Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday cancellation (I think), booked to go with a friend

129 replies

Mumsfriend · 23/05/2019 10:26

Hey,
Would really appreciate some help.
I agreed to go on holiday with a friend. We agreed that I would book and she would pay. It was a package deal via TUI.
I booked it and paid for it, and she transferred the money.
The deposit has been paid the rest due by 1st June, almost 500.00 still to be paid.
The friend has sent me a letter to say please let me have my money back Re holiday. If I don’t receive within 5 working days I will process through small claims court - letter came out of the blue.
I have tried to phone, text from different numbers (for if any issues), emailed and even knocked on her door (she was home), she didn’t answer the phone, texts or emails.
I don’t even know if she wants the holiday cancelled the letter states nothing but give me back my money.
The cancellation fee is 400.00, which has already been paid. She has paid me nearly 500.00 for the holiday and asking for it back. I haven’t cancelled and although she hasn’t confirmed cancel, it does sound like she no longer wants to go.
I have said to her in texts/emails/hand posted letter I will pay half of the cancellation fee of 200.00 and she should pay the Other 200.00 and will then give her back the rest, however she has ignored me.
What do I do?

OP posts:
thenightsky · 23/05/2019 10:30

How weird. Confused

Email her back and tell her how much the cancellation fee is. Its very annoying that she won't talk to you, as then you could maybe get her to transfer the holiday to someone else's name. Does she have form for being a twat?

nc100 · 23/05/2019 10:32

Is there anyone else you can go with? It's your booking so you can change name on it.

Do you have any mutual friends who could shed some light on it or ask her what's going on?

Lemontwist · 23/05/2019 10:35

Is there no clue as to why she no longer wants to go? Have you had a falling out?

If it is that she has changed her mind and wants to cancel for no good reason then surely she should be paying all of the cancellation fee!

blackcatclocks · 23/05/2019 10:37

Why on earth would anyone do that. Very strange.

Original poster
Mumsfriend · 23/05/2019 10:38

Mutual friend tried to phone her - she also got ignored.
To be honest with all the hassle I’d rather not bother going. Would rather hold my head up high, spilt the cancellation charges and walk away.
I haven’t cancelled yet as I need to know what she is playing at as her letter only says give me bs k my money... no other details apart from threatening small claims court. Think I’m being pretty decent by offerering to spilt the cancellation fee and saying I’ll return the other monies (I’be also told her, I need her bank details to pay back the monies) again ignored me. I posted s letter through her front door, so she has the letter.

OP posts:
Zampa · 23/05/2019 10:38

I'd cancel and send her £100 back.

twirlypoo · 23/05/2019 10:40

I would also cancel and attach a receipt of the cancellation charge “please find attached a cheque for your £500 deposit less cancellation charge as requested. Kind regards, ex friend who’s had a lucky escape!”

How bloody weird of her to go about it this way though!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 23/05/2019 10:44

Well, she'll get nowhere with a money claim as a judge would have to leave you out of pocket for her decision, they don't do that, they apply common sense: joint holiday, she has pulled out, you have both lost money, she shares in that loss . You might get a better shake at suing her Smile

Having said that, as you did the booking the money will come to you, so you can pay off the cancellation fee and give her whatever is left - after she has paid the WHOLE cancellation fee - with a letter itemising the deducations and explaining that her total lack of communication has left you no alternative action!

She hasn't really left you much choice, has she?

SistersKeeper12 · 23/05/2019 10:44

Cancel the holiday and return the £100 to her. Why should you be £200 out of pocket because she has messed you around. Her attitude and the way she has gone about this is bizarre and rude. Does she have form for this behaviour? Aside to be very angry at her treatment of you, if she is a close friend, which I assume she is if you are going away together, I might be a bit concerned if this is out of character. Before the letter what was your friendship like? Was she behaving oddly then?

SupaNintendoChalmers · 23/05/2019 10:46

Friend? What sort of friend acts like that.
Has she been through anything recently that would have her acting so bizarrely?
It just doesn't make sense to me! Very strange. Can you find another friend to go with you instead so you don't have to cancel?
She sounds very strange.

nc100 · 23/05/2019 10:47

Why on earth are you offering her £200?

Don't give her a penny. She's not a friend

cranstonmanor · 23/05/2019 10:47

I'd be tempted to go to court, that way you'll find out what is wrong with her.

theemmadilemma · 23/05/2019 10:48

Yeah half the cancellation fee and send her the rest back. That would hold up I'm sure.

Summerorjustmaybe · 23/05/2019 10:50

Post 50% of what is left after cancelling through her door in pennies....

PutyourtoponTrevor · 23/05/2019 10:50

Do not pay half the cancellation fee, she can fuck right off

nc100 · 23/05/2019 10:50

Really? People think OP should pay half the cancellation fee for a holiday she didn't want to cancel?

Freshbreadandbutter · 23/05/2019 10:53

You must have some idea of what she's suddenly cancelled? What a shame

WeeDangerousSpike · 23/05/2019 10:54

Bugger paying half the cancellation fee, are you nuts?

You wouldn't be paying the fee at all if she hadn't pulled out, so she pays all of it.

Her being weird shouldn't cost you money, it's not your fault.

Ginkypig · 23/05/2019 10:55

Is there anything you can think of which would explain this quite frankly odd behaviour?

Have you had a disagreement recently or is she going through a hard time or is there a backstory which shows her as always a difficult friend?

thenightsky · 23/05/2019 10:55

On reflection I think do nothing and let her take you to court.

loubieloulou · 23/05/2019 10:57

I too would cancel I send her £100 back.
With a a printed email screenshot of the £400 cancellation charges. I would just post it through her door & be done with her, as in no contact. How rude of her!

Original poster
Mumsfriend · 23/05/2019 11:01

Literally no idea why the letter turned up, hence why a little in shock about the situation and tried to find out why. I have my thoughts on it... probably meeting a bloke and making other arrangements (has form / but not guaranteed the reason). She knows I’ve got rubbish going on myself, so don’t need extra rubbish, hence why I’ve tried to communicate, offered to pay half the cancellation and be out of pocket and then back away as a friend.
I guess I’ll have to wait for the small claims court letter, I’ve kept all the texts, missed calls, evidence that I’ve tried to sort things out

OP posts:
FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 23/05/2019 11:01

Don't split the cancellation fee! It's not you who's chosen to cancel!

allergyhelpnewbaby · 23/05/2019 11:03

I know how it work at the small claims court works. Does he have to pay to use the court system? Could some of that cost be transferred to you?

I would be tempted to send her a letter by recorded delivery offering her deposit minus either the whole or half the cancellation fee depending on how generous you are and then if she doesn’t respond that that evidence with you to court to say you have tried to resolve the issue. I can’t imagine a judge will take kindly to a person who jumps to court action when you are trying to resolve the issue.

LIZS · 23/05/2019 11:06

Is she aware she won't get her full £500 back. Maybe send a email and/or letter giving her the figures and asking her to confirm she accepts it.