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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:
jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 30/11/2021 21:09

So he got pissed and had a fag in the room?!
Just pay the money and act with more social awareness, next time you both leave the house!

gamerchick · 30/11/2021 21:10

Has to be a joke. Bravo OP Grin

MichelleScarn · 30/11/2021 21:10

: 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.

Did the landlord maybe think you were trying to get away with only paying for the pint of the ale he choose as his drink for the night?

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 30/11/2021 21:10

You shouldn't have smoked in the room. I say this as a smoker. Go outside if you want a fag.

It does sound as though the general service and attitude was shitty, but unfortunately you've put yourself in the wrong by breaking a definite and understandable rule.

PinkWednesdays · 30/11/2021 21:11

It sounds like this was a special trip for you both and your decide to splurge and have a good time, judging by the multiple unnecessary drinks. I wonder if the pub you stayed in wasn’t the right atmosphere for that, hence why the landlord was so judgmental.

Either way, what you’re complaining about is poor manners, whereas you broke the rules and have affected their business.

bloodywhitecat · 30/11/2021 21:12

You need to pay up.

Camembear · 30/11/2021 21:12

Bad luck op. Shame you had a bit of a rubbish time.

WillThisUsernameDo · 30/11/2021 21:13

I’m not surprised the landlord commented on the amount of drinks you had if there were two of you and in one round you ordered two bottles of Prosecco and enough half pints to forget which was which (so at least 4, surely?). He probably realised as soon as you did that you’d be an absolute PITA and he wasn’t wrong.

TicTacHoh · 30/11/2021 21:13

Even if someone did tell the landlord (unlikely), you are still liable to pay the fine, not sure why you think this is relevant

BonesInTheOcean · 30/11/2021 21:13

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. I'd love to see you try this one!

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. Landlord wasn't wrong

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. Why order 2 bottles ??

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. Possible valid complaint

5: Room wasn't the cleanest, and no option to pay extra for a later check out. You can complain about the cleanliness, but only at time of check in/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?! You drank a bottle of prosecco, I doubt you would know if you were loud or rowdy. Also - your loud and roudy may be very different to anyone else

7: WiFi didn't work all night long. Complain at the time...

hey 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

As for the smoking, a dimp (stupid word) the room will stink! you are VERY U

Original poster
froggy1811 · 30/11/2021 21:13

@WheelieBinPrincess

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 ?

I ordered one, then when that was finished I ordered another. I just didn't finish the second bottle.
OP posts:
SFHJ · 30/11/2021 21:13

Yabu your husband smoked in the room. We’ve had people do that where I work, flushing the butts or putting them in the bin is not discrete and causes us hassle and we then usually have someone refusing to stay the following night and because of smoke have to make refunds.

Retrievemysanity · 30/11/2021 21:14

My FIL went upstairs to the toilet once when he was visiting us. Then we smelt cigarette smoke. He’d done the same as your DH, hung out the window to smoke but it was obvious to us sitting downstairs what he had done. It really is obvious and if you do that in a non smoking hotel/B&B room, you should be prepared to pay a fine!

wolfstarling · 30/11/2021 21:14

I wouldn't pay it. It is hardly the crime of the century! Did any of you live through the 90s! Grin

DreamingofTimbuktu · 30/11/2021 21:15

Well obviously they know you were smoking and you were. That means they need to deep cleaning to get rid of the stench so they are entitled to do so. The fact that they gave you bad service is a separate issue.

Bellyups · 30/11/2021 21:16

YABU.
Maybe they did judge you on arrival, but it seems you proved them right to be fair

Thewiseoneincognito · 30/11/2021 21:16

I wouldn’t want to stay in a room that stank of smoke, he deserves the fine the scruffy so and so. Also get him to quit it’s such a grim disgusting habit. You both sound like a pair of nightmares tbh lol.

wolfstarling · 30/11/2021 21:16

I mean my dog has vomited on a hotel carpet before and they have been more than happy to help at no extra cost.

LetHimHaveIt · 30/11/2021 21:17

@wolfstarling

I wouldn't pay it. It is hardly the crime of the century! Did any of you live through the 90s! Grin
Good point. In the 90s, you didn't have to pay fines unless it was 'the crime of the century' 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
MarineBlue33 · 30/11/2021 21:17

I think the fine is excessive.

WheelieBinPrincess · 30/11/2021 21:17

I had to pay £30 once to replace a mattress protector as I spilt red wine. The mattress protector did it’s thing and protected the mattress. The lady of the shepherds hut we were staying at went nuclear. She tried in vain to get it out apparently. She was livid.

It’s odd though because I’ve got red wine out if my own mattress protector loads of times 😂

LawnFever · 30/11/2021 21:17

OP, another time if your DH wants to try an ale you ask for a taster and they’ll give you half an inch in a glass, don’t order multiple half pints.

As a non smoker I guarantee I’d smell that someone had smoked out of a window in a room - 100%! Everything else is irrelevant, the room would smell of smoke, pay them.

Flapjacker48 · 30/11/2021 21:18

Smoking a hotel room when it isn't allowed is really poor behavior. YABU.

BillDates · 30/11/2021 21:18

@justaweeone

Not sure how they can make you pay this fine?
My husband did the exact same thing in a chain hotel when he was working away, absolute twat he was for doing it and they got the money by charging the card that paid for the room, which happened to be his employers account, they wrote to the employer (because that's who booked the room) with what the charge was for and dh didn't try to make excuses for it, he'd done it and had been caught because staff on the ground had seen the idiot leaning out of the window, he couldn't see them because it was dark but they saw him puffing away.

He paid his employer back and learnt his lesson. I don't know if this hotel could do similar. Or like some how some places pre charge a debit to pay for the mini bar or damages.

Bellie710 · 30/11/2021 21:18

Our friends did this in a hotel, her DH hung out the window and said no one would have known he was smoking, the first thing housekeeping said was the room stank of smoke. No one could have seen him, people that smoke have no idea how much the smell lingers, I'm afraid you owe the money!

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