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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:
Purpledaisychain · 22/09/2020 07:39

Unless you have been self isolating for the last 14 days, you can't know that you don't have the virus. You can have the virus and not have any symptoms. You may not have any symptoms, but anyone you pass it on to may end up in ICU or worse.

jacks11 · 22/09/2020 07:42

@Rae34. It’s not a “white lie”- it’s a straightforward lie. You are using your mental health as an excuse to bend the rules (possibly only of the accommodation)- if your mental health is sufficiently bad that it is justification for that, then it’s surely sufficiently bad to seek some help for it? If it’s not bad enough to need help, then I suggest it’s not bad enough to lie to get what you want
(hence the “red herring”).

I get it would be lovely to get away and you may indeed feel better. But, as I said, there may be good reason why the owners or agents have put restrictions on the cottage. Or perhaps there aren’t, but it’s still wrong to lie.

Rachie1973 · 22/09/2020 07:44

I’d go. In a heartbeat.

Browneyesbigbum · 22/09/2020 07:45

If you lie you are just part of the problem that gets bigger and bigger - that is

you thinking that the rules don't apply to you @Rae34

You are in a restricted area because lots of people in YOUR AREA think like you do - the rules don't apply to them. Congratulations of being part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Lovemusic33 · 22/09/2020 07:45

I would lie but only if you haven’t been in contact with anyone for 14 days? You say you have been working from home alone so other than going food shopping have you been into contact with anyone else?

You could lie about your address or you could call and reason with them? Tell them you live alone and work from home so haven’t been in contact with others? Or you could ask for a refund and book somewhere else?

TheKey · 22/09/2020 07:45

Don't lie. Breaking rules and not thinking of the bigger picture is why we are heading for another peak

Browneyesbigbum · 22/09/2020 07:46

Personally we are careful if our area and have a low transmission rate we don't want people like @Rae34 from problem areas who like they haven't got it but don't know for definite spreading it around to other areas!

Eckhart · 22/09/2020 07:47

This isn't a COVID issue, is it, if you're staying within the government's regulations? This is about you paying for accommodation, and then the host refusing to accommodate you. They can't do that; they have to refund you.

I wonder what all the people in a similar mental health state to you who can't afford 3 days by the sea are doing? What will happen to you if you don't go? Do you feel you'll go bananas? Is there any other way you can think of to stop that happening? This '3 days by the sea' does not have the final word on your mental health.

Banyantree1990 · 22/09/2020 07:47

‘I know I don't have the virus.’

Unless you take a test and get a conclusive negative then this isn’t true. You could be a Asymptomatic or about to show symptoms.

TrickyD · 22/09/2020 07:49

Do you have a credit card or bank account which includes travel insurance? This will apply to trips away from home in the UK not just abroad.

mylittlesandwich · 22/09/2020 07:49

@Rae34 we're from Lanarkshire which is under additional restrictions. We're currently on holiday in the north east of England, also under additional restrictions. What we're doing is allowed because we're the only household in our accommodation. Booking.com have made up their own rules. I really hope you get this sorted.

ravensoaponarope · 22/09/2020 07:51

I like@DisorganisedPurpose's advice. You are not breaking any rules.
I hope you get to have your holiday.xx

SockYarn · 22/09/2020 07:52

Go. And don't feel guilty about it.

I hear you on the impending darkness being devastating to mental health. Happens to me every year and I fight it off with Vit D and light boxes, mostly. But I know how awful it is.

Covid is just one risk, your mental health matters too. Look after yourself and enjoy your break.

Hiphopopotamus · 22/09/2020 07:52

I actually can’t believe so many are just blindly following these rules without using common sense. This whole thing is becoming insane. Go OP - have a break and enjoy your time away. I hope you start to feel better soon. Ignore the insanity.

Okbutnotgreat · 22/09/2020 07:53

Surely if the rules say you can do it and they choose to cancel anyway, they have to refund you. I get it’s not about the money though and hope they let you go as it’s allowed.

ferretface · 22/09/2020 07:55

You can go OP unless it's one of the Welsh lockdowns, the rules in England do not say you can't leave the area, but limit you from meeting other households.

We're all going to be under additional restrictions soon anyway.

Bluesheep8 · 22/09/2020 07:59

The Scottish rules say the travel she’s booked is allowed.

So if THEY choose to cancel the booking, THEY have to refund you, surely? Confused

Angelina82 · 22/09/2020 08:00

The risks of you passing anything on are so minute that I would ignore all the sanctimonious replies on here and go and bloody enjoy it if I were you, especially if you’re not sure that you’d even get a refund if you didn’t! How can that be fair?

Hoppinggreen · 22/09/2020 08:01

I am on local lockdown and as far as I am aware I am allowed to travel outside my area as long as I don’t mix with another household.
We actually went away for the Bank Holiday weekend and it wasn’t an issue for the accommodation

Bluesheep8 · 22/09/2020 08:01

This isn't a COVID issue, is it, if you're staying within the government's regulations? This is about you paying for accommodation, and then the host refusing to accommodate you. They can't do that; they have to refund you.

Yep - this

needsahouseboy · 22/09/2020 08:04

Go and say you’ve been staying with friends I a different town for some

TryAnotherNickname · 22/09/2020 08:04

This is a matter of contract law. Prior to booking were you made aware of a condition of the booking that said clearly that it would be cancelled on a non refundable basis if you lived in an undefined and changing area of the world at a specified time prior to the booking?
If you design to respond to their bollox, this is what you should be asking- show me where this is a term of the booking.

Khajit · 22/09/2020 08:05

Be honest about your location, if they tell you it needs to be cancelled insist on a refund though.

Seasuns · 22/09/2020 08:06

I would lie

Daisydoesnt · 22/09/2020 08:10

Booking.com host here.

The host/ property owner has obviously made a personal decision about guests. Perhaps it is them personally that does the changeovers (as it is for my business) and they don't want what they see as a perceived risk.

As a host you can ask a guest to cancel - but you cannot actually cancel their booking. They can invite you to cancel, and if you do they can opt to instruct Booking.com to refund your payment. I'd just ask them if that is what they are proposing to do.

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