To be fuming at holiday home owner?

[namechange0178]

We booked a week away (in England) for August ages ago. In autumn last year. We're a large family group so limited options. Last week I get a cancellation note, with a big story from the owner that her family member has long covid and they are closing their business so that he and his carers can live there. Lo and behold, as I'm browsing every day in the hope that something else becomes available so that we don't lose our holiday completely, the house has popped up again for our dates at a much inflated rate.

Why lie? If you're going to be a greedy snake, at least give us the option to pay more to keep our holiday. As it is, there is literally nothing else available for us.

This thread has troubled me all morning, I have no new advice for you but I just had to say it takes a special person to cite family long covid as an inarguable and plausible (manipulative) untruthful excuse, and I find this so depressing quite apart from the shameless profiteering. I hope they are exposed and ashamed. Good luck op.

To stop this sort of thing happening the booking companies should insert a term that says that if the owner cancels a booking without good reason (as defined, eg genuine illness), they not only have to repay the deposit but also pay a sum equal to the deposit to the person who they've cancelled on. If the consumer cancels, they lose the deposit, I don't really know why the business owner should be in a stronger position here.

So for example I pay £200 deposit, business owner cancels, they have to give me £400 back. I suspect it would concentrate a few minds (and booking website should also not allow relisting for same dates).

@NettleTea

and the reason we didnt qualify wasnt because we hadnt delacred it or registered, we were a farm which is rated differently. It was one of those things that fell through the gaps, but was sorted out afterwards.

we have been OK. And we havent upped our prices at all.

I've seen your website and it's lovely. Am thinking of booking a weekend at some time over the next year.

Thank you @TurquoiseDragon

Could you join their local Facebook site and publicly shame them?

@looptheloopinahulahoop

To stop this sort of thing happening the booking companies should insert a term that says that if the owner cancels a booking without good reason (as defined, eg genuine illness), they not only have to repay the deposit but also pay a sum equal to the deposit to the person who they've cancelled on. If the consumer cancels, they lose the deposit, I don't really know why the business owner should be in a stronger position here.

So for example I pay £200 deposit, business owner cancels, they have to give me £400 back. I suspect it would concentrate a few minds (and booking website should also not allow relisting for same dates).

Can this work both ways please? There are plenty of reports of guests abusing the low deposit/flexible terms some owners offer.

I had someone book during lockdown and not pay the deposit. OK We're in lockdown, we may not be able to open anyway so I didn't push it but held the dates for them.

Lockdown ends and I ask for the deposit. Deafening silence. I ask again and then again ( using email and text for a trail). Finally two weeks before the holiday is due to start I send one final email saying if they don't pay in full within 24 hours then I'm cancelling.

Still no response so I cancel and send them an email. A week later they do respond saying they want the week and could they have the access details(Still no money though!).

Sorry/Not sorry. I was delighted to be able to say the dates had gone and wish them luck finding somewhere else.

So many dirty tricks. A friend booked a holiday cottage well in advance and paid not only the the usual deposit, but a hefty deposit against damage/breakages. Within days of booking she realised she had to cancel and obviously expected to lose her booking deposit. However, the owners also refused to refund the deposit against damage/breakages, saying it was in their Ts & Cs that deposits not refundable. Very sharp practice. Why should they keep that deposit when my friend wasn’t there to cause any damage.

Unfair terms and conditions like that don't actually stand up on court.

I suggest that your friend starts a case in small claims for the return of the damage deposit. She may also have a case for the return of the rest of the deposit if the owner has managed to re-let

I agree with others put a review up.

Threaten reviews/complaining to the website you booked through etc

Threatening bad reviews is bribery and illegals

a big story from the owner that her family member has long covid and they are closing their business so that he and his carers can live there

There seems to be a lot of cancelling long-standing bookings in order to cash in on the rush for U.K. holidays. I feel for you @namechange0178 and all the others who have had their plans trashed. These places may have lost money and had a difficult time financially but so have the people they’re cancelling.

For me (and I am a bit over-sensitive at the moment) the upsetting thing about this is the particular excuse they’ve used - Covid - as a convenient excuse to cash in, presumably there is no relative with Covid needing around the clock care; but how ideal because @namechange0178 won’t argue with such a grave sounding situation and Cha-ching we can double our money - thank you Covid! But for some of us who have lost relatives to Covid (I am one) it’s hard to read that what has devastated my family is just a handy thing to wheel out for some.

On the basis of this I say leave a few reviews calling them out on the exact nature of such a reprehensible lie and I hope it bites them on the arse when the demand has fallen. If I read about accommodation doing this I wouldn’t be giving them my business out of principle and it looks like a lot of people feel the same. They must realise that people are going to check to see if their cancelled accommodation has popped up at an inflated price but perhaps they don’t care right now? It’s a very short term commercial view.

Can this work both ways please? There are plenty of reports of guests abusing the low deposit/flexible terms some owners offer.

We own a rental and urgh, people can be equally as annoying. Due to covid we have tried to exercise leniency/flexibility around our booking terms/non-refundable deposit, yet still, people take the piss. We now have pulled our accommodation from certain websites, and we've recently had to increase the cancellation period. We haven't increased our prices this year, but we are extremely busy happily (and no thanks to last minute ghosters).

The OP's situation is disgusting and I hope the owner is shamed for such blatant greed.

YouokHun, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

I think the particular excuse they’ve used is outrageous too, and I have no personal stake, in that (very very luckily) I've suffered no losses due to Covid.
You're right that they're banking on people not arguing with that as a situation. It is in extremely poor taste to use it as an excuse.

We had paid a 30% deposit which has been refunded to us.

I'm really surprised you are willing to just walk away if they've had such a hefty deposit for do long. Unless the contract explicitly gives the the right to arbitrary cancellation then I would be expecting them to honour the booking.

If the contract is in their favour I'd be doing exactly as PP suggests and trying to book under a fake name and cancel at the last minute.

That’s absolutely dreadful of them to do that. I would be writing to them to make them feel really bad!

Is there any way you can leave a review or make a complaint?

A cottage in Kent did this to us, booked in July, cancelled in October for a Christmas rental. It popped up again at £300 more than we had paid. Of course they would have lost that due to restrictions brought in after all.

The cottage we then booked in Norfolk was amazing when I had to cancel our Christmas break due to self-isolating. We’ve booked them for this year instead.

We book the same UK cottage every winter through Cottages.com, it hasn't increased.

Just booked for next year and used the 7% discount through Mumsnet so cheaper again.

I'd name and shame OP, they deserve bad reviews to warn other people.

If the contract is in their favour I'd be doing exactly as PP suggests and trying to book under a fake name and cancel at the last minute.
I really wouldn't do this. you lose the moral high ground. Better to screenshot the new price/availability and send it to them and ask 'Why?' Give them a chance to squirm explain.

I'd be leaving feedback with screen shots of their email with reason cancelling

@IntermittentParps

If the contract is in their favour I'd be doing exactly as PP suggests and trying to book under a fake name and cancel at the last minute. I really wouldn't do this. you lose the moral high ground. Better to screenshot the new price/availability and send it to them and ask 'Why?' Give them a chance to squirm explain.

I certainly would be booking again and then cancelling as late as possible. They fully deserve it.

I think anyone who has raised their holida rental prices because of covid is a twat

@Macncheeseballs

I think anyone who has raised their holida rental prices because of covid is a twat

That’s pretty much everyone then! 🤣

sadly this has happened to a few people i know.

Small claims court - breach of contract.

I know of someone who booked a hotel room. After the year they e had, it’s a surprising time to decide to redecorate right now……. Thereby cancelling the original booking!