holiday deposit payment dispute.

[cascade]

I booked a holiday 8 weeks ago, on a low deposit. I rang today to cancel my holiday, due to financial constraints. Holiday company are now saying I owe them more money as I have to pay full deposit if I want to cancel. Nobody told me on the phone when I booked the holiday, I thought I was paying in 2 more installments, apparantly 1 of the installments is the full deposit. On the website it does say full deposit is required, but I didnt book through this, so didnt read their website. No where on my contract does it state about deposits, just to pay in full by 30th march. What do I do, I cannot afford this money. They wont let me cancel until full deposit is paid. I could end up owing the whole holiday if they wont let me cancel.

For the charges to be legal they have to tell you/show you/notify you before the contract is entered into. Don't let it worry you. Companies try things like this because they assume customers don't know the law and will pay up anyway. I would contat the CAB or your insurance company and get some legal assistance.

yeh t&c have been sent just says deposit will be lost if cancelled, then other cancellation charges if cancelled nearer the time. The only thing on payment states full balance must be paid by 30march.

Don't speak to them on the phone. Put everything in writing.

Write stating that you booked the holiday on x date and paid the deposit required at that time. State that at no time was it explained to you that a further payment would be required in order for you to be able to cancel the holiday and that they did not explain that a low deposit did not count as a full deposit. Point out that the terms and conditions do not demand a further payment.

State clearly in your letter that you are cancelling the holiday forthwith and that you reserve the right to bring this letter to the attention of the court should they be so foolish as to issue court proceedings.

thank you, sorry beeen away from computer, I have just emailed them in writing to say that im cancelling the holiday, had to ring up again to get email, they didnt want to give me it as they said everything could be done over the phone. Thank you for your input freckle i am going to compose the letter now to be sent off as well as email.

Send the letter by recorded delivery and make sure you keep a copy. If they telephone you at all, either spontaneously or as a result of the letter, make sure you write a letter recording what was said in the conversation. That way you have evidence of what was or was not agreed on the phone. Again, send by recorded delivery and keep a copy.

great news, just been on the phone they have agreed to cancel the holiday at no extra cost. apparently they had no taped coversation. (yeh right) thank you freckle for all your help.

which means that they have and that the agent did not tell you.

How fab for you cascade.

good news cascade although I'm sorry you had to cancel your holiday in the first place and hope you manage to get away somewhere else