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AIBU?

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Original poster

Lads holiday

32 replies

Flatstanley69 · 26/02/2018 16:18

Advice needed regarding a lads holiday my son has booked. So, 12 lads agreed they were going in 4 rooms. My son got allocated a room with 2 he hardly knew and went ahead and booked with him as the lead passenger using his card. All 3 put to for the deposit.

One lad has pulled out leaving my son and the other lad to shoulder his share. To cancel the booking it would be would be £200. Whatever happens it’s my sons card that gets charged.

The other 9 lads going all said they would chip in but have now gone back on that and the next payment for the holiday is due out Wednesday.

Any advice would be appreciated Smile

OP posts:
DietCokeGirrrrrl · 26/02/2018 16:22

Formal recourse would be through the small claims court, but you would have to pay costs and you aren't guaranteed to win. If your son's friends remain adamant that they aren't paying could you ask their parents? Obviously that depends on the age of your son and whether he would just be mortified by that!

TheButterflyOfTheStorms · 26/02/2018 16:25

I know it doesn't solve the problem now but sometimes making expensive financial mistakes young can save a lot of issues later. He's learned now to get money up-front and not be the one left holding the can.

I wouldn't be 'solving' this for him. Or going to the other parents FGS. If they're old enough to go away, they are old enough to sort their own issues. I would talk things through with him.

DalekDalekDalek · 26/02/2018 16:26

He's probably just going to have to take this one on the chin and pay or cancel and loose the deposit. Good lesson learned about getting money off people before paying for things.

Curtainshopping · 26/02/2018 16:27

Very poor form on the part of the rest of them to chip in. Is it too late to cancel the whole trip? Could threaten them with that.

Trinity66 · 26/02/2018 16:29

bit shitty of the group to go back on it now not to mention the arsehole who cancelled, not sure what he can actually do about it now though

Trinity66 · 26/02/2018 16:29

Very poor form on the part of the rest of them to chip in. Is it too late to cancel the whole trip? Could threaten them with that.

That would only effect himself and the other guy he's sharing the room with though

Smeaton · 26/02/2018 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Handsfull13 · 26/02/2018 16:32

I'd cancel. Get the guy who pulled out to pay towards the cancellation fee and spilt the rest between your son and the other roommate and call it a learning experience not to pay for everyone or get stuck with people you don't know.

DalekDalekDalek · 26/02/2018 16:33

What about trying to get another lad to fill the space left by the one that pulled out?

But really if your son is old enough to go on holiday by himself then he is old enough to sort it out himself. You shouldn't be getting involved and certainly don't involve the other parents.

BarbaraofSevillle · 26/02/2018 16:34

So who does know flakey Jake who's pulled out and left your DS paying for his holiday as well as his own? Is there mitigating circumstances (illness, bereavement, job loss) or has he just changed his mind or spent the money elsewhere?

Can your DS put pressure on via whichever in the group does know him well? It's not on that they've left him to shoulder all the extra cost at all.

So instead of them all losing, what £30-40 each, your DS has to lose hundreds? How mean is that? What does the holiday company advice and is there any chance of someone else taking his place? SOmetimes with group holidays, they allow name changes for free or reduced cost upto not long before travel.

If they can't sort it out within the group your DS should write/email/text Flakey Jake and tell him that if he doesn't cover the costs that he is going to lose due to FJ pulling out, he will take him to the small claims court for the money. That might be a bit of a wake up call.

And if your DS hardly knows this lad, he doesn't have to worry about losing a mate, not that leaving someone in the shit to the tune of hundreds of pounds is something that a mate does anyway, is it?

SweetMoon · 26/02/2018 16:37

Don't any of them know anyone else to take his place?

Failingat40 · 26/02/2018 16:39

I'd send the one who pulled out a choice in writing: an invoice for the full amount due or a replacement to take his place.

He should also get payment now from the other guy he's in a room with just in case it happens again with him.

It's relatively cheap to take someone to small claims court.

Alternatively he should perhaps speak to his card company and get his card cancelled so no further payment can be taken against the booking.

Iloveacurry · 26/02/2018 16:44

Surely one of them know someone to take the place?

Original poster
Flatstanley69 · 26/02/2018 16:44

Flakey Jake is going in the army and the rest of the lads don’t really care! It’s left my son not really wanting to go now although, he has tried to fill the space but hasn’t had any takers.

OP posts:
Kikashi · 26/02/2018 16:47

I would push for the group to pay and/or put pressure on the no show to find a replacement. They agreed to chip in and so they should stick to that

SangriaInTheSun · 26/02/2018 16:47

The easiest solution would be to get someone else and do a name change (around £50 usually) Failing that, as he's the lead name it's down to him to pay for the holiday or cancel and lose his deposit.

How much has flaky boy paid? Is it the balance of a low deposit did on Wednesday? How much has the holiday gone up now there are fewer people in the room?

I don't see him getting anywhere with the small claims court as I doubt that he has anything in writing from the flaky boy saying he would pay up.

Pretty crappy all round but a life lesson in who to trust.

BarbaraofSevillle · 26/02/2018 16:54

But paying the deposit shows intention that he plans to pay the rest and go on the holiday and it will be in all the T&Cs what money is due when.

Just because Flakey Jake won't have read any of this doesn't mean that he hasn't agreed to it in principle.

I would ask the travel company if anything can be done (change the triple room to a twin for example) to mitigate the loss and if not proceed with the original plan to formally warn Flakey Jake that if he doesn't pay what he agreed, he will go to the small claims court.

What is the argument against that? That the OPs DS was treating someone he hardly knew to a holiday?

Original poster
Flatstanley69 · 26/02/2018 16:54

All three lads have paid 70 each. There’s another 200 each left to pay. When he’s asked the other lads they have now been pretty blunt and said no.

OP posts:
McDougalMcPhee · 26/02/2018 16:54

well if the others wont pay and dont care then the holiday is off then - how much has be paid already

McDougalMcPhee · 26/02/2018 16:55

sorry didnt read it properly, its only the room that would be cancelled if they dont go - fuckers

Trinity66 · 26/02/2018 16:56

well if the others wont pay and dont care then the holiday is off then - how much has be paid already

It would only be "off" for her son and the guy he's sharing the room with though (if I'm reading the OP correctly) He is the lead name for his room not the whole thing.......is that right?

Peanutbuttercups21 · 26/02/2018 16:56

I would just bail now.

Lesson learnt.

From now on, only book for others if they have fully paid the amount (not just deposit) or every man books for himself.

Trinity66 · 26/02/2018 16:58

£200 divided by 11 is just over £18 each, that's really mean of them

SangriaInTheSun · 26/02/2018 17:00

Unfortunately just bailing isn't an option as op's son will have signed a booking form agreeing to pay the full deposit. Is it def £270 each? That seems very high. Who is the tour operator?

Original poster
Flatstanley69 · 26/02/2018 17:00

He’s messaged flakey who said he can’t afford to pay. My son said neither can he and flakey said just cancel me off the booking. My son has told him that he can’t cancel without it costing and flakey has not responded.

OP posts: