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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie about my location to the holiday accommodation?

409 replies

Rae34 · 21/09/2020 23:45

I am single and live alone so this period has been very difficult. I have also worked from home since March and have been very careful with who I see and where I go. Just took my temperature there & normal. About 99% sure I am virus free.

Anyway I had booked 3 days in a cottage by the seaside, about 2 hours drive. I am an artist and have been so looking forward to finishing my project and getting some breathing space before what lies before us in the next season.

The booking.com accommodation has just been in touch asking where I am coming from because I am in a restricted area they will not accommodate me any longer. Well sadly I am in such an area. AIBU to tell a white lie and say I'm coming from the next city over (which is not affected)?

I have been so, so careful and was so looking forward to a short break. Also doubt I'd get a refund and it wasn't cheap.

OP posts:
bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 22/09/2020 00:27

If they cancel on you you’ll get your money back then you can book directly somewhere else

PurpleDaisies · 22/09/2020 00:27

Good luck with it. Hopefully they’ll just see sense and confirm the booking.

Don’t talk at all about how much you need the holiday/how careful you’ve been.

Short and factual with the relevant part of the Scottish rules highlighted.

stretchedmarks · 22/09/2020 00:29

Go. This isn't gov policy. So go. Smile

Chloemol · 22/09/2020 00:29

Appreciate it’s hard on you, but it is for thousands of others as well.

You say you are pretty sure you dont have the virus, but it would appear lots are asymptomatic so how do you actually know?

And to be frank why should it be ok for you to lie?

YABU

Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 00:32

Yep will be totally factual @PurpleDaisies. Will come back and tell how it goes!

Yeah @Chloemol but I'm driving there by car, taking shopping with me. Then I'm staying in a cottage by myself for 3 days. Occasional walk along the beach. Then driving home.

That short break could make all the difference. I am going to be right back to working overtime from home when I get back. It can be very difficult.

OP posts:
CuppaZa · 22/09/2020 00:33

YABU. You don’t absolutely 100% know you aren’t asymptomatic. Apart from that, if the holiday let is stating that guests from restricted areas will have their booking cancelled, you have absolutely no right to lie your way around it. They are trying to be safe and keep their business running. An outbreak at their premises is something they want to avoid at all costs. This is their livelihood (and lives).
Oh, and please do look up the definition of ‘white lie’.

Pachonga · 22/09/2020 00:36

If your mental health is so fragile that you think three days away could make it or break it then I think you need professional help.

Rules apply to everyone. Selfishness isn’t the only reason for the uptick in positive cases but it hasn’t helped.

lyralalala · 22/09/2020 00:36

Which area are you in? The Lanarkshire restrictions allow you to go to self catering places

use self-catering accommodation in unaffected areas with your household group, but not with different household groups

Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 00:37

We have now established that it is not against the rules for me to do this. See government link above.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 00:38

Yea just checked my area rules and it says going to self accommodation fine.

OP posts:
katy1213 · 22/09/2020 00:49

Why do you need the conflicting opinions/permission of strangers? Do whatever you think best.

Chicklette · 22/09/2020 00:55

Just because you have given them your home address, it doesn't mean you are necessarily travelling from your address. You could be travelling from elsewhere. It sounds like you need a break, your not breaking any rules and you are very low risk. Go and relax

LUZON · 22/09/2020 00:58

Good luck OP.

MadameMeursault · 22/09/2020 01:01

Hope you get your break OP and have a lovely time.

TitsOutForHarambe · 22/09/2020 01:02

Surely if they are insisting that you cancel in spite of it not breaking any government guidelines, then they would have to refund you?

Tbh I would just lie and go. You aren't breaking any rules except this new rule that they have made up and suddenly foisted upon you just before you are due to go.

My only concern is if they ask for some sort of proof of address. Driving licence is probably the only thing I could imagine them insisting on at such short notice, but I would just say that you don't have it if they ask. There's not going to be anything in their T&C's about this so they can't really refuse based on this unless they are prepared to give you a refund.

AldiAisleofCrap · 22/09/2020 01:05

I I know I don't have the virus unless you took a test that was negative and didn’t leave the house since testing nor did you have any deliveries or visitors, then you can’t possibly know.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 22/09/2020 01:08

@Chicklette

Just because you have given them your home address, it doesn't mean you are necessarily travelling from your address. You could be travelling from elsewhere. It sounds like you need a break, your not breaking any rules and you are very low risk. Go and relax
Agree with this. Honestly, in the real world people are much less black and white than they are on here about rules. Following rules that make no sense at all to the letter doesn’t help anyone. When you have rules that allow 30 people to get together for grouse shooting but a man isn’t allowed to attend the birth of his own child, you know the rules are fucked up.

You could conceivably have stayed at a hotel in the neighbouring town for the last few nights and be absolutely within the rules to go on to the self catering accommodation next, which would have put you at greater risk. It’s just stupid.

Go, enjoy your break and don’t bother asking on here about things like this as MNers seem to revel in other people’s misery.

valtandsinegar · 22/09/2020 01:09

Common sense should prevail over nonsensical rules picked out of the air by a bunch of self-serving idiots. Go on your holiday.

CoffeeCoffeeTea · 22/09/2020 01:22

Hi OP, I hope you have a lovely break.
You may find it’s a standard letter if it’s from Booking.com

CoffeeCoffeeTea · 22/09/2020 01:24

@valtandsinegar

Common sense should prevail over nonsensical rules picked out of the air by a bunch of self-serving idiots. Go on your holiday.
I think common sense went out the window in August when we were encouraged to eat out ...
jollygoose · 22/09/2020 01:35

I would go in fact you have my permission

seayork2020 · 22/09/2020 01:35

Maybe if everyone thought about others the restrictions would not be there a.d being tightened again?

So no to lying and not sure how justifying it gets around the lie?

DisorganisedPurpose · 22/09/2020 01:44

From your address they know you are in a restricted area and can't accept travellers from there. But they have asked where you are travelling from in case you happen to not be at your home adress and are travelling to them from a non-restricted area. At least that's my interpretation from what you have said. So how about booking the night before travel in an area not restricted so that you will then not be travelling from a restricted area.

MilkOfThePuppy · 22/09/2020 01:51

I think DisorganisedPurse is correct. They've flagged you based on your billing address, but if you've been staying somewhere else for long enough, you may be exempt from their restrictions. That's how I'd interpret it.

My question would be how someone can prove where they've been living or for how long. It seems like they'll have to just believe whatever people tell them. If it's that important to them, they should just automatically cancel everyone who's given an address from a restricted area without bothering to ask. It almost feels like they're giving you a loophole...

MilkOfThePuppy · 22/09/2020 01:52

Um, sorry about messing up your name, DisorganisedPurpose*!

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