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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Preciosaundostres · 23/05/2019 13:48

That is just down right cruel that is not a friend. I agree with ginkypig something jas made her bail out !!! i would be demanding a valid reason as to why she is behaving this way before any action is taken sit on her doorstep if you have to until she makes an appearance thats what i would do and athen rectify the problem accordingly then walk away with your head held. All the best with it. Let us all know how you get on .

Myheartbelongsto · 23/05/2019 13:50

Don’t give her penny op as she should be paying cancellation fee

MaryPopppins · 23/05/2019 13:55

I just re-read the OP.

Have you paid anything towards the trip?

You say "we agreed that I would book and she would pay"

Was she paying for the whole trip for both of you?

That changes things.....

Troels · 23/05/2019 13:59

I'd get another friend to come, last time I made changes with TUI it was £50 to change the booking over the phone. Change it to another friend who will pay ex friends share and she can then have her money back, minus the £50 for the change to the booking.

Pinkvoid · 23/05/2019 14:01

Did she pay for the whole trip or only her half of it? Your OP isn’t very clear, I read it twice but seems to say she agreed to pay for the trip so refunded you after you paid for it.

If she did pay for the whole thing then that changes everything and yeah, she needs her money back. No idea why she’s cancelled suddenly and is now blanking you if you haven’t had a fall out, absolutely bizarre behaviour. If I misread and you paid half towards it then I’d just cancel and just give her £100 back.

museumum · 23/05/2019 14:05

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’d actually be worried she’s having some kind of breakdown or being held captive by this new boyfriend you mentioned. If this was any friend of mine I’d be worried.

Itssosunny · 23/05/2019 14:07

Looks like she doesn't consider you as her friend. Talk to CAB or have 30min free with a solicitor. There's something wrong with you friend. She sounds quite nasty.

Rozzie18 · 23/05/2019 14:09

She is trying to scare you into giving back the money by threatening small claims. Cancel the holiday and send her £100. It is all she deserves if she doesn’t have the decency to speak to you. Or even better just give her £100 and go on your own!

Itssosunny · 23/05/2019 14:10

OP, have you checked all your messages including the Spam? She may have already asked you to cancel it once or twice. And as she has received no response from you that's why she has sent you another email threatening you.

AlunWynsKnee · 23/05/2019 14:10

Whatever you do decide to do, don't give her cash without getting her to give you some form of receipt. So don't put an envelope of cash through the door. She can claim you didn't and you can't prove you did. Use a cheque or bank transfer clearly labelled as holiday cancellation payment.

EnglishRose13 · 23/05/2019 14:13

When was the last time you had contact prior to this letter?

PollyShelby · 23/05/2019 14:20

WTAF? Tell her no.

Cakeandcustard123 · 23/05/2019 14:21

I don't understand your post. Did she pay for the whole holiday including your half or just her half?

Presumably the £400 you would lose is the deposit that has been paid, and she is therefore asking for you not to pay the remaining £500 balance on the 1st June and return it to her? Would the £400 loss be covered by what has already been paid because if so then I think you need to return the full £500 to her.

Absolutely bizarre way for her to go about it though.

horizontalis · 23/05/2019 14:23

Keep everything, texts emails, letters, the lot. Write down exactly when and how you have tried to contact her in other ways too, by telephoning, and going round to her house.

To be honest, I think if this got as far as the small claims court then she wouldn't have a leg to stand on because she hasn't actually asked you to cancel the holiday, nor is she prepared to discuss anything with you, despite your many attempts to contact her.

DuMondeB · 23/05/2019 14:25

Whatever you decide to return (I’d say she is liable for the entire cancellation cost so that you aren’t out of pocket at all), make sure it’s via a trackable method - no cash in an envelope!

SavingSpaces2019 · 23/05/2019 14:26

If there's no other backstory to this then i'd be extremely worried.
I'd ask the police to do a welfare check on her - seeing as nobody can contact her and this has come out of the blue.
For all you know her latest bf could be controlling and abusive and behind all this.

Threatening you with court action without even communicating with you like a normal/decent person is out of order and i wouldn't stand for it.
Pay the cancellation fee out of her money seeing as it's her that's cancelling and refuses to communicate.
Don't worry about court action - it's just a nasty, bullying tactic.

Acis · 23/05/2019 14:31

Does your friend work? Can you contact her there?

Acis · 23/05/2019 14:34

The problem with sending anything recorded delivery is that, if she refuses to come to the door, you will just get your letter back. It's probably best to be very belt-and-braces and send it by recorded delivery, ordinary post and email.

Itssosunny · 23/05/2019 14:40

SavingSpaces2019, very well said.

Littleduckeggblue · 23/05/2019 15:01

Have you financially contributed to the holiday?

Original poster

Mumsfriend · 23/05/2019 15:13

I’ve done some enquiring via her work colleagues and she is fine, at work, nothing wrong. So welfare side of things fine. I don’t want to drag her work colleagues into things. So left that there.
We were both paying equal shares.
I’ve had some advice and been told that it’s a awkward one as although she has put things in writhing she wants her money back, she hasn’t confirmed she wants to cancel the holiday.
Getting some professional advice later on today.
My feelings are, she has met a new boyfriend as I was the last one to make contact and she didn’t reply 2 weeks ago - this is a regular situation.
Thank you for all your comments.

OP posts:

cuppycakey · 23/05/2019 15:20

Oh I would still go on the holiday. Fuck her.

She has failed to respond to your attempts to find out if she wants to cancel so you have nothing to fear.

Sounds like you will have a much better time on your own anyway.

Littleduckeggblue · 23/05/2019 15:22

In that case just change her name to another one of your friends and take them instead!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 23/05/2019 16:02

”Morally - definitely
Legally? Perhaps not, not so sure how a small claims would view this.”

I agree, @budgiegirl, which is why I was careful not to say she is legally liable - but I accept I could have been clearer.

MRex · 23/05/2019 16:48

@Mumsfriend - you said you were the last one to make contact 2 weeks ago, but what were her most recent communications to you and when were they? What she's been saying is clearly going to be relevant in this case.

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