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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

HAVEN cancelled children’s holiday

154 replies

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 10:44

My lovely husband died suddenly leaving me widowed with two young children, understandably this has been an awful time for me and my family.

Before he died he had booked a half term holiday with Haven which was fully paid for. As my husband was the lead guest, I called Haven to amend the booking and their representative told me I was not able to do this and the holiday would have to be cancelled, despite questioning this she was absolutely adamant that the holiday could not go ahead. I was shocked that they thought cancelling my children’s holiday after the death of their Daddy was in any way acceptable, to me it was completely heartless.

After coming off the call I sought advice and called them back a couple of hours later, this time Haven admitted that they could easily amend the booking on seeing the death certificate. I was then informed that the holiday had already been cancelled, I assume by the first representative I spoke to, despite not having gone through any security checks or sending the documentation yet. They then told me that our accommodation had already been resold and therefore they could not reinstate it.

They’ve now spent the past couple of days faffing around and temporarily rebooking us on to a downgraded caravan whilst they try and resolve their error. This has caused me to feel very anxious and distressed so I’ve decided to no longer go and I am looking at booking another holiday far, far away from Haven.

So, am I unreasonable for expecting better from a company aimed at families? And what type of resolution would you be happy with?

Thank-you x

OP posts:
NotJohnMajor · 04/05/2024 10:49

I'm sorry for your loss, what an awful time you've been through.

I would want either a full refund or the holiday honoured in the type of caravan I had booked (or better).

I might at a push accept a partial refund and a lower standard of caravan, to avoid the hassle of booking somewhere completely new.

A 'goodwill gesture' for the inconvenience you've been caused would be fair as well.

CaliGurl · 04/05/2024 10:50

NotJohnMajor · 04/05/2024 10:49

I'm sorry for your loss, what an awful time you've been through.

I would want either a full refund or the holiday honoured in the type of caravan I had booked (or better).

I might at a push accept a partial refund and a lower standard of caravan, to avoid the hassle of booking somewhere completely new.

A 'goodwill gesture' for the inconvenience you've been caused would be fair as well.

This OP. Condolences on your loss.

ArcticOwl · 04/05/2024 10:52

Bollocks had they 'resold' it within a couple of hours, they overbooked and just gave it to the next person in line.

So sorry for your loss OP.

Absolutely atrocious behaviour from them. I'd definitely be seeking a full refund and/or some compensation as an apology.

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 10:55

ArcticOwl · 04/05/2024 10:52

Bollocks had they 'resold' it within a couple of hours, they overbooked and just gave it to the next person in line.

So sorry for your loss OP.

Absolutely atrocious behaviour from them. I'd definitely be seeking a full refund and/or some compensation as an apology.

Edited

See this I what I think, and most probably at a higher cost than my husband originally paid, thus profiting from their ‘error’ 😡

OP posts:
HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 10:56

NotJohnMajor · 04/05/2024 10:49

I'm sorry for your loss, what an awful time you've been through.

I would want either a full refund or the holiday honoured in the type of caravan I had booked (or better).

I might at a push accept a partial refund and a lower standard of caravan, to avoid the hassle of booking somewhere completely new.

A 'goodwill gesture' for the inconvenience you've been caused would be fair as well.

Thank-you for your reply, it’s such a shame you’re not actually John Major, not that I imagine he holidays at Haven!

OP posts:
fluffiphlox · 04/05/2024 10:57

Go to the money pages of the papers or to Radio 4 You and Yours. But only if you feel you have the energy. They could have used this terrible situation to your and their advantage but they’ve been arseholes. What a tin-eared, jobsworth response.

andwhy · 04/05/2024 11:01

That's appalling customer service. Shame on haven. If you have the energy I'd be emailing a very strongly worded email and posting on their twitter/ trip advisor, if they have one. I hope you find a nicer break somewhere far far away from them. So sorry they have done this to you at this time.

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 11:03

fluffiphlox · 04/05/2024 10:57

Go to the money pages of the papers or to Radio 4 You and Yours. But only if you feel you have the energy. They could have used this terrible situation to your and their advantage but they’ve been arseholes. What a tin-eared, jobsworth response.

I’m in two minds, radio might be a good call as I don’t want my ‘sad face’ plastered all over the media! I just want Haven to realise they can’t treat people this way

OP posts:
MonsteraMama · 04/05/2024 11:03

That's shocking on their part, what a dozy cow not using a single grain of common sense to think "oh maybe this is one of those extenuating circumstances the small print mentions" before cancelling your holiday.

I'm so sorry for your loss, I hope you and your children have a wonderful holiday wherever you choose to go. Wishing your family peace and healing.

NotJohnMajor · 04/05/2024 11:06

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 10:56

Thank-you for your reply, it’s such a shame you’re not actually John Major, not that I imagine he holidays at Haven!

😀He has apparently holidayed in Candeleda, near Madrid, every year since 1989, and they have named a road 'Avenida John Major' in his honour!

Changingplace · 04/05/2024 11:06

This is absolutely appalling, I’m so sorry for your loss and that you’re been treated so badly.

I agree with pp that you should get a full refund or an apology or to be reinstated and upgraded if you can still bare to stay with them.

Hope you get it sorted.

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 11:06

andwhy · 04/05/2024 11:01

That's appalling customer service. Shame on haven. If you have the energy I'd be emailing a very strongly worded email and posting on their twitter/ trip advisor, if they have one. I hope you find a nicer break somewhere far far away from them. So sorry they have done this to you at this time.

Thank-you, I’ve come to the conclusion that the holiday is ruined beyond repair. Haven have quoted 35 days to refund, probably longer as they are insisting on sending it back to my husbands closed bank account 🙄 This means the new holiday will need to be paid for before any refund is received, not a problem but on principle it doesn’t feel fair.

OP posts:
NotJohnMajor · 04/05/2024 11:08

they are insisting on sending it back to my husbands closed bank account

Oh, for goodness sake! Where is their common sense?

Changingplace · 04/05/2024 11:08

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 11:06

Thank-you, I’ve come to the conclusion that the holiday is ruined beyond repair. Haven have quoted 35 days to refund, probably longer as they are insisting on sending it back to my husbands closed bank account 🙄 This means the new holiday will need to be paid for before any refund is received, not a problem but on principle it doesn’t feel fair.

This is even worse! I’d escalate as high as you can with them, this is absolutely disgusting behaviour by them.

KimberleyClark · 04/05/2024 11:08

Firstly I am so very sorry for your loss. Haven have behaved shamefully.

I really cannot see the problem, if a holiday has been booked and paid for, of one less person going on it. It really sounds like the person used your situation to solve a problem she already had, such as an overbooking. I would make an official complaint about this person.

Minihippyme89 · 04/05/2024 11:08

This is dreadful, as if you’ve not been through enough. I would take to the media, I’m not very good at that sort of thing but maybe someone could cobble together and email for you. I hope it all gets sorted out soon

Squirrelblanket · 04/05/2024 11:12

If you have X/twitter I would post about it on there and shame them. Very poor behaviour on their part.

ThisIsMyRubbishUsername · 04/05/2024 11:12

I’m so sorry for your loss. Haven sound completely heartless.
They don’t deserve peoples money if they can treat them this way. If the holiday was fully paid for it makes no sense to me that they thought it was acceptable to cancel it. I would spread this information far and wide on every outlet you can.

Goodadvice1980 · 04/05/2024 11:14

I think they’ve treated you very shabbily OP.

Perhaps an email to the CEO Paul Flaum?

[email protected]

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 11:16

NotJohnMajor · 04/05/2024 11:06

😀He has apparently holidayed in Candeleda, near Madrid, every year since 1989, and they have named a road 'Avenida John Major' in his honour!

Maybe I’ll take the kids there, the little one has some binoculars and we could go JM spotting, probably be much more fun than a wet week in a caravan 😆

OP posts:
Coffeesnob11 · 04/05/2024 11:17

I am so very sorry for your loss. They have been stupid and cruel. I would contact Dean Dunham at lbc (I losten to lbc a lot so he's the first one I thought of) to get some advice. You can contact him online if you don't want to speak on the radio. His show is tomorrow 9-10. Alternatively write to the ceo of haven and send it signed for.
I hope they compensate you for the loss of the holiday and the stress and upset.

converseandjeans · 04/05/2024 11:22

That's awful - I agree with going onto X/Twitter. What a terrible thing to do.

HavenAreHeartless · 04/05/2024 11:30

Probably hidden at the back of a dusty cupboard along with their compassion! - Sorry this was meant to be in response to NotJohnMajor

OP posts:
BetterCare · 04/05/2024 11:37

I am so sorry for your loss. It is appalling that a company can not get their act at this time and sort something out for you without creating such stress.

I would go straight to the top. The Managing Director's name is Simon Palethorpe. I am not sure what his email address would be. You could try [email protected]

Someone else may be able to investigate his email address but I would imagine if you contact him, he will at least put it in the hands of someone who can sort it out for you.

I really hope you get this sorted.

Clearinguptheclutter · 04/05/2024 11:37

This is awful. I’d expect them to sort it out or total full refund to YOUR account.

I wouldn’t go to the papers but would have a rant on their Facebook page or on Twitter if not resolved promptly.

very sorry for your loss