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

Am I in the wrong?

86 replies

Mama95 · 19/10/2019 18:10

Hi all I’m stuck in abit of a predicament...

I went away last week for a week stayed in a hired holiday cottage, it was me and my 2 year old, this place was labelled as family and baby friendly.. arriving there it wasn’t it was open plan and my son could get into everything I didn’t complain because it didn’t bother me that much I just moved everything out of the way.
My son spilt his black currant juice in the White bedding around 3 nights before we were leaving and it got everywhere all through the mattress protector and straight to the mattress... I took it all off and searched around the town for cleaning supplies as she didn’t have any (bear in mind I texted the landlord of the place kept her in the loop and said if it doesn’t come off then I will pay cleaning charges to get them done she replied will do...) found some white vinegar and prayed it would come off got it off every bit of the bedding but the mattress I scrubbed and scrubbed but it got faint pink... I left it, out all the bedding on then the night before we left it happened again by accident so there was me at 5am scrubbing it off and trying my hardest to get it off the mattress, come 6am I left the cottage as was a couple hours distance from mine and was going to text woman around 9/10 as she said on the day that she doesn’t wake up until 12pm so thought I could wait until home and settled, was going to explain that she could charge me for the cleaning fee, I washed all bedding fresh ready for the next people and tried getting it off but alas it wouldn’t.
I’m being truthful I would have done that.
Until I got a text at 9 off her saying -
“Hi thank you for the clean bedding that’s brilliant saved me a job for the next people who are coming tonight, however the mattress is stained in multiple places on the bed so it will need replacing can you contact me for payment”
I was shocked I mean I would have understood that the mattress needed a clean a carpet cleaner would’ve got it off that’s only £30 to hire or even professionals were cheaper she was wanting £250 for a new mattress, there was nothing wrong with the mattress other than needing a clean.
Here’s the kicker there were other stains on it, sweat stains and other spills and other bits that I don’t have a clue what they were, all of them were covered up by the mattress protector...
I ended up arguing saying that the mattress was already stained showing her a photo that I actually had of the mattress because I wanted to show her it was still on there later on, which showed old stains so even had a picture of the other side which had stains on too...
She said she is going to call the police because I refuse to pay her.
Which I didn’t in a way I said I would pay for cleaning but not a new mattress because I know for sure nothing was wrong with the mattress!!

So tell me am I in the wrong?

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 19/10/2019 18:13

She's taking rhe piss. The police won't be remotely interested, it's a civil matter. Tell her to crack on.

And pay the cleaning charge only. Grabby cow.

EC22 · 19/10/2019 18:14

The police won’t care.
Offer to pay for professional cleaning as a compromise. But unless she can keep a deposit or anything you won’t need to pay for a new mattress. She should have had a better quality mattress protector.

Grannybags · 19/10/2019 18:15

It’s a tricky one. She is being unreasonable, particularly as the place was not child friendly as advertised, however I would not have given my son black currant juice anywhere near anything white as I could predict what would happen!

Henhophouse · 19/10/2019 18:15

The police won’t be interested in that as it’s a civil matter so don’t worry. Tell her she can jump and just pay whatever cleaning charge you think is reasonable.

caruti33 · 19/10/2019 18:15

She is taking the piss, but also - why djd you give your DS blackcurrant juice again to go to bed, if you knew it had happened before. You also need to take some level of responsibility for your actions, but just the landlady.

Soubriquet · 19/10/2019 18:17

No don’t pay but why after it happened the first time, did you let him do it again!

LongtimeLurker29 · 19/10/2019 18:17

If it was a legit rental then she would have insurance to cover the accidental damage. She's lucky that you offered to pay the cleaning charge considering the other marks! I would just ignore her

LookingForAlaskas · 19/10/2019 18:18

She could just flip the mattress, problem solved.

LongtimeLurker29 · 19/10/2019 18:18

Not that tipping a bit of juice is enough to warrant a new mattress 🤷🏼‍♀️

KnickerBockerAndrew · 19/10/2019 18:18

I think you were careless to give your DS Ribena in those circumstances.

TamarindCove · 19/10/2019 18:20

Police will do nothing. In all honesty I would expect mattress protectors to be waterproof in child friendly accommodation. She is not entitled to betterment so her idea of a new mattress is ridiculous.

Blackcurrant juice in bed is a bad idea though, white bed linen or not!

Hecateh · 19/10/2019 18:22

Police will not be remotely interested - it would be a civil matter.

If you have offered to pay for cleaning then she should be pleased. If it needs a new mattress then that's what insurance is for.

If she wanted to claim off you she would have to take it to the small claims court and as you have photos showing previous stains she is very unlikely to win.

You were unreasonable letting him have blackcurrant in bed.

SprinkleDash · 19/10/2019 18:26

Legally you owe her for it. She’d probably win if she took you to court. Don’t let your kid sit in bed with blackcurrant juice!!

Pilot12 · 19/10/2019 18:27

I would have turned the mattress over and hoped she wouldn't notice which she probably would not have if she just quickly changes the sheets and moves on. I would not have called her to tell her about it either!

Tell her you'll pay for a professional clean of the mattress but tell her to send you the receipt, don't take her word for it about what it cost. If she can't produce a receipt don't pay.

She should be insured for things like this too.

Oysterbabe · 19/10/2019 18:27

Why the fuck would you give a child blackcurrant in bed??

WorraLiberty · 19/10/2019 18:30

With all the cleaning and scrubbing, there'd be no way that mattress would've dried in time for the guests to arrive that night.

Doyoumind · 19/10/2019 18:31

YABU to be giving a 2 year old blackcurrant juice in the bed, twice.

wibdib · 19/10/2019 18:31

Another vote for expecting the mattress protectors to be waterproof - kind of makes you dread to think what the other stains are if they weren’t protected properly.

Also wondering if she has a scan going whereby she charges everyone for a new mattress if it gets stained... then pockets the money.

Given the mattress has lots of other stains I would offer to pay for a patch stain removal rather than a whole mattress clean - maybe £20-30 tops when she sends you the cleaning invoice - having got a couple of quotes from her town to know what the going rate is. If she wants to get the whole bed done then pay a proportion of it - offter maybe a quarter to a tenth of the cost depending on size of the stain.

If leaving reviews I would also mention something along the lines of being horrified by quite how badly stained the mattresses were and how you were surprised there were no proper mattress covers.

Blanca87 · 19/10/2019 18:34

So what if it was a period stain would she come after folk then. No. She should have had a mattress protector or insurance. Tough titties for her I am afraid. Don't sweat it, pay for the cleaning for the blackcurrant and then tell her to do one.

adaline · 19/10/2019 18:35

Why should she be left with a stained mattress?

She'll need to buy a new one as the current one will be damp and smelly from all the cleaning products, surely?

She should be insured but you should pay any excess.

Beccaishere · 19/10/2019 18:38

Think you are both in the wrong to be honest. You need to meet in the middle if possible. Offering to have it cleaned like you have should be enough.

Catapillarsruletheworld · 19/10/2019 18:38

I wouldn’t pay. It’s unreasonable that she’s asked you to replace the mattress.

However you were unreasonable giving your son black current in bed, especially the second time! Hopefully that’s a lesson learnt. Water only in the bedroom!

MuchBetterNow · 19/10/2019 18:40

It isn't worth her while taking you to court and the police won't care. I'd ignore her, you did your best and she's trying it on to get a replacement mattress for the skanky one. Letting your wee boy have black currant juice was beyond stupid though.

HollowTalk · 19/10/2019 18:41

Don't pay. She must be kidding if she thinks the police are going to get involved in a civil argument. She'll grumble but that's it.

If you're worried she's going to take money off your card, then cancel your card now (say it's lost) and then she can't do it.

Ferretyone · 19/10/2019 18:41

As said at best this is a civil matter - the police will not be interested.

Simply reply to the letter saying that as there were already marks and damage on the mattress you will not pay £250. Do not suggest at this stage what you might pay! The only way for the landlord to physically get money is by taking an action in court. If he does issue proceedings then take advice then. Whatever you do you must respond to court papers and attend court if needed. It is not terrifying!

Do not enter into any further correspondence with the landlord unless it is marked "letter before action"

It is so good that you have photos.

What startles me is the function of a "mattress protector" which by its name ...?

@Mama95