refund you.

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 02/01/2018 13:36

You have a few options.

  1. You go as five and all pay a bit extra to cover the missing person
  2. Another person comes, pays his/her full amount and fills the space left by number six not coming.
  3. You cancel the holiday altogether.
  4. The person who is no longer coming still pays for the space that they no longer want to take but are responsible for.

Figure out which option the five people going would prefer. It does seem unfair on the others to just cancel. I think you all need to get together to sort this even if it’s just a group chat.

arethereanyleftatall · 02/01/2018 13:36

If you don't go, that's your choice. (It's a strange choice tbh).
Therefore couple pulling out should only pay their own deposits.

GoldenMalicious · 02/01/2018 13:38

I think it would partly depend on the nature of the holiday, and whether or not it is something that you could go ahead with if Couple A drop out, or if their absence makes it untenable. What I mean is, if you were all going to, say, a hotel, booking 3 double rooms and meeting up each day, then I think it's reasonable that you could still go ahead with the holiday without Couple A. If in these circumstances you chose not to go ahead, then I think you should bear the loss of the deposit.

However, if the nature of the holiday is that it requires 6 people for it to work (or be affordable) - such as a holiday cottage for 6 to share - then it would be more likely that you couldn't afford to go ahead if Couple A drop out. So in this situation, I think Couple A should recompense you for the lost deposit.

SSDGM · 02/01/2018 13:51

If it's booked through a tour operator and not all separately with some online travel agency then you can pay a small fee and transfer the deposit to a holiday you and your partner can go on alone without losing the deposit. If you booked through a high street travel agent (this kind of thing is when they come in VERY handy) they should be able to advise.

Original poster
Tinkerbec · 02/01/2018 14:15

Sorry. I have been to soft olay whilst trying to reply.

It is a villa. So the cost would go up.

We really don’t know anyone who could fill their place. It’s in July.

OP posts:
Lweji · 02/01/2018 14:19

When do you have to pay in full?

If it's something like a month before, I wait and see what happens.

By then the couple may be back together, one could have a new partner, or find someone else to go with them.

You could also contact whoever you made the reservation with and see if they could find someone else and refund the deposit.

SSDGM · 02/01/2018 14:38

Will the Villa company do a name change on the accommodation part? you could offer to sell to someone you know at a discount of say, £100pp so you only lose half? Who are your flights with?

nevereverafter · 02/01/2018 14:51

If it's a villa then that makes it tricky. It does seem unfair that you are loosing out because of them.

BarbaraofSevillle · 02/01/2018 14:58

The whole group shouldn't lose money due to the decisions of one/two people. Is the £1200 the deposit or the whole cost of the villa?

Can you try and transfer the booking to another group if you cannot find one or two new people to fill the space(s) left by the couple who have split up?

Ginkypig · 02/01/2018 15:23

Well it looks to me like it's decided

The split couple aren't going so now neither of the other 2 now want to go so cancel it and try to recoup as much as you can (the villa company might return some money due to having so much time to resell)

Original poster
Tinkerbec · 02/01/2018 15:26

The £1200 is the deposit.

I don’t think we could sell it to a stranger it would be a bit odd.

The other couple think they should pay as they are the ones changing the whole plans.

I would feel bad about that.

All my other friends have children or can’t afford it or have other plans.

I will speak to the travel agent but talking to the other couples they seem to think its likely we would have to pay the cost of the villa in total.

OP posts:
LML83 · 02/01/2018 15:27

I wouldn't expect the split couple to pay for all deposits they are going through a tough time anyway.

See if deposit can be transferred to another holiday?

Go with other couple, or loose deposit. It is disappointing.

Lweji · 02/01/2018 15:30

I will speak to the travel agent but talking to the other couples they seem to think its likely we would have to pay the cost of the villa in total.

This is unlikely.
Was a £1200 deposit paid without looking at terms and conditions?

Usually deposits can be returned until a given date. Or at least with a relatively small penalty.

Original poster
Tinkerbec · 02/01/2018 15:35

I think some of the money will be lost on the flights.

So we either pay more for the villa or lose £400. 200 each

A transfer to another holiday would be great but don’t know if they will do this.

OP posts:
Hissy · 02/01/2018 15:35

I wonder if you can transfer to a smaller villa?

Lweji · 02/01/2018 15:37

Flights can often be refunded too. At least airport charges can, and they often make up most of the cost.

Original poster
Tinkerbec · 02/01/2018 15:40

Thanks all. I hope so.

I am prepared to take the hit but the other couple seem quite annoyed.

OP posts:
thecatsthecats · 02/01/2018 15:55

Well if they're annoyed, they aren't exactly being proactive about it. They could just say to you guys - shame about the split, let's try and find someone, and we can work around each other staying at the villa if need be.

If they were willing to spend a week with relative strangers plus the other couple in the first place, I don't understand why it's suddenly unthinkable for them to share with you now. And if they have MH issues that make it challenging, it was selfish of them to enter into an arrangement with a high risk of failure without making that clear first.

BewareOfDragons · 02/01/2018 16:13

Any chance the company could help you downsize to a smaller villa for 4 instead of 6?

BackforGood · 02/01/2018 16:15

I am prepared to take the hit but the other couple seem quite annoyed.

So would I be. £400 is a lot of money lost, to 'not go on holiday'.
I don't see why the 5 of you can't go, or, if preferred, the now single friend brings a mate instead of her e.