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

[Waferbiscuit]

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.

Good luck OP. I hope you can either cancel or get your money from these people.

Please don't give them the option to cancel unless you're sure you can get your money back if you do. As pps have said, this close to the holiday, it's likely you'll be liable for the full amount.

Just use one of the straight to the point messages above about needing the money today and here are my details again. Then chase chase chase.

Text and say the money needs to be transferred today. Otherwise interest will be incurred and it will cost them more. Ask them to confirm the transfer by text. If they don't today, call them tomorrow.

Haven’t you been in some kind of group chat talking about it? Seems really odd that you haven’t mentioned money yet. Don’t ask if they are still planning to go, that looks like there is an option to bail out leaving you out of pocket.

I would say that you havent recieved payment from a single person and can people just pay now as its been ages and youre accruing interest. The booking was non refundable

Credit card interest and pay dates are irrelevant. If the holiday was booked in May, the point at which the credit card starts costing interest has already passed. Not everyone gets paid on the last day of the month or lives month to month. I got paid last week, as would millions of others.

The fact is that they should have paid up weeks ago. OP has there been general talk that confirms that they are still expecting to go, or has there been nothing and they could have quietly dropped out and wrongly assumed they can get out of paying?

You need them to pay up today or you need to cancel tomorrow. The owner could be able to rent it out as a cancellation as there's huge demand for UK holiday this year so you might get most of your money back. But you need to speak to all the group and also the owner if it looks like you need to cancel.

Yes, hard deadline. Pay by Friday or I cancel. That's really not on.

As others have said, do not give them.options just tell them the money is due.

@bedface Lol I did no such thing. You seem pretty strange and judgy yourself.

They've had 5 weeks to pay, you've been reasonable enough. When was the last time you talked about the holiday? It seems strange that payment hasn't been mentioned at all over the past 5 weeks. Ring them tomorrow and be clear that if the money is not in your account at the end of the day, you are cancelling.

OP I hope you get some money through. @Ponoka7 why are you referencing May? I can't see any post from the OP with that timeline. They paid (and booked) holiday 5 weeks ago which would be 24th June, the day after govt announced an easing of Covid restrictions including staycationing. The opening up of accommodation came into play on 4th July but was announced on 23rd so bookings would have opened then. So depending on accommodation type the OPs booked it's entirely feasible that the holiday is completely within guidelines?

I'd personally cancel (as long as refundable) and then book something for yourself and move on. Have no patience for people like this. They've treated you with complete disregard and that means appallingly, in my opinion.

How well do you know your friends 2 friends?🙄

God they’re cheeky fuckers aren’t they! I’d ring where you are going and check their cancellation policy to see where you stand. There is no way I’d leave it this late to pay someone especially when they’re not directly friends of yours.

I have a bad feeling they aren't intending on paying and will just turn up. If they don't reply, cancel it and don't tell them. See what happens.

@AldiAisleofCrap what guidelines is it against?

I've a feeling they've changed their minds OP, truly awful behaviour!

[quote Waferbiscuit]@Gamerchick - it's my only holiday of the year (no surprise there!) and I'd be loathe to cancel, but can't afford to just go on my own, if you see what I mean.[/quote]
While you say you can’t afford to go on your own, from what you’ve said I think there’s a very real risk that you’re going to be massively out of pocket with this one whether you can afford it or not.

I will guarantee that if you go on holiday with them all without them having paid, you’ll never see that money. Perhaps your friend will cough up but I’d put money on it that you’ll never see a penny from the friend’s friend and her kids.

You have to be assertive now and tell them straight they have to pay. You may need to be prepared to take the losses but DO NOT let them come away with you without having paid beforehand.

Cheeky sods. Reading between the lines here it sounds like they think it’ll be a free holiday.

Group message 'Hi all. I know we had great plans a few weeks ago when we planned the holiday but things have since changed for some so unfortunately we have to cancel. When I get the refund I will return what I've been paid by you all. Hopefully better luck next time!'

I'd speak to them individually. That way, they might each think they're the only one who hasn't paid and feel more inclined to cough up.

Cannot believe the number of people suggesting you threaten to cancel.

This is terrible advice unless you can actually cancel and get a full refund.

If any are struggling for money, if you threaten to cancel they may well say ‘OK, cancel my place please, I can no longer afford to go’ and then you have a bigger mess on your hands.

Just be very assertive and clear that you need payment from them today.

theyre definitely being unreasonable. in the future tho, id recommend (if you didn't) drawing up a payment agreement in writing. i know it sounds excessive and a bit formal amongst friends, but it always helps. hope you get your money op.

I would just say ‘Hi CF’s, I hope you’re well. You’re amount for the holiday is XXX. My bank details are XXX. Please pay me this by XXX as my credit card will start to change interest on XXX. If I don’t receive payment by Saturday then Jayne is interested in coming so I’ll assume you’ve changed your mind and will invite her, thanks’

I would tell them you need paying today. But it sounds to me like they don't actually want to go, which is why they haven't paid. I wouldn't leave it any longer than today so you can properly look into what would happen if you cancelled.

@Bmidreams

"I hope no one is expecting to go on holiday next week. No money in my account yet"

I like this!

Me too !

Don’t threaten to cancel. If you can’t get a full refund you will be liable for the whole bill and if you can’t even get them to pay up for a holiday they think they are going on then they definitely aren’t going to pay for a cancelled one.

And if one of the “friends” says they are happy to cancel then you will end up paying for her space.

You only have 2 options

A - if you can get a full refund cancel it.

B - if you can’t get a full refund tell them they have to pay today.

Don’t offer cancellation, don’t make jokey remarks, don’t say “if you still want to go you owe me £X”, don’t give them any option to duck out. Just “your share comes to £X, make sure you pay by the end of the day”. You can soften it with saying your credit card bill is due or you are about to go overdrawn but that’s it.