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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:
SnowsInWater · 20/10/2019 04:40

She is being silly, I would say a stain entitles her to a cleaning fee but certainly not a replacement and threatening to call the police makes her look like an idiot.

BUT as most others have said why on earth would you give a 2yo black currant juice anywhere near a bed. Such a lack of respect for someone else's property would annoy me too.

Theresnobslikeshowbs · 20/10/2019 04:41

That mattress will stink after black current juice, white wine vinegar and cleaning products. I wouldn’t want to sleep on it that’s for sure!!

Starfish28 · 20/10/2019 06:22

Oh my, of course you don’t need to pay for a replacement mattress. As others have said, she is smelling weakness in you. It doesn’t matter why you give a toddler blackcurrant juice in the middle of the night, accidents happen. She obviously doesn’t have a good enough mattress protector. Stand your ground and do not pay beyond the cleaning fee.

everytimerickysayscuntIlaugh · 20/10/2019 07:12

Who on earth keeps giving their toddler black current juice in bed?? Wtf?!

Yes you should replace it

RoseMartha · 20/10/2019 07:48

Often when you book there is an extra fee for damages that is refunded if no damages occur. Did you pay this when you booked your holiday? If so that should be for accidents such as you had.

Ihateedmundelephant · 20/10/2019 07:59

YABU for letting your child drink black currant juice in/on a bed with white sheets, especially after the first spill. YANBU for not wanting to buy a new mattress - just pay for a clean.

wibdib · 20/10/2019 09:46

What would she have done if your dd had come in to your bed and her nappy had leaked? Or if you had had food poisoning and been sick?

Anywhere you stayed should have had a mattress protector on that would protect the bed against those - child friendly or not. There are already lots of stains on the mattress. She knows that her mattress protectors don’t work - there are already lots of stains. Quite frankly she is lucky that it was only blackcurrant juice. If she wanted to have no stains on her mattresses she would have put proper waterproof protectors on Andrew the first accident that caused a stain. She didn’t, she has lots of stains, therefore she can’t complain at more stains. Ask towards cleaning costs - maybe. Mattress protectors are not expensive compared to the price of a mattress; she can’t complain if she didn’t protect herself.

CottonSock · 20/10/2019 09:50

Sounds stressful. I once got my period on some holiday let bedding and last morning spent scrubbing. However, yabu for giving purple squash in bed. Water only!
You sound like a thoughtful person trying to get it all sorted. I wouldn't buy a new mattress

dayswithaY · 20/10/2019 10:04

I can imagine the mattress is quite damp after the spillage and scrubbing. Maybe you didn't notice but she probably found a wet, stained mattress starting to smell mouldy and freaked out. I don't blame her. If you don't want this kind of trouble then be a bit more respectful of a rental property. I share everyone else 's thoughts on giving a toddler blackcurrant in bed. Twice. But - Stop giving him juice at bedtime full stop. It's full of sugar and rots tiny teeth. If it won't come out of a mattress what do you think it has done to his teeth and gums?

marzipanballsrule · 20/10/2019 10:07

Why would you give a child black current juice in a holiday home with white bedding...

A carpet cleaner will not clean a mattress (a professional carpet cleaner cannot clean a mattress so a cheap hired one has no chance)

You damaged the mattress so you have to pay or contact the owner and negotiate a deal

dayswithaY · 20/10/2019 10:12

Now I'm getting mattress adverts popping up!

Slappadabass · 20/10/2019 10:23

Definitely don't pay for a new mattress, she's trying it on, pay cleaning yes, but to replace it, no. And seriously, the police?! People call the police for all kinds of crap these days, I highly doubt they will care and direct her to the small claims court!

Didntwanttochangemyname · 20/10/2019 10:36

Why is your 2 year old drinking juice at bed time? (spectacularly missing the point, but still.....)

Original poster
Mama95 · 20/10/2019 10:37

Hi
So many questions to answer, well my little boy drinks quite a lot he usually has 2 milks then a ribena as he is diabetic and during the night we wake up to check his levels whilst he’s sleeping so if he’s getting on the lower side we give him a ribena instead of waking to give him something to eat but once he wakes up a couple hours later we check again, usually I use the first time it happens it was an honest mistake he jumped on the bed which was about the size of 3 golf balls being near together, the second time it happened I put one of them leak mats under him the dry nights things that kids get just in case plus two of his pram blankets underneath him, and the stain spilled on the side of them it was about the size of a baby bowl so there I was hysterically crying at 5am whilst cleaning because I tried to avoid it, I explained I would pay for a deep clean as I know it would come off it was a very light pink stain now I’ve gotten it off clothes using a foam carpet cleaner but I couldn’t find one in that area, I called up two business in the area and 1 that was close to the place all were similar cleaning fees £35ish for a small portion or £70ish for the whole side of mattress more for both sides, I explained i would pay for the two stains I left but I wouldn’t pay for the other stains that were on there, she is now saying that she has already threw out the mattress and had another one so I now owe her £255 for that I then explained I haven’t got that money I mean I just came off holiday which was expensive and that she should have at least asked if the cleaning places could come first...
I did explain to her that what if my son had leaked his nappy it would have gone straight through and she said any stain I create on her mattresses I have to pay for a new one but I said what about the other stains and she said that I created them all! What the hell?? I didn’t I assure you I didn’t create all the stains you can tell they were old, I didn’t have a contract or sign anything I just booked it through a holiday let site it was expensive as they’re was a lot of fees to pay for, i looked up and the site only had a overseas insurance fee that I didn’t get but said that the holiday cottages have insurance for accidents. I paid through the letting site not through her so she won’t have bank details but she is demanding them off me or else she’s calling the police on me for the damages and verbal abuse / harassment during the holiday I’m so confused the only time during the holiday I talked to her was through text to tell her about the spillages to keep her in the loop...
I just feel like giving up try to have a nice holiday for my little ones birthday and I just get all the bad luck happen...
I have asked for a receipt of proof for the mattress which she ignored me and still said she’s calling lol is. So I am now just giving up because I have no energy to fight her anymore, I said take me to small claims court but I would only go ahead with the court date if she used the whole mattress as evidence and brings it into the court to actually show the staining in their light, I would then ask to pay weekly as I cannot afford a upfront charge that big... she’s now refusing saying she has already binned the new mattress a day after I left... so I asked for receipt plz and also said I will print off photos I have of the mattress to show the court in case.
She said I won’t win so to pay her the money now or else I will get added fees from her for all the harassment I’ve been causing?

I’m confused, tired and just generally hating life right now

OP posts:
Greenkit · 20/10/2019 10:41

Tell her to jog on

Horsemad · 20/10/2019 10:45

Why is your 2 yr old even having blackcurrant juice AT ALL but especially before bed?!

Definitely not good for teeth and not good for white bedding either...

Projectbanjo · 20/10/2019 10:46

I doubt she would win any harassment damages at all. There’s no proof of it. I’d simply ignore her texts or messages and wait and see if a court letter appears. Keep everything as proof though as it will be needed.

Wonderland18 · 20/10/2019 10:48

@Horsemad she’s stated he’s diabetic. An easy quick source of sugar is ideal so yeah Ribena is a good shout and she did try to take precautions with covers.

Op I’d tell her your not willing to respond until you have her proof of purchase for the mattress. No court will chase you for funds you had no proof of her paying.

OldEvilOwl · 20/10/2019 10:50

I bet she hasn't bought a new Mattress at all. Ignore her

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 20/10/2019 10:52

Dear holiday-home owner
I have offered payment to clean the mattress but you have refused it.
Do not contact me again about this matter.

If the police contact me I will help them with their enquiries.
Yours
OP

MsJaneAusten · 20/10/2019 10:53

Don’t engage. All these back and forth ‘she said’, ‘I said’ is just exhausting. Send one last message “a cheque for £35 to cover the quoted cost for cleaning the mark off the mattress is in the post”. Send the cheque with a short note “full and final payment for cleaning mark off mattress” Then ignore all future messages.

EggysMom · 20/10/2019 10:57

Disengage completely. Wait to see if she raises a small claim in court (police won't be interested, as others have said). Provide your evidence of damage, your evidence of offer to remedy by paying for cleaning, and a financial statement of means to the court. I'd be amazed if she has any evidence for her claim ...

RhiWrites · 20/10/2019 11:03

Don’t engage in any further communication. Await the letter from a lawyer which will never come. Your initial apologies has made her think you’re an easy mark. She hasn’t replaced the mattress, she is lying to you.

Ignore ignore ignore.

katewhinesalot · 20/10/2019 11:15

Either ignore or send the £35 as full and final settlement as suggested.

Howdidido · 20/10/2019 11:38

Tell her you are sending a cheque. Send cheque recorded. Don't reply to any more messages.
It doesn't sound like she has a small claims court case but if she wants to take that up she can. I don't think she will. Just reiterate you are happy to pay for cleaning. Here is the money. You consider the matter closed.
And ignore (but keep messages just in case)