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Original poster

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:
SmolCat · 01/12/2021 11:21

I shall not be paying the £150 A: Because I don't think this is a fair charge for one cigarette
What if the room wasn’t able to be let the next day because of it? What if the next guests complained about the smell and had to be refunded?

Original poster
froggy1811 · 01/12/2021 11:23

@percythewitch

So if you had been welcomed with open arms, treated like royalty and had a palatial sized room, would you still be disputing the extra charge for smoking in a non-smoking room.

No smoking means exactly that - not, "smoking is OK if you hang out of the window". So it was cold/wet/snowy outside and was a bit of a trek. Boo hoo. Suck it up and bloody well go outside.

And yes, I am a smoker. If I smoked in a non-smoking room I would expect to be charged extra, regardless of my opinion on the rest of the stay.

Yes! I would still be disputing the cost of this charge! But, seeing as how you raised this point, it doesn't take a genius to work out that when people treat you well you are more inclined to return the courtesy!

That is not to say that I condone what my DH did, however, their awful treatment of us, along with the false advertisement does leave me less inclined to care about their complaint.

OP posts:
Original poster
froggy1811 · 01/12/2021 11:25

@SmolCat

I shall not be paying the £150 A: Because I don't think this is a fair charge for one cigarette What if the room wasn’t able to be let the next day because of it? What if the next guests complained about the smell and had to be refunded?
Surely if this had occurred the B&B would have contacted me sooner? They had my phone number and my email address, and had no reason to assume that they couldn't speak to me directly.
OP posts:
Autumndays123 · 01/12/2021 11:27

@froggy1811

And just to add to that, they would not have helped us with any issues that we had complained about, because they wasn't even prepared to show basic courtesy, or answer questions that were asked.

They have poor reviews for a reason - regardless of whether or not my husband had a cigarette.

Not prepared to help you....but found you a table for dinner despite being fully booked because you hadn't bothered booking a table?

You're just sounding increasingly more ridiculous and entitled.

MaggieFS · 01/12/2021 11:28

What if the next person only made their complaint when they checked out? Honestly OP, the feedback is pretty universal that YABU with regards to the charge. Why can't you see that?

BonesInTheOcean · 01/12/2021 11:29

in a nutshell though, he DID smoke in a non smoking room, no matter how you try to wing it

You agreed to pay the charge if he smoked (which he did) when you booked the room, unless it was not stated on the Ts&Cs (as we dont know where you stayed... we cannot say)

ImInStealthMode · 01/12/2021 11:30

@froggy1811 Their contract with booking.com will dictate that they shouldn't contact you directly. I work for a Tour Operator and hotel complaints after the fact (in either direction) come through us.

Autumndays123 · 01/12/2021 11:31

OP, why are you here? You clearly had no intention of paying the fine, so what is the point of the post? I really really hope they have some kind of CCTV and manage to get the money out of you 🤞

gamerchick · 01/12/2021 11:32

Your bloke sounds like a nightmare and you aren't really coming up smelling of roses either.

I really hope they persue you for it OP. Just pay the fine and behave in future.

Original poster
froggy1811 · 01/12/2021 11:33

@Autumndays123 It was the chef who agreed to make us a meal. The landlord was just rude and grotty when we requested a table. Anyway, I have already stated more than once that not booking the table was entirely out fault!

And actually, you sound pretty ridiculous making such ludicrous assumptions about me as a human being, based on my not booking a table!

OP posts:
Autumndays123 · 01/12/2021 11:36

[quote froggy1811]@Autumndays123 It was the chef who agreed to make us a meal. The landlord was just rude and grotty when we requested a table. Anyway, I have already stated more than once that not booking the table was entirely out fault!

And actually, you sound pretty ridiculous making such ludicrous assumptions about me as a human being, based on my not booking a table![/quote]
I'm not making assumptions on you not booking at table. I'm making assumptions on your whole attitude and sense of entitlement on this post. You are really not coming across well and not the type of people I would want in my establishment

Original poster
froggy1811 · 01/12/2021 11:51

@Autumndays123 Have you actually read some of the outrageous comments that have been made about me on this thread? I posted here because I wanted to hear people's views on the £150 charge, and whether or not they thought it was fair. I was honest in my OP when I stated that DH had had a cigarette out of the window. I requested that everyone not shout at me/have a go at me, as I wanted real opinions - not online abuse/attacks - which is actually what I have been subject to here!

I have been accused of being a scumbag, an alcoholic and of having zero morals! People have taken things that I have said completely out of context (such as when I mentioned the price of the room - which I only did so that others could weigh up the £150 charge against the price of the nightly stay!) I was accused of being sat there with two bottles of Prosecco at the same time (despite the fact that this was not the case and I tried to clarify this several times!) I have been accused of being drunk and disorderly in the pub which is completely untrue! These are just the things that I remember! And now I'm being accused of being self entitled!

If only you knew me, you would laugh out loud at this assumption!

OP posts:
percythewitch · 01/12/2021 11:54

Yes! I would still be disputing the cost of this charge! But, seeing as how you raised this point, it doesn't take a genius to work out that when people treat you well you are more inclined to return the courtesy!

It also doesn't take a genius to work out that a no-smoking room is a no-smoking room. It's not about courtesy, it's about the actual terms and conditions that you agreed to when making the booking.

We had a pretty dreadful meal in a hotel recently.
It was cold and raining but I still managed to go outside and have a cigarette because smoking inside wasn't allowed.

By your logic I could have just sat at the table and had a cigarette.

Bollocks to all the other customers who would (quite rightly) have complained and had their meal spoiled.

The people renting the room after you would expect a room that hadn't been smoked in.

TuftyMarmoset · 01/12/2021 11:55

Your DH broke the law and the fine arising from it is £150. You don’t get to decide what the consequences are!

justustwoandmoo · 01/12/2021 11:59

OP honestly one thing I have learnt about Mumsnet is that it is full of bullies. Grown up women who hide behind their keyboards spouting crap that they would never say to anyones face. They are the same people who would then turn around and tell their kids not to bully other kids....

Some of the comments you have had on here are shocking. It says a lot for you that you have kept your cool through it all and tried to explain things the best you can. However it seems that no matter how much you clarify points over and over again there are people who just literally make stuff up!!! Lol. Others who don't bother reading the thread before jumping in.

Hold your head up high, laugh it off and leave the sad negative people to it. Also try to focus on some of the more constructive, respecting comments.

I have read some of the replies on this thread out to my 12 year old daughter as an example of how she should never, ever treat another person.

💐💐💐

Original poster
froggy1811 · 01/12/2021 12:00

@TuftyMarmoset

Your DH broke the law and the fine arising from it is £150. You don’t get to decide what the consequences are!
I'm not sure where your getting your figures from, BUT If he broke the law (which plenty of people here have already pointed out, he didn't,) then they can send the police to arrest him.

Solved!

OP posts:
Autumndays123 · 01/12/2021 12:04

[quote froggy1811]@Autumndays123 Have you actually read some of the outrageous comments that have been made about me on this thread? I posted here because I wanted to hear people's views on the £150 charge, and whether or not they thought it was fair. I was honest in my OP when I stated that DH had had a cigarette out of the window. I requested that everyone not shout at me/have a go at me, as I wanted real opinions - not online abuse/attacks - which is actually what I have been subject to here!

I have been accused of being a scumbag, an alcoholic and of having zero morals! People have taken things that I have said completely out of context (such as when I mentioned the price of the room - which I only did so that others could weigh up the £150 charge against the price of the nightly stay!) I was accused of being sat there with two bottles of Prosecco at the same time (despite the fact that this was not the case and I tried to clarify this several times!) I have been accused of being drunk and disorderly in the pub which is completely untrue! These are just the things that I remember! And now I'm being accused of being self entitled!

If only you knew me, you would laugh out loud at this assumption![/quote]
What do you mean you were honest when you admitted in your OP that he had a cigarette out of the window? Surely that's the whole point of the thread?

Bluntness100 · 01/12/2021 12:06

This thread just gets better and better, 🤣

It does sound atrocious op, what an awful night, what with them squeezing you in for dinner when you didn’t book, your large meal, your two bottles of Prosecco, your husbands line up of beers, his cooked breakfast, taking your Prosecco up to the room and up till gone two am, sounds like a proper dreadful night to me too.

And as for not paying the 150, that was a given from the start.😂

Bluntness100 · 01/12/2021 12:09

I'm not sure where your getting your figures from, BUT If he broke the law (which plenty of people here have already pointed out, he didn't,) then they can send the police to arrest him

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
froggy1811 · 01/12/2021 12:10

@justustwoandmoo

OP honestly one thing I have learnt about Mumsnet is that it is full of bullies. Grown up women who hide behind their keyboards spouting crap that they would never say to anyones face. They are the same people who would then turn around and tell their kids not to bully other kids....

Some of the comments you have had on here are shocking. It says a lot for you that you have kept your cool through it all and tried to explain things the best you can. However it seems that no matter how much you clarify points over and over again there are people who just literally make stuff up!!! Lol. Others who don't bother reading the thread before jumping in.

Hold your head up high, laugh it off and leave the sad negative people to it. Also try to focus on some of the more constructive, respecting comments.

I have read some of the replies on this thread out to my 12 year old daughter as an example of how she should never, ever treat another person.

💐💐💐

This is so true! I have been utterly shocked at some of these vile comments.

My grown up son read through the first half of this thread yesterday and stated that in all of his years in highschool, he has never witnessed such malicious bullying! He got way more upset about it than I did, bless his heart. It is true, that no matter what I say here I am not going to win with the keyboard warriors! 😂

Thank you so much for your comforting words! 🥰

OP posts:
kikipie · 01/12/2021 12:13

You asked for opinions even though you obviously have no intention of paying up, so why ask?

kikipie · 01/12/2021 12:14

You have a grown up son? Shock

I hope he doesn’t think it’s ok to smoke in a non smoking room

Bluntness100 · 01/12/2021 12:14

Op…aibu
Mn..yes, totally
Op. Bullying bastards.

sqirrelfriends · 01/12/2021 12:15

I can see it from both sides, their treatment of you wasn't great and the fine is ridiculously high but they might have been wary of the type of guests you might be.

To be honest you stayed up until 2am and smoked out of a window at a small b&b so if they did have concerns, they were right. You might have felt you were quiet but I bet you weren't quiet enough not to disturb anyone.

justustwoandmoo · 01/12/2021 12:17

@Bluntness100

Op…aibu Mn..yes, totally Op. Bullying bastards.
It's one thing giving an opinion and quite another to treat another person like crap. No need at all. Just stop now.
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