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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

more a wwyd - cutting holiday short

209 replies

Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:22

Am on week long stay in rented house, with elderly mum, dp, dB and nephew and my 2 daughters. Last night was our second night here - first was uneventful. So, kitchen at back with big windows/ doors to garden which leads to public path and beach. Around midnight there's a very bright strobe light shone through kitchen. DB goes outside- its a group of kids. So we try to ignore. Goes on for about 20 minutes. Then there's knocking at front door - noone there. Light appears again and then we hear what we think are stones being thrown at back. Front door then gets kicked and windows knocked on. By now my youngest is terrified, as is my mum. DP and DB follow the kids at front and get abuse shouted at them. DP and DB stay at front door until after 1.30, when it all goes quiet.

We didn't call police, very rural here and assumed that by time they'd arrive it would be over, and that police would escalate

I messaged house owner last night to say we'd be leaving today. We don't feel safe.

This was first time I've spent time with DB and DM in years. So disappointed.

Would you leave? We spent over £1500 on house. What refund (if any?) would you expect?

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 19/07/2023 08:38

You didn’t call the police because you thought they would escalate? Or is it that a typo for wouldn’t?Confused

Original poster
Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:42

We didn't call the police because where we are we knew it would take hours for them to respond and we were trying to keep things calm(ish) for the kids.

Drip feed, my mum had a break in a few years ago and has anxiety - there's no way she'll stay.

OP posts:
VictoriaVenkman · 19/07/2023 08:43

I wouldn't leave, I'd call the Police. I wouldn't expect a refund as they have done nothing wrong.

You aren't in Wales by any chance are you?

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 08:45

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Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 08:46

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HolidayBurden · 19/07/2023 08:47

You can't expect a refund. It's not the owner's fault, and you should have called the police that's exactly what they are for. You have no idea of their workload / response times and they would have given advice and maybe even been to reassure you today.

try to speak to a neighbour today and they will say if it's frequent. Telling them how frightened your mother is might help. Word can get about quickly in rural areas and most people would put a stop to this behaviour.

Reallybadidea · 19/07/2023 08:47

Everything seems more frightening at night and in the dark. This was kids messing about, as annoying and scary as it was, it's incredibly unlikely that they would be dangerous. Now that it's light maybe contact the police, report what happened and see what they suggest what to do if it happens again. It might not. I can understand that your mum is anxious but such a shame for your kids to have their holiday cut short.

WimpoleHat · 19/07/2023 08:47

I really don’t think you’re entitled to any sort of refund. You’ve decided to leave - it’s not the homeowner’s fault that some randoms have knocked on the door. And if it was that worrying, you should definitely have called the police - as it is, you have no proof of any incident at all. Shame it’s spoilt your holiday so badly, though.

Oddsockday · 19/07/2023 08:48

Your Mum has anxiety so you expect a refund. Christ alive I've really heard it all now.
You cannot expect a refund.

Original poster
Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:48

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I'm on mumsnet and everyone else is still in bed - they didn't get much sleep!

OP posts:
TimesRwo · 19/07/2023 08:49

Of course you wouldn’t get a refund. In what world do you think you’re enjoyed to one.

Original poster
Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:49

We have video footage of the light and of them running round street at front.

OP posts:
WandaWonder · 19/07/2023 08:50

Something tells me the op will come back and say a full refund was given plus added money just for the fun of it

Call to police and not expecting a refund is genuinely what should have happened

TimesRwo · 19/07/2023 08:51

Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:49

We have video footage of the light and of them running round street at front.

Why does that get you a refund?

Thunderisntnicebythebeach · 19/07/2023 08:52

We stayed rural last year and rang the police. The response was quicker than at home! Yabu to let a load of yobs ruin your trip.
Is there a hose set up? Fire it off into the darkness... Mind blown you are going home!

FlowersInTheSky · 19/07/2023 08:54

If you leave you shouldn’t expect any refund at all, neither partial or full, because it’s your choice.

ilovesooty · 19/07/2023 08:54

The OP has simply wondered whether others would leave and "what refund (if any)" might be expected. She hasn't stridently insisted she should be entitled to a refund.

Some posters really are laying into her.

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 08:55

Op

You have said you have to leave? So why are you asking posters if you would be unreasonable to cut short the holiday

the decision has been made according to…you

Moanycowbag · 19/07/2023 08:55

If you are that rural and the kids possibly local, then the local police probably know who they are, you should have rung the police, rural response times are usually quicker than town/city. I would not expect a refund.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 19/07/2023 08:55

I wouldn't have left and I personally don't think you can expect any kind of refund given that you didn't think it was serious enough to get the police involved.

If I was the homeowner and you tried to ask for a refund with zero evidence of any problem then I'd think you were taking the piss tbh.

Hoppinggreen · 19/07/2023 08:55

Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:42

We didn't call the police because where we are we knew it would take hours for them to respond and we were trying to keep things calm(ish) for the kids.

Drip feed, my mum had a break in a few years ago and has anxiety - there's no way she'll stay.

You didn’t know it would take ages, you assumed.
It’s a shame for your poor Mum but if her leaving means you all have to then I guess you do. Not the property owners fault though

Grandana · 19/07/2023 08:55

We left a holiday once where we couldn't sleep due to the neighbours, and the sleep deprivation got too much. I've never regretted it, it felt good to take control back.

Re-read any reviews looking for hints of trouble in the past. I think any refund will depend on how desperate the owners are to avoid negative reviews and whether you'll agree not to leave one. Problem is you'd then be potentially passing the problem onto the next holidaymakers.

Original poster
Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:58

TimesRwo · 19/07/2023 08:51

Why does that get you a refund?

Show quote history

It doesn't?? It was in response to pp who said I had no proof anything happened. Also have photo of front door damaged by a kick.

OP posts:
HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 19/07/2023 08:58

Doesn’t matter what you have video footage of. It’s not the owners fault or responsibility. Can’t see you getting a refund

mumlovesvodka · 19/07/2023 08:58

Why should the owner lose out on money because you didn't call the police? In my experience rural police are far quicker to attend than city police anyway

Sounds like you are making excuses to leave without trying to fix the issue