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B&B want me to pay £150 fine!

453 replies

froggy1811 · 30/11/2021 20:32

So, this might be a longish read, but please bear with me! Recently my husband and I went to stay at a pub B&B. It is not often that we would ever be in a financial position to do this; however, we love the area and decided to treat ourselves. Anyway, when we arrived we didn't exactly receive the warm welcome that we were hoping for! I thought that perhaps I was imagining things; however, I received a message this morning from Booking.Com demanding that I pay £150 to the B&B for not following their policies. They have stated that this is because my husband smoked a cigarette in the room (please don't all shout at me at once! 😱) BUT, in his defence, he did this hanging out of the window at 2am and disposed of the dimp discreetly - so the only way I can imagine that they knew, is if someone from across the road of where we were staying, saw him and told the landlord!

To be honest, the attitude of the owners was absolutely dreadful from the moment we arrived! And I got the distinct impression that they didn't like us straight away! I shall list some of my points below:

1: Upon arrival we were told that if we wanted a table for dinner, we should have pre-booked. Our fault entirely, but it was the irritable way it was said to us.

2: My husband ordered several half pint ales at the same time, so that he could try them and decide which one he wished to drink for the night. Unfortunately, the idiot forgot which one was which, but as his drinks was still relatively full he asked the landlord which he thought was which based on the liquids colour. The landlords response was extremely cold and scratchy! He made it plain my husband was a fool in his eyes, and then he just stomped off without trying to assist him.

3: Over the course of the night, I had ordered 2 bottles of Prosecco (although, the second bottle didn't actually get drunk, as I couldn't manage any more!) So, it was taken up to our room.

4: We had booked a King room, but this was actually a really cramped, small double , and my husband's legs hung over the end of the bed. Shower and sink only a few inches apart so if you opened the door it hit the sink, and there was zero room to dress in there! The toilet seat was also wonky.

5: Room wasn't the cleanest, and no option to pay extra for a later check out.

6: When my husband went down for the breakfast, the landlord made reference to the amount of Prosecco I had drank the night before! This is despite the fact that we sat quietly at a table all night and was not in any way 'loud' or rowdy! So why mention this?!

7: WiFi didn't work all night long.

I know my husband shouldn't have smoked out of the window, but I have a suspicion that they just didn't like us from the moment we arrived. I had expressed this concern to my husband, who just brushed it off. We were quiet guests who made sure the room was spotlessly immaculate before we left, so I just genuinely feel like they were looking for issues!

Would you pay this? Do you think AIBU?

OP posts:
ChicCroissant · 30/11/2021 20:37

You are blaming the neighbours rather than the obvious smell of smoke in the room?

00100001 · 30/11/2021 20:39

He is at fault.

However, what proof do they have of you breaking policy?

DunderMifflinSalesRep · 30/11/2021 20:40

I think you underestimate how easy it is for a non smoker to smell smoke. I walked past someone smoking the other day and could smell traces from my hair all day.

enjoyingscience · 30/11/2021 20:40

I remember when I was a teenager thinking I could get away with smoking out of my window, super sneaky like. Reader, I couldn’t. It makes the whole house stink. It is very obvious.

Isabellabasil · 30/11/2021 20:41

The room will have stunk of smoke, OP. You probably don't notice it if you like with a smoker. But it's awful, and so difficult to get rid of for the hotel. I'm sorry your stay wasn't enjoyable, better luck next time (but don't smoke indoors Grin)

MrsJaniceBing · 30/11/2021 20:41

They know because smoking stinks & they now have to deep clean the room otherwise the next guests will complain about the smell of smoke in a non smoking room & leave a bad review.

YABU. Pay up.

Kippersfortea · 30/11/2021 20:41

He broke the rule and now you have to pay. I would be cross with them not him. The beer tasting thing makes me cringe TBH. It sounds like you were expecting the Premier Inn. Which I get, I love a Premier Inn, something predictable and dependable and reassuring about it. I think if I was an independent hotelier I would be anxious about people drinking so much though that it might become rowdy or things get damaged, but it does sound like they weren't welcoming before that so may just not be well suited to their job hosting. It's hard to tell without being a fly on the wall there, but sounds like a poor fit and jot the right hotel for you

GertrudeBElion · 30/11/2021 20:41

Hanging out the window or not, it would be completely obvious that someone had smoked in the room.

WheelieBinPrincess · 30/11/2021 20:42

I don’t have much sympathy in all honesty.

But why order two bottles of Prosecco at the same time? Surely you order one, then you order another if you’re tipsy enough to think it’s a good idea? Did you sit there with two bottles of Prosecco ?

AllTheCakes · 30/11/2021 20:42

Of course you need to pay it. All you’re points are irrelevant if he smoked in the room. He might have hung out the window but the smoke would have come in to the room.

cansu · 30/11/2021 20:42

Regardless. I would just tell them you did follow all the policies and you didn't enjoy your stay due to poor welcome and facilties. Raise it as disputed and decline to pay.

SmolCat · 30/11/2021 20:43

You’re really naive if you think someone wouldn’t be able to smell that he had been smoking.

The other issues are completely separate and you can complain about them if you wish.

user0176 · 30/11/2021 20:44

Honestly you both sound like pains in the arse.

R0tational · 30/11/2021 20:44

Yabvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvu.

cansu · 30/11/2021 20:44

Again they are a hotel. They will have guests they like and dislike. Guests who get pissed and guests who don't etc etc. This is their business and they need to manage it as such. They budget for the fact that stuff won't always go to plan.

hotmeatymilk · 30/11/2021 20:45

Your DH smoked in the room and you obviously went mad ordering booze, even if you didn’t drink it, and you’re fussed about things like “wonky loo seat”. Landlord could be awful, guest could be awful, two sides to every tale etc etc EXCEPT the part where you broke a clear rule! Of course you pay the fine Hmm

DismantledKing · 30/11/2021 20:45

I don’t blame them for imposing the fine

HollyBollyBooBoo · 30/11/2021 20:45

Your points have nothing to do with your husband smoking!

If you don't want to pay just deny it, how are they going to prove it?

HighlandCowbag · 30/11/2021 20:45

Meh, the smell of 1 fag, smoked out of the window will clear with an open window for a few hours and a clean set of bedding.

Deny it OP, say he does smoke so probably they can smell his smokey clothes/hair.

And then leave a review saying what you said on here.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/11/2021 20:45

There was a no smoking policy. You’re taking the piss.

DismantledKing · 30/11/2021 20:45

@user0176

Honestly you both sound like pains in the arse.
Exactly. The half pint thing too…
DirtyDancing · 30/11/2021 20:45

YABU. One of the most U I have ever read.

You list 8 moans.. but he HAD A FAG in the room!! Bloody hell it will stink! That's really disgusting. Of course they can smell it a mile off. Yuck

justaweeone · 30/11/2021 20:46

Not sure how they can make you pay this fine?

lunar1 · 30/11/2021 20:46

If I'd been the guest after you I'd have refused to stay in the room. Cigarette smoke smells revolting to a non smoker and plenty will have blown back into the room.

Caelan2018 · 30/11/2021 20:47

We own a bed and breakfast and also have a non smoking policy due to the fact the room and carpets hold thr smell of smoke and the next guests will be complaining so ya he needs to pay the fine