Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my friends to pay?

252 replies

samppo · 08/12/2018 15:39

Me and 3 friends are going away for one night next year June.
The hotel room is 2 double beds and is costing £248.
As usual I reserved it on my bank card (using booking.com) 3 months ago.
Today checked my bank and yesterday they've charge my account the full £248.
I've text my friends telling them what's happened and can they all pay there share.
They've all said no this close to Christmas,they have nights out planned and this close to Christmas can't do it.
So basically I've lost £248 ..I can't afford to cover £248.
Aibu here?

OP posts:
dinosaurglitterrepublic · 08/12/2018 16:16

I would contact the hotel and see if they will return the money for payment later, but if it is a non refundable room and prepayment in line with terms and conditions, they may not assist. Even if they do, a lot of hotel chains Don’t refund quickly (can be within 28 days or so).

Your friends should pay you though, but if they refuse there isn’t a lot you can do. It’s unfortunate it has come out of the blue in December, but seems unfair to make it all your problem. Perhaps try to explain this again and ask what they can pay towards it now and what remainder they can pay next month.

On a more practical level, if you don’t have an overdraft, you can contact your bank and ask for a temporary overdraft. Not the point of the thread, but if you are genuinely left unable to meet your financial commitments due to this then an option to consider.

It’s a shame that you have to bear the burden of the inconvenience when you arrange a group thing. Like you say, it’s often why nobody wants to volunteer!

Knittedfairies · 08/12/2018 16:16

Have they paid you for the concert tickets?

Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:23

Spoke to hotel they can't refund.
Yeah concert tickets are paid for.

OP posts:
VictoryOrValhalla · 08/12/2018 16:23

I have the concert tickets too

Good. Leverage.

HJWT · 08/12/2018 16:30

How much do they each oh you ? I understand both sides tbh! Obviously it's really shit and unfair for you but they aren't going to ruin there Christmas plans because of it, if the website said you could pay nearer the time you need to ring them and get it sorted that way

Dreamscomingtrue · 08/12/2018 16:31

I’ve had this happen to me with booking.com but about 9 months in advance. It was supposed to be pay on arrival not deducted that far ahead. I rang the hotel and complained as mine was refundable, my husband was having cancer treatment and I didn’t want to pay so far in advance. I’d complain to booking.com that the hotel advertising is misleading, how can it be pay on arrival if the hotel take the money upfront. Maybe to take a small deposit to check that the card is valid but I think to take the full amount is wrong under their advertising conditions you booked the room under.

Bumblebee2302 · 08/12/2018 16:31

If you booked via Booking.com then surely the t&cs on the Booking.com page for the hotel take precedence over the hotel's own website t&cs. Can you get in contact with Booking.com and see if they will intervene as the hotel has breached the terms as set out by them? Make certain to state that the hotel has made an error by charging you now instead of on arrival - get screenshots just in case

slithytove · 08/12/2018 16:33

This is the hotel / booking.com not your friends who are at fault

Talk to booking.com

Mymadworld · 08/12/2018 16:33

I would be messaging your mates words to the effect of:

I know this is shitty timing to be asking for money but I only used my card because no one else offered and it said payment t on arrival. I've checked with the hotel and can't cancel so asking again for a contribution as surely you can see how me stumping up the full amount isn't fair - I'm not asking for all of it, just something from each of you so I can at least afford to get through Christmas.

Iloveautumnleaves · 08/12/2018 16:35

It’s unreasonable to expect your friends to pay now for a hotel in June if they didn’t agree to it.

IF it said on the main page of booking.com ‘Book now, pay later’ they will sort this out for you. They’re very good.

Mymadworld · 08/12/2018 16:35

ETA I'm really sorry but if you aren't able to cover any of the hotel costs I'm going to have to sell your tickets to recoup some of the money. I'd obviously much rather we all went together but simply can't afford it.

Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:36

I'm annoyed because they are happy for me to be over £200 down.
Why should my Christmas plans be ruined?
I didn't agree to be charged now either.

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 08/12/2018 16:38

This I wouldn't have the money now to give you as I wouldnt planned for it until nearer the time. You made the mistake, it's not their fault they can't stump up now.

OriginallyfromLA · 08/12/2018 16:39

I think you have to suck this up. You took on the financial risk and you've lost. Never book on behalf of anyone unless you have the money first.

If I were your friend I wouldn't be impressed by suddenly being asked for money that I was expecting to pay next June (I assumed you said in the first place it would be around that time?) I don't think you can ask for everyone to pay suddenly - December is a flipping expensive month and people will have budgeted accordingly.

recovery18 · 08/12/2018 16:39

Sorry but I think this is your mistake. You are the one who booked the hotel without checking when the money would be taken. If you told your friends they would be paying on arrival then it's a bit off to ask them for the money now, so close to Christmas, when it wasn't their error.

I agree with PP - call bank and ask for overdraft. This is what credit cards are for.

DeaflySilence · 08/12/2018 16:39

"I got a good deal as I clicked book with no refund possible."

Is it London?

Even then, I don't think £248 for 3 people in one room is that good a deal.

Underworld345 · 08/12/2018 16:39

YANBU have you said this to them...that it’s not fair or you? Or just asked for the money? £250ish isn’t a lot split between 4. Maybe suggest if they can’t affors it to use next pay just before Xmas so at least you’re not waiting long.

Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:40

One particular friend found the hotel on booking.com ,I wanted to just go for a premier inn.
Premier inn wasn't posh enough for them so that's why we went for the Marriott.

OP posts:
Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:41

What mistake did I make?

OP posts:
recovery18 · 08/12/2018 16:41

I didn't agree to be charged now either.

Yes you did - you said that the hotel booking says they can charge you at any time prior to arrival Confused I accept you hadn't read or understood it all properly but that is your error.

Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:43

In all fairness it was one of the friends who found this hotel and said it was pay later.
Like I said I would be happy in premier inn.

OP posts:
TidyDancer · 08/12/2018 16:44

This is really difficult. On the one hand, your friends haven't actually done anything wrong here, they weren't expecting to pay so soon and haven't budgeted for it. On the other, neither did you and you did this as a favour to them.

I think a good friend would pay up. For what would be £62 each, they should definitely pay at least half each but more so because it's the decent thing to do than it is an obligation.

Have you made it clear to them how bad a situation this puts you in? What will you have to sacrifice if they don't pay up?

Bumblebee2302 · 08/12/2018 16:45

It is only the hotel website says you can be charged anytime - that is if you book via the hotel website. The OP booked on Booking.com where the terms stated it was pay later/pay on arrival.

OP - please contact Booking.com and they may be able to sort it

Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:45

It clearly stated pay at the property

To expect my friends to pay?
OP posts:
Original poster
samppo · 08/12/2018 16:48

It's only when you go to hotel policies ..it says you will be charged prepayment
In my case the full thing.
They really shouldn't advertise pay at property

To expect my friends to pay?
OP posts:
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.