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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can they charge me for this?

74 replies

holidayhelpp · 12/10/2019 11:14

Booked a week in this country (England) in January in a holiday barn. Wasn’t clear at time of booking that a larger deposit was going to be requested at the end of this month, which is not refundable even in case of cancellation.

I need to cancel for a few reasons.

Thinking of cancelling the card they have on file and ignoring the letters I know they’ll send to my home address

They’ll want around £250. Is this something they’d pursue vigorously do you think? Anyone any experience of these kinds of things?

OP posts:

PinkFlamingo888 · 12/10/2019 11:16

Depends on the company but if you were to book a holiday with TUI using the low deposit scheme, technically you are still liable for the rest of the deposit but although they’d send reminders it just ends up getting written off. A smaller company may not be so happy to do that though.

wowfudge · 12/10/2019 11:17

Cancel before the larger deposit is due then you've no obligation anyway?

What exactly do the Ts and Cs say about payments?

FAQs · 12/10/2019 11:30

Depends what the T&Cs say. I book cottages with Sykes cottages and they make it clear if you cancel the rest of the larger deposit is still payable.

Original poster

holidayhelpp · 12/10/2019 11:41

Yes the t’s and c’s say the larger deposit will be payable. Size of company is medium, quite like Sykes as pp mentioned.

My question is, what will they do when I don’t pay it? Would they go to small claims court over £250??

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/10/2019 11:45

Just cancel now and let the keep the smaller deposit you have already paid?

CAG12 · 12/10/2019 11:49

It grinds my gears that people can be so unethical as this. Pay what you owe. Surely you read the t+c's before you agreed to rent it?

safariboot · 12/10/2019 11:52

If they do go through the courts, or sell the debt to a collection agency who does, then the amount owed can balloon with charges and fees. From an initial £250 debt you could easily end up owing thousands by the time bailiffs come knocking.

Ignoring any debt is very unwise. If you really don't want to pay it you need to argue your case.

Smashtastick · 12/10/2019 11:53

Do you have holiday insurance op? You should have taken this out at the time of. Booking for this very reason! Too late now though.
You agreed a contract with them on booking. Even if you didn't read the t&c you tick the box to say you agree so you owe it.

If your struggling to afford paying it call and explain, see if you can do two or three smaller chunks following cancellation?

CheeryB · 12/10/2019 11:59

It grinds my gears that people can be so unethical as this. Pay what you owe

I agree with this.

Jaxhog · 12/10/2019 12:00

It grinds my gears that people can be so unethical as this. Pay what you owe. Surely you read the t+c's before you agreed to rent it?

Me too. Because guess who'll end up paying if you default? Other customers, that's who.

Ponoka7 · 12/10/2019 12:03

They'll sell the debt on after going to Court.

That usually adds £150 court fees and then more on top.

It will be a company like Lowell or debt management solutions, who do allow a payment plan to be set up.

Lockheart · 12/10/2019 12:18

If it's in the T&C's I don't know why you said it wasn't clear.

Yes you need to pay it. They may not personally pursue it but as other posters have said, they may sell the debt to a collection agency. This will mean the amount you owe will increase as the agency will need to recover their costs too.

Assuming you don't want that to happen, your options are either to discuss with the holiday company and see if they would be willing to waive it, or pay it now and recover from your insurance if possible.

firawla · 12/10/2019 12:32

It’s unlikely that they’d just let it slide without pursuing it if it is in the t&cs

AlexaAmbidextra · 12/10/2019 12:33

Do you have holiday insurance op? You should have taken this out at the time of. Booking for this very reason! Too late now though.

Holiday insurance can only be claimed upon for valid reasons for which evidence can be produced. It won’t cover cancellation for spurious reasons or if the policyholder just changes their mind.

Elieza · 12/10/2019 12:43

Can you not swap the cottage to a different date, perhaps later in the year next year? It seems from their T&Cs that you will have to pay so that would perhaps make the trip more doable (we don’t know why you are cancelling) if the timing is the issue or if you haven’t got spending money right now. Or do you have a relative you could give it to on the understanding that you’ve paid x amount, the amount owed is y amount, if you pay that you can have the holiday. (I know you lose out in your deposit but better that than your credit score being messed up).

It only costs something like £45 to take someone to the small claims court so for the sum you owe I would think they would do it. Or sell the debt to a company who will escalate the amount owed significantly. You will owe thousands and have your credit score affected.

PrestonNotHeston · 12/10/2019 12:51

Can't you just TALK to them?! If you explain the circumstances that are forcing you to cancel they might be sympathetic about rearranging the dates.

Sunshine93 · 12/10/2019 12:52

Rather than just hide why don't you ring the company. They may be able to transfer your money if you book a different trip or they may be willing to set up a payment plan
Who knows, they may even waive it. I suspect they would take it to course, yes.

Sunshine93 · 12/10/2019 12:53

Court

Butchyrestingface · 12/10/2019 12:56

I don’t understand. Surely if you cancel before the larger deposit has to be paid at the end of the month then you’re in the clear?

How much was the smaller deposit? Is that what you won’t get back?

TheresWaldo · 12/10/2019 12:57

I've just cancelled a booking for Xmas via Sykes. I paid another £260 on top of the £20 low deposit, as that what was agreed. Of course you have to pay it.

Butchyrestingface · 12/10/2019 13:00

Thinking of cancelling the card they have on file and ignoring the letters I know they’ll send to my home address blush

They’ll want around £250. Is this something they’d pursue vigorously do you think? Anyone any experience of these kinds of things?

Some things look kind of ... ugly on paper and this is one of those times.

TSSDNCOP · 12/10/2019 13:07

Wasn’t clear at time of booking that a larger deposit was going to be requested at the end of this month, which is not refundable even in case of cancellation.

What exactly do you mean? Was it not written in any of the correspondence available when you made the booking?

Bluntness100 · 12/10/2019 13:07

They will just sell the debt to a debt collector, so you'll get a visit from the baillifs and the debt will escalate hugely.

Yes you're legally bound to pay it and yes they will come after you but not personally. It'll be the bailiffs for a likely unpleasant debt recovery company.

This isn't some clueless individual who will let it go.

HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo · 12/10/2019 13:10

I’d go on the holiday rather than lose a hefty deposit due to my ethics!

Cleopatrai · 12/10/2019 13:12

They’ll sell the debt.

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