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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that more should have been done to fill my place?

43 replies

Chucklemission · 03/02/2024 19:22

I became ill at the beginning of the week and was due to go on a walking holiday this weekend.

I had paid the full cost of the holiday to the organiser- an independent person who runs a yoga and walking group. I knew that the cost was nonrefundable.

I received a doctors note on the monday as I was too poorly to work and emailed the organiser on Wednesday morning informing them that I was too ill and couldn't see me being well enough by Friday, also asking them if they could look to fill my place. They said they would try to do so.

On Thursday dinner time, she still hadn't filled my place but informed me that she had only asked one person to fill it. I asked her why she hadn't shared the place on her company Facebook page? She then shared it at around 9pm on the Thursday, when the group were arriving at the destination at lunch time on Friday. Obviously my place didn't get filled with such short notice and I have lost £300. I am also a single mum so this is a lot of money to me.

The more I'm reflecting, the more I feel stumped as to why more wasn't done to fill my place. She asked one person and waited for a response for 36 hours before posting on her main page. I just keep thinking that I would have done so much more to fill the place if I knew that the person was too poorly to attend.

I know I can't get my money back but I'm in two minds over whether to send her a copy of my sicknote in a bid to maybe get a little compensated? Or is that a bit cheeky? Do I just move on and forget about it?

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 03/02/2024 19:44

You couldn't find someone to take your place (and pay) and realistically it was never likely that she could either with two day's notice.

I understand it stings to lose £300 but you cancelled at very short notice and with no travel insurance. None of that is the organiser's fault.

LIZS · 03/02/2024 19:45

At such short notice chances were slim, just as you found.

FuckingHellAdele · 03/02/2024 19:47

Sounds like she asked the person she thought most likely to be able to go, and then posted on her FB page. She was under no obligation to do either of those things, and you are being totally unreasonable to whine about her not doing enough.

This is what insurance is for.

SgtJuneAckland · 03/02/2024 19:50

If you were ill enough to be signed off from work on Monday why did you wait until Wednesday to tell her? Maybe if she/you had put the vacancy out on Monday it might've been filled

PutMyFootIn · 03/02/2024 19:50

YABU - why should she spend her free time looking for a replacement for you. Do it yourself.

And don't say "I'm a single parent and can't afford it". You have already afforded it. It's paid for.

missmollygreen · 03/02/2024 19:51

If you had contacted her on Monday then she would have had much more time to find a replacement

Ilovemyshed · 03/02/2024 19:55

You are being totally unreasonable. She has NO obligation to fill your place. You should have insurance. Tough.

PutMyFootIn · 03/02/2024 19:56

Did you thank her for what she DID do to try to fill your place?

chantelion · 03/02/2024 19:58

Yabu and there isn't any moral issue in her part.

betterangels · 03/02/2024 19:59

BreakfastAtMimis · 03/02/2024 19:32

I think if you pull out of the holiday at that late stage, you just need to accept that the money is lost. It's not really up to the organiser to fill the place.
Was the booking transferable? If so there was nothing to stop you asking around your own contact networks to see if anyone could go in your place and give you some money.

Yeah, tbh why was it up to her to fill it? You have a vested interest in getting the money back. Put out feelers within your network.

betterangels · 03/02/2024 20:01

And don't say "I'm a single parent and can't afford it". You have already afforded it. It's paid for.

And this. You can't say you can't afford it when you have already paid for it.

feathermucker · 03/02/2024 20:11

You stated in your OP that you knew it was non-refundable. However frustrating this may be for you, it's not her job to fill your place and she has no obligation to do so.

It's not about affordability as it's already paid for. Of course you can't ask for any compensation from her. You need to move on from it

littlemousebigcheese · 03/02/2024 20:11

You say you also shared it and had no takers so maybe it's just that it was too short notice for anyone? Sorry you're unwell and had to miss the trip but the money is gone either way so no point dwelling on it

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 03/02/2024 20:14

You got the note on Monday but didn't tell her til Wednesday? This is on you really, she had your money & made it clear it was non refundable so it was up to you to sell the place on.

ClematisRock · 03/02/2024 20:20

I don't understand.

*I knew that the cost was nonrefundable.
*
You do know what that means, surely?

BakedTattie · 03/02/2024 20:22

What’s the problem? She DID try to find a replacement. She did you a favour - I hope you thanked her

HawkersEast · 03/02/2024 20:29

Why did you wait till Wednesday to let her know when you've had a sick note since Monday? I'm sure she has other things going on in life so maybe she didn't have time to find someone. It's not on her to do that

OneTC · 03/02/2024 20:34

Maybe the one she contacted was the one person who asked after the trip was full?

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