Sorry this is long! Just don’t want to drip feed later on. Basically I’m trying to get some perspective please after a disastrous weekend away for a big birthday (mums not mine).
Myself, DH and DD stayed in a fairly large holiday let at the weekend with around 6 other family members including my sister and her new baby. It was a oldish farmhouse that had gone through some redesign etc. over the years in a semi remote farm location. The place was booked by my sister but paid in full by my mum at her request.
My DH and DD left on Sunday due to school and work commitments and I stayed on. Her room was next to ours and I stripped the bed and tidied it out after she left at around 6pm.
On our final night, on my mums actual birthday, I awoke to a loud noise next door (in my DD’s ex room) that sounded like someone was using the shower at around 2am. After some blearly eyed tossing and turning thinking I was delirious I finally investigated and discovered a huge flood in the room coming from the en suite and I immediately ran off to get help. As I went to wake others I discovered a similar noise downstairs - and unsurprisingly found water pouring from the kitchen ceiling. It was actually a shocking amount of damage in a short time with the floor of the large kitchen swimming in about an inch of water. I immediately tried phoning the number left in the ‘house manual’ left by the owners - it was out of date and not in use. My sister then had to search her phone for the number in the booking. Luckily someone answered and they informed us someone would be with us fairly quickly. While we were waiting the electricity tripped and needless to say we were all terrified. My sister packed up her room in case we had to leave (she had the new baby) and we all followed suit. After waiting a while for everything to be brought to some sort of order (the person that was sent spent some time drying out the kitchen with blankets and towels) we were told ‘it was fine’ and we could stay. At this point it was nearly 4am and we were exhausted so we agreed to get some rest and all went to sleep fully clothed, all half terrified that we would need to leave. We awoke early the next morning ans found the electrics downstairs still off and the central heating off. We also found several items that had been damaged including some baby items that upset my sister (think sentimental value not monetary). It was a pretty grim scene. We packed up fairly quickly, with my mum hanging about to speak to someone. No one came or called so she left eventually. We have since contacted the owners to discuss what happened and to talk about what compensation we should expect. We heard nothing so contacted the booking company directly and unsurprisingly my sister received an odd phone call from the owner later the next evening - where they outlined personal mental health issues(?) and suggested we could book in the future at another of their 12 properties for a reduced fee…
Here’s the issue. Myself and others, my mum included, feel given the nature of what happened my mum should pursue a full refund for our whole stay. Other family members feel that’s too much and perhaps she should go after a partial refund, move on ans organise something else at a later date.
A part of me wants to forget the whole ordeal but it was pretty traumatic and I feel like my mum deserves a proper birthday.
AIBU?
YABU - forget it - persuade mum to move on and take a partial refund/ what’s offered. It’s a small business/act of god, these things happen.
YANBU - this is mental - full refund.
Thanks for sticking with it!