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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Holiday From Hell - Live

359 replies

Bartlebum · 15/03/2024 17:30

Please help!

It's my nan's 80th birthday and we have arranged for 29 of us to come to North Devon for a weekend to celebrate. Arrived at 3pm to boiler faults in our cottage, no heating and no hot water. Immediately reported and the owner did not reply.

We have seven cottages in total and as everyone arrived we realised all of them are out, so we checked the gas tanks for the whole property and they are empty.

I have been calling the booking agent we went through who said they won't deal with this guy anymore as he has had nothing but complaints, so have terminated the contract.

As we paid them I have asked them to sort it so they said they will do what they can to get in touch with him.

It's been 2.5 hours and no progress. 29 people, two elderly, 7 children and one with a disability. I have asked them to find alternative accomodation but they said its not on them, it's on the owner of the property who is not contactable.

I don't know what to do. There is no one on site as it was all done via key codes. The owner lives several hours away in London, we are freezing and can't begin celebrating my nan turning 80 on what should have been an amazing occasion. We literally stayed here two years ago and had the most amazing time but it's changed hands and not been maintained to any standard.

Anyone been in a similar situation? I've been nice to the agents and I don't want to kick off but I can't believe they won't help me.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
juggleit · 17/03/2024 12:32

Mumof2teens79 · 15/03/2024 17:39

I would buy some wood from nearest garage or roadside log stall. And set up in the cottage with the electric shower. And the two either side.
Move the most vulnerable into the nearest hotel with vacancies and ask if they can cater for you this weekend.
Then take owner to court for full refund.

This….also pursue damages in your claim. So sorry this has happened to you all - good luck OP

Darkbutstarrynight · 17/03/2024 12:48

@juggleit or they could have been moved to a massive mansion for no extra cost and be having a great weekend as per their updates .....

MrsSlocombesCat · 17/03/2024 13:15

From what I remember studying contract law 20 years ago, it is the booking agent the contract is with so they are liable to put things right.

sc0nes4t · 17/03/2024 14:20

Cancel the cheque! 🙄🙄

Bartlebum · 17/03/2024 14:32

sc0nes4t · 17/03/2024 14:20

Cancel the cheque! 🙄🙄

This thread is getting silly now! 😂😂🤣😂😂

OP posts:
quantumbutterfly · 17/03/2024 14:38

Then leave the bastard😁

VeneziaJ · 17/03/2024 14:54

the80sweregreat · 15/03/2024 17:39

Good point re gas :(
I am sorry this is happening to you
I hope that the owners are taken to the cleaners once you get back.
People on here often say to name and shame on Twitter (x) , but again not helpful to you at the moment.
I'd be considering calling the police on them , but I guess this is extreme. You have vulnerable people with you and left high and dry , it's appalling and I bet none of it was cheap to rent for the weekend.
Hope you get some better advice and take care

This isn't a police matter it is a civil law dispute.

Isinglass20 · 17/03/2024 15:16

ThirtyTrillionThreeTrees
add “and why wasn’t the money paid refunded since as agents you have a duty of care and you admitted the service you the agent offered was not fit for purpose.
On these grounds this matter will be pursued through the Court”

Who exactly was the payment made to because the contract is with them.

PolarisSky · 17/03/2024 15:44

The booking agent is talking absolute rubbish. They do have responsibility as your contract is with them if you booked through them and i guarantee you this is 100% truth

AnaMaeve · 17/03/2024 16:49

Oh I so wish there was a ‘OP turned off comments’ button, save this going round and round.

It is Sunday, the OP’s weekend is finished. She does not require advice as she was moved to a MANSION by the agent.

Read the thread - or at least click for the OP’s updates.

CrashyTime · 17/03/2024 17:17

Loved the line about starting to burn furniture if something didn"t start happening, that was fucking funny, LOL, still laughing now.

MrsMikeHeck · 17/03/2024 17:48

So I’m getting comfortable and climbing to the rabbit hole that is the owners other businesses.

WorkingFromHomeShite · 17/03/2024 17:58

MrsMikeHeck · 17/03/2024 17:48

So I’m getting comfortable and climbing to the rabbit hole that is the owners other businesses.

Sharing is caring apparently.

ladycarlotta · 17/03/2024 18:46

this is WILD! How can it have all the same issues as the Devon cottages but in miniature?! I kind of thought with the place OP stayed it sounded like they'd bitten off more than they could chew and run out of money, but it sounds like this is just their MO. Broken dishwasher, rubbish and debris lying around inside and out, dog poo, dangerous play equipment, general dirty state etc etc... what is going on?!

Plus his ridiculous gaslighting replies re 'if you'd mentioned this during your stay we could have fixed it easily' erm, no, Colin, you clearly couldn't or wouldn't, given that every single other review mentions the same issue and you've done nothing about it.

SMH!!!!!

Crispypops · 17/03/2024 19:11

Yet, he brags about taking tenants to court for unpaid rent. I can't imagine he's a great landlord!

Speckybecky123 · 17/03/2024 19:39

Think there probably home now so not sure why people are still commenting 😂

WorkingFromHomeShite · 17/03/2024 20:00

Amazing. He could make a fortune of this and the other ones presumably. Or sell them and have less of a headache. Weird.

MrsMikeHeck · 17/03/2024 22:23

I just took a closer look around that second property’s review and was pleased to see it is near Frensham Ponds - a place I had only heard of on the fantastic Balonz baby name thread here.

MrsMikeHeck · 17/03/2024 22:33

Owners reply on Trip Advisor to a bad review last year.

edit - sorry, I uploaded in wrong order

Holiday From Hell - Live
Holiday From Hell - Live
Holiday From Hell - Live
Bartlebum · 18/03/2024 00:02

@MrsMikeHeck you reminded me of this review I found for our agents. In the sea of mostly positive experiences I sorted by lowest and lo and behold who appears...

The other low reviews were those that had stayed at... You guessed it!

OP posts:
Bartlebum · 18/03/2024 00:03

Sorry the image dropped off!

Holiday From Hell - Live
OP posts:
OhcantthInkofaname · 18/03/2024 03:54

I hope Bartlebum comes back and tells us what a great time they had.

Trapunt0 · 18/03/2024 09:40

My understanding is it's "on" whoever you paid money to as that forms your contract.
There must be a legal person on here who can verify this.
Good luck

Nily4567 · 18/03/2024 10:20

Bartlebum · 15/03/2024 17:30

Please help!

It's my nan's 80th birthday and we have arranged for 29 of us to come to North Devon for a weekend to celebrate. Arrived at 3pm to boiler faults in our cottage, no heating and no hot water. Immediately reported and the owner did not reply.

We have seven cottages in total and as everyone arrived we realised all of them are out, so we checked the gas tanks for the whole property and they are empty.

I have been calling the booking agent we went through who said they won't deal with this guy anymore as he has had nothing but complaints, so have terminated the contract.

As we paid them I have asked them to sort it so they said they will do what they can to get in touch with him.

It's been 2.5 hours and no progress. 29 people, two elderly, 7 children and one with a disability. I have asked them to find alternative accomodation but they said its not on them, it's on the owner of the property who is not contactable.

I don't know what to do. There is no one on site as it was all done via key codes. The owner lives several hours away in London, we are freezing and can't begin celebrating my nan turning 80 on what should have been an amazing occasion. We literally stayed here two years ago and had the most amazing time but it's changed hands and not been maintained to any standard.

Anyone been in a similar situation? I've been nice to the agents and I don't want to kick off but I can't believe they won't help me.

My to add insult to injury but Londoners, out of area air b&b owners etc are a blight on Devon - absolute parasites