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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How can people get away with this?

56 replies

KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 15:27

We've had a holiday booked for about 6 months, a cottage in UK with my parents. Today they cancelled and the booking agent has offered a refund or rebook somewhere else.

Where are we going to find somewhere else big enough/nice enough with only 3 weeks to go? Certainly not without paying about triple the price which we can't afford.

I'm devastated. This was our only holiday and now we have nothing.

How can people do this?

OP posts:
towriteyoumustlive · 03/07/2023 16:49

KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 15:27

We've had a holiday booked for about 6 months, a cottage in UK with my parents. Today they cancelled and the booking agent has offered a refund or rebook somewhere else.

Where are we going to find somewhere else big enough/nice enough with only 3 weeks to go? Certainly not without paying about triple the price which we can't afford.

I'm devastated. This was our only holiday and now we have nothing.

How can people do this?

Have they given a reason why it is being cancelled?

T&Cs have to be fair, and their only policy says that if YOU cancelled with just 3 weeks to go, you'd have to pay 90% of the holiday cost.

So if they get to cancel and offer a full refund, then that's hardly an equal penalty to them!

I'm not sure how legally that would hold up as an unfair T&C.

I appreciate they're offering a full refund, but I would push them for another property at no extra cost, pointing out their T&Cs are unfair. It's worth a try!

birdglasspen · 03/07/2023 17:13

21st august for week I have 5 bedroomed all en suite house Isle of Tiree! Rockvale

callingeveryone · 03/07/2023 17:20

That is terrible OP.

Oblomov23 · 03/07/2023 17:23

Unscrupulous hotels/rooms do this. Cancel, because they can now get someone else to pay double what you did when you booked it a year ago.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 18:46

It's disgusting isn't it? Why isn't there a law to stop this?

OP posts:
Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 18:49

Fiddlesticks82 · 03/07/2023 15:30

Because it’s their property!

Sorry Op. Very disappointing but seeing as they would have lost a shed load of money from yours and any other bookings - likely been a change in their circumstances to warrant

Then they shouldn't accept bookings they cannot honour. I do not believe for one second they have lost money and had a change in circumstances. They've sat on our £5k for 6 months! I think there are too many dishonest people trying to make more money and ruin people's holiday without a care.

OP posts:
Thiswayorthatway · 03/07/2023 19:02

Do you have travel insurance?

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 19:04

Thiswayorthatway · 03/07/2023 19:02

Do you have travel insurance?

And claim what?

OP posts:
redskytwonight · 03/07/2023 19:04

Thiswayorthatway · 03/07/2023 19:02

Do you have travel insurance?

I don't think having travel insurance helps to find you an equivalently priced holiday elsewhere (which is what OP wants)

Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/07/2023 19:35

Have you looked to see if it’s being advertised as being available again?

Chickentonights · 03/07/2023 19:38

Instead of wasting energy being annoyed I would be straight on Google tonight finding somewhere else. As PP said can you put the rough location and requirements and dates here and then we can look for you? I love planning a hypothetical holiday with someone else’s money!

Flickersy · 03/07/2023 19:44

KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 18:46

It's disgusting isn't it? Why isn't there a law to stop this?

I'm sorry you're disappointed OP but this is silly.

You're being given your money back. You can't criminalise people who cancel and refund you. They are not benefitting from your disappointment.

I'm sure you can find another holiday in the UK in three weeks. You will just need to approach it with an open mind and be prepared to try new areas or different types of accomodation if need be.

ThinWomansBrain · 03/07/2023 19:50

have you looked for alternative accommodation?

I wanted to return somewhere I'd stayed before, but left booking a bit late and the only availability was August, which was very expensive. The owner says the agency want them to set high prices in school holidays, which is bonkers as the cottage is not suitable for children.

I looked back a couple of weeks ago, and August, still fully available, had been reduced by around 20%.
Off in August:)

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 19:51

Chickentonights · 03/07/2023 19:38

Instead of wasting energy being annoyed I would be straight on Google tonight finding somewhere else. As PP said can you put the rough location and requirements and dates here and then we can look for you? I love planning a hypothetical holiday with someone else’s money!

There's 6 of us and we've all been looking since finding out. We've got a shortlist sorted, none of which are anywhere near the original.

My mum also remembered we used her tesco vouchers for a local attraction which we won't be able to go to now. Anyone know if we can change them?

OP posts:
LuluBlakey1 · 03/07/2023 19:54

Which part of the country do you want to go to?

Nowtbettertodo · 03/07/2023 19:58

Yeah it's annoying and disappointing but I'm sure you will be able to find something with a budget of £5k.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 20:05

Nowtbettertodo · 03/07/2023 19:58

Yeah it's annoying and disappointing but I'm sure you will be able to find something with a budget of £5k.

We don't just want 'something' or 'anything', we would like a wonderful holiday. £5k sounds a lot but there's lots of us going!

OP posts:
HuckingFellHire · 03/07/2023 20:11

Ah that's shit OP really hope you find something x

itsapalaver · 03/07/2023 20:12

Check out holiday cottages uk on Facebook. If you put your date/number of bedrooms/budget on the post, you should be offered some options. It's basically cottage owners booking direct so you save air bnb fees. Be sure to only book one that has a link to their website and a booking form. I'm staying in one that I booked on there, it was £150 less than it costs to book it on cottages.com.

Solmum1964 · 03/07/2023 20:26

KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 19:51

There's 6 of us and we've all been looking since finding out. We've got a shortlist sorted, none of which are anywhere near the original.

My mum also remembered we used her tesco vouchers for a local attraction which we won't be able to go to now. Anyone know if we can change them?

Show quote history

Speak to Tesco and explain what has happened.

I think they have refunded my points previously (though it was probably for a restaurant chain when the nearest one closed),

Nowtbettertodo · 03/07/2023 20:35

Sorry I thought you said there was 6 of you. I would of thought you would be able to find something pretty good with that budget.

Original poster
KateyCuckoo · 03/07/2023 20:38

Nowtbettertodo · 03/07/2023 20:35

Sorry I thought you said there was 6 of you. I would of thought you would be able to find something pretty good with that budget.

Sorry no there's 6 adults plus kids, teens, dogs and the whole gang!

OP posts:
Sunisshiningweatherissweet1 · 03/07/2023 20:48

Are you on the Facebook group "Holiday cottages UK?".
It has many hosts with holiday lets on there. People are often posting if anywhere has least minute availability, could be worth a try.

Solmum1964 · 03/07/2023 20:53

Solmum1964 · 03/07/2023 20:26

Speak to Tesco and explain what has happened.

I think they have refunded my points previously (though it was probably for a restaurant chain when the nearest one closed),

Show quote history

Although perhaps wait ubtil you've managed to book alternative accommodation and see whether you can exchange for the same value for a different attraction, bearing in mind that you now only get 3x value with reward partners.