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AIBU?

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Original poster

I've paid for next week's group holiday but no one has paid their contribution!

301 replies

Waferbiscuit · 28/07/2020 21:20

Weird situation. Going on UK holiday with a friend, her two friends and our 5 children. I agreed to pay for the whole thing on a spare credit card on the basis that they'd BACS me their contribution but I've not received a dime. I paid 5 weeks ago and we leave next Monday.

What's the standard protocol on this? I don't want to get into a situation where I have to chase them for money after the holiday, when they'd obviously be less inclined to pay or where I may get dribs and drabs over an extended period. Given the number of people coming it's obviously cost quite a bit.

OP posts:
bananaskinsnomnom · 28/07/2020 22:23

Or even better:

Hey guys, the bill for the credit card I paid for our holiday on has arrived, so please can you absolutely make sure I have the money in my account by Friday. The bill is due Saturday so I really need to pay it off before we go or I will have to cancel the holiday as I cannot pay it all.
Thank you everyone, if you can’t remember what your share is I’ll message you! Xx

feelingfragile · 28/07/2020 22:23

@Arthersleep

Time to be upfront. Contact them all and say, " Hi, not heard from anyone since I paid for the holiday five weeks ago. Obviously the plan was to go on Monday. However, as I have heard nothing from you, can you please confirm whether you intend to go ahead? Tell them how much they owe you if they go and how much they will still owe you if you cancel. Just be straight up. Any nice person would feel mortified over having forgotten to pay you and will be glad of a reminder. And anyone who still cannot be bothered is not the sort of person that you need not worry about offending, as they clearly don't give a shit about you!
This approach sounds great
TheSoapyFrog · 28/07/2020 22:23

When did you last speak about it? Are you sure they still intend on going? If it was me and my group and friends, we'd have a set day to pay by like payday and as soon as possible, certainly not days before we're due to leave.

bananaskinsnomnom · 28/07/2020 22:26

Not being funny but if they intend not to go they should have said something by now! They all know it’s booked, and if there’s a cancellation fee or non-refundable deposit they are all equally liable for it. They are being CFs.

Patch23042 · 28/07/2020 22:27

I suspect they’ve changed their minds. Very poor behaviour. I hope you can get the money back if so.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 28/07/2020 22:28

Do you have insurance? As the trip is against current government guidance could you get your money back that way? I’m guessing that might be why some people are having second thoughts, although that’s no excuse for leaving you out of pocket - they knew the situation when you all booked.

OneMoreLight · 28/07/2020 22:29

I assume they no longer want to go but if that's the case they should have said sooner.

Shakirasma · 28/07/2020 22:31

I would message them all saying " Guys we are supposed to be going on our holiday next week but so far I've not received a single payment! Please will you all transfer me your share by Friday latest as it would be such a shame to have to cancel"

mcmooberry · 28/07/2020 22:37

Disgraceful. Definitely under no circumstances go without payment and be clear they will have to pay something whether or not they go unless you can get the whole amount refunded.

BarbarAnna · 28/07/2020 22:38

I don’t think you can assume you can cancel and get your money back. You just need to be tough. Don’t give the option of not paying. Something like:

Hi all. Need your holiday balance ASAP. X you owe £y ... etc. All money to be paid to my account xxxxxxxx sort code xxxxxx. Need it tomorrow or we will incur interest charges. Thanks.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/07/2020 22:39

I’m really sorry, @Waferbiscuit, but I have a nasty suspicion that some or all of them are going to pull out and leave you with the bill.

I hope I am wrong.

HelpIcantfindaname · 28/07/2020 22:44

I definitely wouldn't give them till Friday, that would be too late to ask anyone else, & I'd be surprised if you got a refund so close to going as the holiday company may not manage to relet at such short notice.
I'd message them all saying you don't have all of the money yet, can anyone who hasn't paid yet please pay by Thursday lunchtime at the latest, so you can settle your credit card bill. Also, make sure you let them know, that even if they dont go, they will still owe you their share of the deposit, or even their share of the whole amount if you can't get a refund.
I hope they all pay up & you have a lovely holiday.

LonginesPrime · 28/07/2020 22:46

Will contact all in the morning and if money not in by Friday will look at cancelling or getting a credit (most likely).

Nooooo!!

You need to do this the other way around, OP.

Before you contact your selfish arsehole friends, check when the latest you can cancel is, whether you'll be out of pocket, whether you'd get a refund or credit (if anything), etc.

You need to be crystal clear as to what your options are and what you're prepared to lose/put up with if your friends don't pay up.

You've paid the money and you've taken the risk on the basis of their promises to reimburse you, so you're perfectly within your rights to lay down the law to them now.

Find out from the company what options you have and any deadlines as soon as they open in the morning. Then tell everyone "if I don't receive payment by x time, I'm going to be forced to cancel/postpone/whatever and you'll each owe me £x to reimburse me for the cancellation fee/lost deposit, etc". Make sure everyone has received the messages - I'd follow up with a call before cancelling in case they just haven't seen the message.

Don't go on the holiday without getting payment in advance unless you're going to lose the money anyway (obviously still chase them, although I wouldn't be able to enjoy a holiday with such awful CFs anyway).

KarlKennedyisaterriblehusband · 28/07/2020 22:48

I like this: it is straight forward and no room for misinterpretation or fucking about.

Hi all, credit card bill is in, please transfer x payment to x account by this evening and post back here when you have done it so I can track everyone's payments, thanks.

Paddingtonthebear · 28/07/2020 22:48

I would just say you need £xx from each of them by Thursday and if they are not planning to go then they still need to pay £xx by Thursday to cover the last minute cancellation charges.

Tess3 · 28/07/2020 22:49

@Ponoka7

They've got a legitimate reason to cancel. Your holiday is against the guidance and you shouldn't have been booking such a trip in May. So don't fall out about it, if that's their reasoning.

Definitely contact them all in the morning and get a firm answer, don't leave it until Friday.

Thats bull shit... they knew themselves the risk "they" were taking when they agreed to book in May.

I wouldn't be giving any leeway to cancel.. they signed up for it regardless of weather they now want to go or not.

I'd be sending them all a message that the balance is now due and that you have paid already so its now up to them to pay, again irrespective of whether they are going or not.

WotsitWiggle · 28/07/2020 22:50

Check your terms for the booking now, you're within 7 days of travel so you could be liable for the whole thing if you cancel.

Then contact each person individually to demand their share.

In future, get the money up front before booking. People are less inclined to pull out last minute when they've already paid.

lilgreen · 28/07/2020 22:52

They should have paid you right away. Ask for payment before you go.

Abraid2 · 28/07/2020 22:55

@MrsTerryPratchett

I'd send a jokey passive aggressive text to everyone. "I hope no one is expecting to go on holiday next week. No money in my account yet".
^ This.
Hotpinkangel19 · 28/07/2020 22:58

I'm not sure you'll be able to cancel without losing money so close to the date. Make sure they pay!

Ellisandra · 28/07/2020 23:01

I would not be asking if people still intend to go - that suggests that, “I’m not going now” is a legitimate reason not to have paid you yet. Going or not, they all owe you the money if they committed to this.

Honestly, given that all 3 haven’t paid 2 weeks after your reminder, I think they’re going to drop out.

I would message, “hello everyone, I need to pay my credit card now so I need you to transfer holiday money today please.”

Do not let anyone go on that holiday with you who hasn’t paid. As two people are friends of your friend, possibly ask her WTF is going on.

Buttercupsandroses · 28/07/2020 23:03

Good luck op

Durgasarrow · 28/07/2020 23:06

I don't think I'd suggest "are you still planning on going?" because that might think that they could get out of paying. They have all committed to going, they need to pay you back.

Biker47 · 28/07/2020 23:07

If you don't get payment beforehand you'll never get payment afterwards, especially from friends of friend.

TokyoSushi · 28/07/2020 23:08

Don't give them until Friday! If they don't pay it'll be really really too close to the date to arrange cancellation.

Bright and breezy - Hi all, really looking forward to the holiday, please can you send your payments through by the end of the day, we'll need to cancel if we have any money outstanding and the last day for us to do that is (whenever, make it up if necessary) really looking forward to it, hope we can go ahead!

Lots of 'we/us' collective responsibility, come on OP, they're proper CF's - Never organise anything again!