We Can't afford to go !

PHYTHIAN

malkie76 wrote: »

I don't think PBS was being sarcastic or particularly unkind - his post was blunt but reasonably accurate - ie that the situation the OP find themselves in is not the concern of the company with which the holiday flat is rented.

The OP signed the contract and is unfortunately liable for the consequences. To question if the rental company 'have a heart' is rather short sighted as they are a business with their own bills to pay and may themselves be struggling in the current economic climate. They potentially have recruited summer staff based on money waiting to come in for signed contracts.

However, overal I hope there is a good chance the flat can we re-rented and the OP won't be out of pocket too much. I doubt the rental company will want to take things to court, particularly if the OP is struggling financially with limited means to pay.

Obviously a difference of opinion. Maybe a better response would be ' Sorry but you have entered a contract and are bound by its terms'. I just felt there was no need whatsoever for the tone of the reply especially the 'So......'

Re 'have a heart' and 'being short sighted' . It is my belief that it is better to deal with situations head on and tell the truth. If the OP genuinely cannot pay then maybe the company/individual will see the difficulties they are having and call an end to it. I am most certainly not 'short sighted' and know that the last thing small businesses need is to go chasing £200 debts through Small Claims Courts when it is highly unlikely they are going to see any short term resolution yet having to pay the fees up front.
This is obviously a bad situation for both sides and as you quite rightly say hopefully the property can be re-let and everyone is happy.

Paul, have you thought about putting the 'short break' on ebay. i know a lot of them get snapped up this way. You might need to check with the others that this is OK to do.

Good luck

Moonchild

bcl999 wrote: »

Maybe not but I, for one, am fed up reading his/her "tough love" replies.

There are members on this forum that enjoy nothing better than to kick someone when they are down. I wonder why some people bother posting but then I realise it's just about ego.

Malkie76's response said the same thing as PBS but in a much more respectful tone which reflected the legal standpoint. Maggiesmummy provided personal experience that shows there might be a positive outcome. Whamfanuk even took it upon themselves to see if they can help.

All have provided infinitely more help than PBS's absurdly rude response, especially if you've just lost your job, and a holiday you've been planning.

Quentin

It's no good shooting the messenger if you don't like the message!

On a practical note, stress to the landlord that you are cancelling because you haven't got any money - that will (as Nukumai said) concentrate his mind on readvertising it for your holiday period, but also put him off sueing you for the balance owing should he fail to relet it. (Thinking chasing you for the money will just be wasting good money after bad)

PolishBigSpender

malkie76 wrote: »

I don't think PBS was being sarcastic or particularly unkind - his post was blunt but reasonably accurate - ie that the situation the OP find themselves in is not the concern of the company with which the holiday flat is rented.

Come on, her post was blunt

The OP signed the contract and is unfortunately liable for the consequences. To question if the rental company 'have a heart' is rather short sighted as they are a business with their own bills to pay and may themselves be struggling in the current economic climate. They potentially have recruited summer staff based on money waiting to come in for signed contracts.

Exactly what I was thinking. Business is business - if you can't afford to honour a contract, then you shouldn't sign it, it's that simple. MSE has unfortunately created a culture in which it's acceptable to try and break contracts - and while some contracts are understandably unfair, this contract isn't.

I also think that people need to hear the blunt truth, not some diluted version that gives them hope, only for them to end up being chased for the money that they owe.

dmg24

bcl999 wrote: »

Maybe not but I, for one, am fed up reading his/her "tough love" replies.

Would *big hugs* make the reply any easier to take?

dmg24

Moonchild wrote: »

All have provided infinitely more help than PBS's absurdly rude response, especially if you've just lost your job, and a holiday you've been planning.

PBS answered the OP's question, and their information is entirely accurate. You have contributed nothing but a little moan. That would make PBS infinitely more helpful than yourself.

Antispam

Is Devon Overseas?

I would have thought place given its Devon and August it would be easy enough to relet, I been looking myself for a place and prices are going through roof compared with previous years, I guess more Brits and holidaying at home

Moonchild

dmg24 wrote: »

PBS answered the OP's question, and their information is entirely accurate. You have contributed nothing but a little moan. That would make PBS infinitely more helpful than yourself.

Snap.

And baiting isn't at all helpful to anyone concerned, so give it a break.

"Exactly what I was thinking. Business is business - if you can't afford to honour a contract, then you shouldn't sign it, it's that simple. "

This is what's the crux is. The OP COULD afford to honour the contract, but the situation has since changed, and no longer honour the contract. This happens all the time. Even the government is trying to get out of the

And whilst the Rental Company could enforce the balance by law - the following points are all helpful.

- Advise the rental company asap so they have as much time as possible to try and re-sell it
- Ask them if you can transfer the rental to someone else, enabling them to re-coup the money
- Advise them that the reason you're looking to cancel is due to redundancy (note to OP - if it is because of redundancy do you per chance have redundancy cover in any form of insurance?)

None of those are 'trying to get out of a contract' - they are all suggestions to help minimise the financial impact caused by an unforeseen event.

The rental company might also benefit by charging an admin fee, and getting someone else in.

malkie76

Moonchild wrote: »

This is what's the crux is. The OP COULD afford to honour the contract, but the situation has since changed, and no longer honour the contract. This happens all the time.

I don't book a holiday unless I have the funds set aside to pay for the entire holiday (same goes for any major purchase I make). I never buy something on the belief that I'll have the funds in the future to pay for it.

Sorry, I appreciate that sounds a little 'preachy', I'm just highlighting the lesson to be learned.

However, I do agree with some of the sentiments of other posters that there are far too often threads on MSE of posters trying to get out of something they agreed to then changed their minds. I'm sure the OP still would love the holiday and is forced to change their plans due to unforseen circumstances.

Can any of us claim that redundancy is an unforseen circumstance these days ? (my company made £10billion net profit yet is still making redundancies)

Errata

Most holiday letting companies and independent owners offer cancellation insurance to cover unforseen circumstances. I would think the insurance for a £270 let in Devon would be minimal. Although £270 for a holiday flat in Devon is amazingly cheap anyway - wish I could find one.