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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to panic that I’ve just lost us £700 plus on a holiday booking

108 replies

Sleepsoon7 · 06/03/2020 00:13

I am a complete idiot. I always book flights and hotel rooms separately. I am used to price being per room as normally book direct with hotels or through third party websites that charge per room. Saw what I thought was a bargain on a major holiday company website and booked a number of nights in a hotel we’ve been to before for DH, DD and me as a treat. I realised afterwards as soon as I looked on my account on the website that the price was per person and not per room. I can’t afford £2000 plus pounds and if I cancel the website says they keep the deposit which was the £700 plus which I can’t afford to lose either. Office is shut when I tried to ring (not surprising) and MasterCard say they can’t do anything about it. I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid. DH is being very calm but has gone to bed as I’m pacing about panicking like crazy and he has to work tomorrow. I am not working tomorrow so will ring Office when they open but am so worried they won’t let me cancel without keeping the £700. Anyone any experience of similar situations and how did you deal with it / what happened. Am I totally screwed?! I am in Uk in case that makes any difference.
(No consent for any newspapers to use this in case any were interested)

OP posts:
PlumsGalore · 06/03/2020 05:51

Is it Expedia? Hope not, they are a nightmare. Contact is really difficult, email contact only with an off shore help desk when I had a problem with them a few years ago.

Dongdingdong · 06/03/2020 06:14

I don’t understand this - surely when you were making the booking you were taken to a billing page, the total amount was shown, you entered all your credit card details and clicked to confirm. Did you not notice that the total figure was higher than expected?

Anyway, really hope you get your money back OP - I don’t know, but I’d be surprised if distance selling rules didn’t apply to holiday bookings?

Also, we’ve all made mistakes like this I’m sure - at least, I know have. I don’t even want to think about the amount of money I’ve wasted over the years!

Butterymuffin · 06/03/2020 06:16

Yes, doesn't sound like a major company to have website etc down like that. Hope you can sort it.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 06/03/2020 06:16

Distance regs are unlikely to apply for this. Call them, be honest and say you've made a mistake. They may allow you to change or cancel as a gesture of goodwill if its within the first 24 hours.

NotSorry · 06/03/2020 06:24

If it is Expedia - I actually had a great experience with them. You have to persevere, but I got my whole money back with eventually. (Different scenario, but wanted to give an alternative view to bad experience)

Depressedbywork · 06/03/2020 06:37

Just to clear up distance selling in the uk. Flights are not covered. If the OP bought two elements of holiday together might be covered by Package holiday regs. These have no cooling off period. If you cancel fees can be charged.

www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/cancelling-a-package-holiday/

ladyflower23 · 06/03/2020 07:02

I did this using my boyfriend's credit card and we didn't realise until we were at the airport Blush

Cheerbear23 · 06/03/2020 07:08

I doubt you’ll get a refund, unless you call th and they waive their usual T&C’s for you? I think your best bet is to ask them to exchange for something cheaper.

mathanxiety · 06/03/2020 07:11

What did you tell Mastercard?

I would go with Notimeforaname's advice and lie to the hotel. Beg and plead.

However, if you've already been truthful with MC then you can't approach them again.

Rosalo · 06/03/2020 07:11

What company is it with?

mumto2teenagers · 06/03/2020 07:13

What company is it with? I think some companies do offer a 24 hour cooling off period as do some airlines

maddening · 06/03/2020 07:14

How much did you think it was and how much is it? Was the £700 what you thought the whole price would be?

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 06/03/2020 07:15

I think the problem is that there are so many stages you go through when booking online where you check the details of your booking, check the total price is what you expected, etc before entering your credit card details, that the company can quite reasonably say you knew how much you were spending.

I think the only thing you can do is throw yourself on their mercy and hope that they're feeling kind!

Ghdsa1 · 06/03/2020 07:16

Poor you xx Flowers sounds like something I’d do hope you get it sorted

Ruby8719 · 06/03/2020 07:18

What company is it? Definitely ring and speak to a human - not email it’s easier to say no. You need to explicitly explain your circumstances and that there’s no way you can afford this holiday - tell them you will be going in to debt to pay for it and you don’t know what to do. Hopefully if they hear you are in distress they will have a duty of care to help you. It would be really irresponsible to let you continue with their purchase. Ask to speak to a manager of they say no.

spongejack · 06/03/2020 07:18

Good luck!

BoucleEponine · 06/03/2020 07:21

Give Which a call in the morning for consumer legal advice.

Holdingtherope · 06/03/2020 07:22

Surely with cooling off period you can cancel

LagunaBubbles · 06/03/2020 07:24

Good luck

Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 06/03/2020 07:32

OP i cocked up too booking seperately with expedia and jet 2 ..I got the dates wrong on a non refudable non transferable 2k holiday...I didnt have a leg to stand on it was all my fault. Both companies in fairness were brilliant.They didnt have to do anything to help me and their terms and conditions were fully stated.I have to say I really thought i was up shit creek without a paddle, They couldnt do enough after I rang them. I explained what i had done and yes it cost me an extra 278.00 to move flights but that was a small price to pay. Ring them, be honest be polite and see what they can do.Both companies bent over backwards when they really didnt need to for me at all.Just wanted to post to say you are not on your own in cocking up and i had a fab outcome so thought it might give you some hope! Good luck

FAQs · 06/03/2020 07:34

Oh no, Jet2 can be a little unclear on the per person, per booking. But the final amount although smaller is on each of the pages but I always have to double check, I hope you get it sorted. And got some sleep.

Aridane · 06/03/2020 07:46

Another one ask8ng which company / website?

Mintychoc1 · 06/03/2020 07:50

I had a similar thing. I booked flights and hotel separately, due to go with a friend, but within 24 hours (for unrelated reasons) that plan fell apart. I was able to cancel the hotel but not the flights.

DianaT1969 · 06/03/2020 07:56

I hope you can cancel it. If not, is your daughter young enough to go free at the hotel? So you'd just need to buy her a flight?
If the website is still down this morning, take screenshots. It may help your case that the website was behaving erratically when you tried to book.

DowntownAbby · 06/03/2020 08:12

@BlackCatSleeping

Can you just cancel your credit card? Report it as stolen and get it blocked. I know it's shitty, but 700 pounds is just so much money to lose.

Wow! Are you being serious?

OP has cocked up and needs to sort out a problem but your first thought is that deception and fraud is the way forward?

I despair at how some people think. It's disgusting.