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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:
Jackthementalkitten · 30/11/2021 21:18

How exactly can they enforce the fine?

Starryskiesinthesky · 30/11/2021 21:18

Have they said what the £150 is for? Was that in the booking terms? If so you should pay it but I might be inclined to ignore the email and see what happens.

Trixiefirecracker · 30/11/2021 21:19

My brother always has a sneaky fag out of the guest bed window when he stays here, even though he knows I hate it. It really stinks the bedroom out. I’m sorry, but you got caught, but guess you’ll have to pay up.

MissAmbrosia · 30/11/2021 21:19

I smoke but never indoors - the room would have stunk of it. Of course you should pay. The rest of your post has nothing to do with the charge. You should pay for smoking in the room and write the rest in a review if you want to.

Autumndays123 · 30/11/2021 21:20

Waiting for this thread to be deleted because of privacy concerns....

In all honesty OP you and your husband do not sound like the type of guests I would want in my b&b (if I had one of course). Pay the fine. Don't break the rules if you don't want to deal with the consequences

Skyll · 30/11/2021 21:21

You need to pay the fine.

bert3400 · 30/11/2021 21:22

They probably can't rent the room out again for a while along with having to deep cleaning it . You can not smoke indoors in public places...this not a new rule.
Also Booking.com may deem you awkward and prevent you from booking through thier site in future if you refuse to pay.

escapingthecity · 30/11/2021 21:23

You sound like nightmare guests.

Flapjacker48 · 30/11/2021 21:24

a "dimp"? say what now?

KaycePollard · 30/11/2021 21:24

YABU

You sound like rather undesirable guests. Smoking and drinking a lot ….

LubaLuca · 30/11/2021 21:25

I feel sorry for the B&B owners. You were not good customers, you were taking the piss in what is probably their home as well as their workplace. It's too late to start moaning about your stay now, that's just spite because you've been told off.

MsWalterMitty · 30/11/2021 21:27

Is this a piss take? YABU! Obviously!!

SmolCat · 30/11/2021 21:27

@wolfstarling

I wouldn't pay it. It is hardly the crime of the century! Did any of you live through the 90s! Grin
I mean people also lived through the 50s but that doesn’t mean anyone’s going “don’t worry about the clean air act, a bit of smog never bothered anyone”. The fact is there was a finable rule in place and the husband broke it. What if they couldn’t rent the room out the next day while waiting for it to air/be deep cleaned?
ClassicSpamFritter · 30/11/2021 21:29

YAB insanely U.

How dare he smoke? Honestly he’s a CF and so are you for having this attitude about it.

TheHumanSatsuma · 30/11/2021 21:29

You sound like the guests from hell

sunflowerstory · 30/11/2021 21:29

Unless your husband was hanging out of the window to smoke at 2am in early 2007, I don't really see how this is a factor "in his defence".

2typesofjungle · 30/11/2021 21:31

So what do you think OP? Are you going to take this as a lesson?

Gazelda · 30/11/2021 21:31

How much was the room for 1 night?

HolidayLetter · 30/11/2021 21:32

Of all the things that guests could do which would piss me off, smoking in the properties is right at the top of the list. Yes, the house stinks of smoke even if you hang out of the window/only smoke on the balcony. In fact, if you are a smoker, your clothes stink, and even that this transmits itself onto furnishings. Smoking is a vile, smelly habit, and should not be inflicted even in a tiny way on non-smokers.

For the rest, how tall is your husband if his feet were hanging off the bed? All beds are a standard length. King beds are just wider, not longer. Can't comment on the wonky loo seat etc, but I would have wondered about you. How many half pints did he need to try before deciding which one to stick with? And I am partial to a drink, but it sounds as if you were both completely pissed. Which is not something any B&B owner enjoys.

Leaving aside all of that, your husband broke the no-smoking rule, and has to pay the fine for doing so. Perhaps he won't do it again.

DontBeCatty · 30/11/2021 21:32

@MarineBlue33

I think the fine is excessive.
It will be because the room won’t be able to be used for the following night. I hate the smell of smoke and I’d refuse to stay in that room if I could smell smoke.
crazycatgal · 30/11/2021 21:33

YABU, pay the fine.

NinaDefoe · 30/11/2021 21:34

Pay up and tell your DH not to smoke in no smoking rooms in future.

IslaInthesun · 30/11/2021 21:34

The people in the room after you probably complained.

I don't blame them. Also how bizarre ordering loads of half pints. Just get them one at a time then buy more of what you like.

FrownedUpon · 30/11/2021 21:34

@user0176

Honestly you both sound like pains in the arse.
Agree with this.
MrsLarry · 30/11/2021 21:35

Your husband broke the rules. Please don't try and blame the hotel

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