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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be cross that our hotel has withdrawn baby listening because of "recent events"?

110 replies

ArtichokeTagine · 29/05/2007 15:37

DH booked us a weekend away for our anniversary. He chose a hotel with baby listening so that our 9month old DD could be put to bed and then we could go to the restaurant, sit in the bar etc. He paid a £50 non refundable deposit.

Today we got an e-mail from the hotel telling us that "due to recent events" baby listening is no longer available. They have "offered" to let us pay for babysitting in the room instead.

I am sooo cross. I don't want to get into the details of the McCann case but it was totally differnt. They were not using baby listening. Had they been the outcome may have been different. Also
they were on the ground floor in an open site. We would have been on the 3rd floor so no access through windows.

Many hotels in the UK have offered baby listening for years with no problems. I am really disappointed about this. We don't want to pay for a baby sitter and any way DD is a light sleeper and having a stranger in our room with her is likely to disturb her.

Am I being unreasonable to think the hotel are wrong to withdraw this service?

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 15:39

It's up to them whether they offer the service or not. I think in the circumstances they should refund your deposit if you choose not to stay there. I ecpect they would do this if you kick up a fuss about it.

Desiderata · 29/05/2007 15:41

I don't think the hotel are wrong to withdraw this service.

As F&Z says, if you're unhappy then ask them for a refund and book somewhere else.

nailpolish · 29/05/2007 15:44

i wuld ahve thought they would have upped the baby listening service. made it bigger and better and sooper dooper

maybe though, no one is prepared to be responsible for the baby listening service. the hotel staff i mean. if they cant get staff to do it they would have to withdraw

SoupDragon · 29/05/2007 15:47

I think they're perfectly entitled to withdraw it but should offer to refund your deposit as their establishment no longer meets your requirements.

expatinscotland · 29/05/2007 15:47

They may be concerned about being sued.

I second what F&Z said.

It's their call.

oliveoil · 29/05/2007 15:48

(well even if the McCanns had a baby monitor, that wouldn't have been any use anyway would it?)

tbh, I wouldn't use baby listening either, I would take baby or not bother going for a meal

have they offered to refund?

Original poster
ArtichokeTagine · 29/05/2007 15:49

Have asked for a refund. They say its non refundable. I am very cross about that given they have changed their services since we paid. Its also too late to re-book anywhere nice as its for next weekend.

I am not questionning whether it is their right to withdraw the service. Of course it is. I just think it is a shame that they are having a knee jerk reaction to recent events which were not even to do with baby listening.

OP posts:
oliveoil · 29/05/2007 15:50

I would DEMAND a refund in your situation.

Non refundable my arse!

you booked a service, it is no longer there

phone them up and seethe down the phone and don't take no for an answer

SoupDragon · 29/05/2007 15:51

Of course, with baby listening services they only listen in on occasions, it's not constant. It is still conceivable that someone could get in or a child could get out when they're not listening. Can't say I blame them for withdrawing it really. I do think they should refund you the deposit now they've changed their service though, that stinks.

Original poster
ArtichokeTagine · 29/05/2007 15:52

SoupDragon - i think different hotels have differnt types of baby listening. This was a constant monitor, not occassional tuning in. I would not have considered using it if it were occassional tuning in.

OP posts:
Wotsit · 29/05/2007 15:52

Ask them what rate the babysitting service is and as you have no other option now, ask if they are prepared to offer a discounted rate (ie they share some of the cost, ie they pay for the first hour). Just ask nicely and see what they offer.

Speak to the owner or person who you made the booking with.

Hope you still can have a nice time.

contentiouscat · 29/05/2007 15:55

I can understand them not wanting the responsibility and they should just offer you babysitting service for no extra charge.

Having said that even before recent events im suspcious of everyone and would never leave the most important things in my life with a complete stranger unless they were police checked qualified childcarers.

expatinscotland · 29/05/2007 15:56

Their argument will be that you booked a room, not the service.

I'd take the nicey nice approach first and see how you get on.

FioFio · 29/05/2007 15:57

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FioFio · 29/05/2007 15:57

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TootyFrooty · 29/05/2007 15:59

I always go for the nicey nicey approach first but if that doesn't work just tell them that you made it an explicit term of your contract with them that there would be a baby listening service and that by withdrawing that service they have repudiated the contract so you are treating it as rescinded and would like your money back.

Original poster
ArtichokeTagine · 29/05/2007 16:00

I did try the nicey-nicey approach (even though I sound stroppy now). It got me nowhere .

I guess we will go and pay for a sitter. I am just sad that fear is increasingly limiting our choices in life.

OP posts:
FioFio · 29/05/2007 16:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nailpolish · 29/05/2007 16:02

dont let it spoil your holiday, find a reputable agency and use them

maybe the hotel would go halvers? (omg is that a word?)

j20baby · 29/05/2007 16:02

can you take your own baby monitor?

Original poster
ArtichokeTagine · 29/05/2007 16:12

I have asked if I could take my own monitor and they said no... To be honest I would prefer to be interrupted if DD wakes as it is only me that can comfort her. For us baby listening works perfectly, we have stayed in several places that offered it and it has allowed us freedom while ensuring I am immediatley aware if DD needs me and I can respond to her. This is much less stressful for DD than a babysitter.

I know I can ask the babysitter to call me as soon as she stirs but I will essentially be paying a lot of money for a service I will use like a monitor. Also the babysitter will have to sit in our bedroom which will probably disturb DD. It is a limit on our choices.

OP posts:
wheresthehamster · 29/05/2007 16:15

I've never really thought how baby-listening services work having never used them.

Is there one person listening in to as many rooms are using the service? When there is a noise in the room does this person investigate or do they call you? I was just wondering how long between baby starting screaming and you/listener getting to them.

Also I can never imagine using a stranger for a babysitter. There's something not quite right about that. Apart from worrying that they may have no experience with babies I'd spend the evening thinking they were going through my possessions.

TootyFrooty · 29/05/2007 16:15

Presumably the babysitter will have the necessary crb checks.

Does the babysitter sit in your room in the dark? How bizarre. I'd try the legal jargon approach and try to get your money back. TBH my dses would have freaked (and still would) if they'd woken up to find themselves in a strange room with a strange woman sitting in the dark watching them.

contentiouscat · 29/05/2007 16:18

Hamster they are probably dancing about with your pants on their head LOL

drosophila · 29/05/2007 16:19

Supply and demand. I suspect demand has dropped.