Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

I am a total nobhead and going straight to hell

53 replies

HiyaWishy · 09/07/2022 22:17

As above. Couldn't find a topic suitable enough so labelled it 'property' as I was letting one...

We live(d) in a seaside/holiday town and did seriously plan on letting a property for holiday stays. Set up website, took a booking or two but then it was decided that it wouldn't work out for various reasons so deleted website, cancelled bookings etc and the property was sold last December.

Just received a text message from a guy who was planning on staying in a fortnight's time. He's checking his booking is still OK?
Just quickly looked through the bookings we had and his hasn't been cancelled nor his deposit returned 😨 I must have totally forgot.

In my defence, we moved house January and from then on, without being too outing it's been a shitter of a year with one thing and another including a very poorly DD - long term not just a two week thing; it's still ongoing. However, there is no excuse really other than I forgot. This guy has nowhere to stay in two weeks time and it's totally my fault.

Any ideas what I can say to make it slightly less awful?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 09/07/2022 22:22

Oh dear. The poor guys is going to be very upset. You need to offer grovelling apologies and maybe a bit more than just his deposit back in recompense.

Clymene · 09/07/2022 22:22

Pay for his holiday somewhere else

Isaidnoalready · 09/07/2022 22:24

Can you offer him extra as an apology?

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/07/2022 22:26

Call the tourist office and try and sort out an alternative, then tell him.

That is pretty shit.

SpacePotato · 09/07/2022 22:27

Just give him his deposit back asap, tell the truth and apologise.

Do not pay for his bloody holiday!

Original poster
HiyaWishy · 09/07/2022 22:29

Yes, double his deposit?
The justice in all this is we've booked & paid for somewhere in September & the guy has taken the money but not confirmed our booking....

OP posts:
Original poster
HiyaWishy · 09/07/2022 22:36

It is really shit. I feel utterly, utterly dreadful about it.

OP posts:
LouiseOuiOui · 09/07/2022 22:37

Uh no… I think all you can do is reply and be grateful he contacted you to check. Be honest and explain your terrible mistake and apologise profusely. Immediately repay deposit. Doubling the deposit is a small (or large, no idea how much it was or is in relation to total cost) way to every so slightly soften the blow.

Zone2NorthLondon · 09/07/2022 22:41

You have fucked up, repay the deposit, add 50% as goodwill gesture
Gotta love mumsnet. Pay for his holiday Haha. That’s unnecessary level of self punishment

Hedgepiggy · 09/07/2022 22:56

I really feel for you OP a horrible situation to be in, I think be honest and maybe offer a little more than deposit as a good will gesture. He will of course be annoyed but it was a genuine mistake and he will get over it 💐

ChagSameachDoreen · 09/07/2022 22:57

Clymene · 09/07/2022 22:22

Pay for his holiday somewhere else

Why stop there? Don't be stingy, OP. Buy him a Mercedes and his own private island. It's the least you can do.

JuneFromBethesda · 09/07/2022 22:59

in addition to repaying the deposit plus extra, perhaps you could do a bit of research and find some alternative accommodation for him? You don’t have to book it (or pay for it!) but at least if you suggest some other options you might soften the blow a bit, then he won’t instantly be panicking that he won’t be able to find anything else.

SimonaRazowska · 09/07/2022 23:00

Laughing at all the suggestions you give him lots of money

People are always so generous with other people's cash Grin

Zone2NorthLondon · 09/07/2022 23:02

Don’t be ridiculous why would the op invest time and effort to find an alternative holiday
shit happens. It’s unfortunate and op is in wrong but let’s keep some perspective, the op doesn’t need to fix this other than fulfil the refund and potentially a bit more as goodwill. That’s all

Circumferences · 09/07/2022 23:02

ChagSameachDoreen · 09/07/2022 22:57

Why stop there? Don't be stingy, OP. Buy him a Mercedes and his own private island. It's the least you can do.

Show quote history

Look don't be daft.

This isn't the same i know but once I had a holiday air BnB booked, their cleaner didn't show, so the owner refunded the holiday completely and gave us a free stay any other time. Everyone happy.

I'd say don't just refund the deposit, the person could have paid train tickets or flights for this holiday. They could be completely stitched up over this

Dic · 09/07/2022 23:05

Poor bloke. That's his holiday fucked. Prices have skyrocketed since the flight issue.

Zone2NorthLondon · 09/07/2022 23:10

Sure it’s a massive disappointment and hassle for the guest. I’d be livid
but realistically there is a limited amount that the op can or should do

whereeverilaymycat · 09/07/2022 23:15

Something similar happened to me years ago. I booked accommodation and then it transpired they'd booked someone else in and I couldn't have the rooms. Totally their fault.
The thing that really ticked me off was the way they were trying to imply it wasn't their fault, I hadn't actually booked etc etc. when I blatantly had. I had emails to prove it.
So whatever you choose to do, a sincere apology and taking responsibility for the mistake goes a long way.

Spudlet · 09/07/2022 23:15

That is a massive fuckup to be fair. I’d be absolutely gutted if I was him. You really need to be refunding his deposit (obviously!) and any other costs he might have incurred, like transportation bookings.

Basically though, there’s nothing you can do it make it less awful. His holiday plans are
fucked because you fucked up. So you’re just going to have to tell him and accept that he has every right be very angry about it.

Zone2NorthLondon · 09/07/2022 23:19

the op doesn’t have to refund transportation costs,that’s not reasonable
understandably the guest will be upset,annoyed. I would be

DiamanteDelia · 09/07/2022 23:19

Well, it’s breach of contract so strictly you should put him in the position he’d have been in if the breach hadn’t occurred. That means that if he can only find a more expensive booking now, you should pay the difference (and return his deposit of course).

I’d apologise and ask how he wants to proceed

minipie · 09/07/2022 23:19

Did you have terms & conditions about your right to cancel bookings?

Spudlet · 09/07/2022 23:22

I‘m not talking about petrol money - if the guy had booked train tickets or flights though they may well not be refundable so if they end up going somewhere else completely (or nowhere) and are unable to use them, then I think the op should stump up. The guy is having his holiday plans dropped in the shit with two weeks notice, and the op asked if they cools make it less awful for him - reducing the financial hit would make it slightly less awful.

Original poster
HiyaWishy · 09/07/2022 23:28

minipie · 09/07/2022 23:19

Did you have terms & conditions about your right to cancel bookings?

I think we did. Will have to dig them out. Because the holiday stays never really got off the ground (and everything that has happened since) I can't quite remember the details of the paperwork.
I don't know how I missed this booking. I cancelled the others with plenty of notice.

OP posts:
MiniPiccolo · 09/07/2022 23:30

You cancel the booking as standard OP and advise the property is no longer available due to business reasons.

You don't have to explain any further. He should have insurance.

Swipe left for the next trending thread