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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
Sykes Holiday Cottages - refusing refunds
inmylifeIlovedthemall · 22/03/2020 20:09
I am wondering if anyone else is caught up in the ‘no refunds’ policy that Sykes Holiday cottages are adopting in relation to Coronavirus.
Despite Boris imploring us to stay at home and numerous representitives of the Travel Industry asking us not to travel to tourist hotspots, Sykes are refusing to allow cancellations and refund holiday payments. They are offering rebooking options, but at massively increased prices for the same period in 2021.
They have sold Insurance alongside their holidays, but those policies do not cover the current situation.
So for me the choice seems to be ‘do the right thing’ and stay home, losing the total cost of the holiday.
I was travelling to meet a group of friends & family and all have been able to cancel at no loss to themselves. It just appears to be Sykes taking this stance.
Is anyone else caught up in this? Are there other holiday companies taking the same stance?
Justyou · 22/03/2020 20:11
Oh no, we have a booking with them but not until August but I was hoping we could get refund if needed to
VinoEsmeralda · 22/03/2020 20:13
This is going to bite them after covid-19 is under control
Shadowboy · 22/03/2020 20:14
We are stuck in this too. Although paid on my CCard do not sure if that covers me?
Justyou · 22/03/2020 20:14
I hadn’t heard that when I booked, I just looked at the cottage reviews. I hope things are better by August. When are you due to go?
Coffeepot72 · 22/03/2020 20:16
Aspects Holidays (who do Cornwall holidays) have the same stance. We are due to have a week’s break over Easter, and there are no refunds. They said we could re-book the same cottage for later in the year, but ours has no availability til the end of November and we can’t defer til 2021 as they haven’t negotiated their 2021 contracts yet. So where does that leave me?
Merename · 22/03/2020 20:17
Ah I hadn’t heard but have a booking for July. I’m sure we booked on a deal where you only paid £20 deposit tho and have insurance, surely they won’t think they can collect the rest?
KatyaZamolodchikova · 22/03/2020 20:17
Hoseasons are doing exactly the same. I’m hoping they will close and I can claim on insurance.
anypossibleway · 22/03/2020 20:18
I changed my dates for next March and has to pay £10. I’m not sure if I was lucky because all other dates I looked at I would have had to pay £500-£700 extra. On top of the £300 I’ve already paid for my 3 night break!
inmylifeIlovedthemall · 22/03/2020 20:40
Justyou We are due to go May Bank Holiday week.
Merename that is exactly the situation we are in. Paid £20 deposit and took Insurance. They are enforcing the balance of the Deposit (35% of the total price) + their fees + Insurance
The Insurance only covers you if you cancel because you have been diagnosed or are self isolating because someone in your family is suspected of having contracted it. Even then you have to provide evidence from 111
(See attached)
Shadowboy I am not sure Section 75 covers travel or under what terms your CC would agree to refund. Would be worth asking the question.
Butterfingers64 · 22/03/2020 20:45
Yes I'm caught too. Time to name and shame on social media!
inmylifeIlovedthemall · 22/03/2020 20:51
Butterfingers64 There is a FB page set up to try and do that.
It is nothing to do with me but it might be worth adding your thoughts (as I have)
I am not sure if I am allowed by MN to link it but it is called
Covid 19 * Sykes Holiday Chat
Karwomannghia · 22/03/2020 20:56
Same for us with cottages.com and also cornishcottages.
I think they’re all doing the same. Unfortunately I think a lot of people will still go judging by this weekend.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/03/2020 20:59
I had 2 weeks booked with in May. I've moved the first week to September and I'm still deciding what to do with the second as I won't be able to take it this year. I'm really disappointed they won't offer a refund.
wizzler · 22/03/2020 21:09
It think that's really poor, especially since all the tourist areas are shouting "don't come " . If you can't get a refund to spend on another holiday, people will go on the holiday. Ridiculous
inmylifeIlovedthemall · 22/03/2020 21:19
I think it will have even more serious repercussions for UK holiday cottage owners.
We are in the same position on an August booking with a different company. Obviously we have longer to see how the situation evolves but between the two could end up £2k + down.
The friend I am travelling with has said ‘no more’. In future we will AirBnB and book last minute.
These companies are being very short sighted.
Happywith2 · 23/03/2020 15:46
We are in same situation, can rebook for later in year if the owner agrees.....but don’t really want a week in November by sea or we cancel and loose money.
Really put me off booking another holiday cottage.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/03/2020 15:54
The independent agency who we’d booked a long weekend with cancelled and have given us an open ended credit even before the don’t travel advice. I’m wishing we hadn’t booked with Sykes now
Crispsareafoodgroup · 23/03/2020 15:54
I have a booking in May. The credit card I used has expired. I’m wondering what they will do when the payment won’t go through.
GhostofFrankGrimes · 23/03/2020 16:01
Booked through scottish cottages for July. Now discover they are part of cottages.com Anyone had any joy getting through to them?
Yellowbutterfly1 · 23/03/2020 16:13
I have a hoseasons booking for July. I’ve only paid my £25 deposit and the rest is due at the beginning of may.
If I cancel I’m hoping it’s just the deposit I lose.
PurpleRainGirl · 23/03/2020 16:37
We had a booking for this week with a holiday let company in Cornwall. Emailed and rang them asking what's happening in the present circumstances - what options do they have for us. No refund. Option to reschedule later this year - OK. We thought, right the cottage is lovely, we want them to have the money (paid in full already), we'll reschedule. Next thing I know, an email comes through with an extra charge of nearly £100 on top of what we've already paid. We look on the website, the dates we asked to reschedule to cost the same as what we paid now. So we go back to them asking what's going on. "Administration fee" - the answer received.
I am then vilified on social media by Cornish people for speaking up about this.
Cornwall: your own people who run these places are a problem. Holiday lets should see sense and shut down particularly after the Govt advice not to travel yesterday. Govt is rolling out financial packages to help businesses. Yet the companies based there are ruthless and ignore the welfare of their communities and their customers too - this is the problem. If we had lost our money, we'd accept it. If we had to claim on insurance, we would do so. If we had to reschedule at the same price, we would also do it because we love going there and have been coming for many, many years.
But this is a fucking pisstake.
PurpleRainGirl · 23/03/2020 16:48
And sorry to everyone on this thread who is also doing the right thing and staying home and yet we are being screwed over for absolutely no reason.
If I see one more thread on here pinning the blame on the holidaymakers, I'll refer them here. I'm done with renting holiday cottages, for good.
Yellowbutterfly1 · 23/03/2020 16:52
Some of these companies are terrible.
I’ve just realised that I will have to pay at least £125 If I cancel as my £25 deposit was an offer.
I won’t want an option to change my dates because I only chose the accommodation because the price was right and this year was going to be the only time we could go away before school holidays.
If I rebook for next year the price will be too high and I’m not prepared to pay any extra.
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