Advice on holiday booking rights needed please

dreamcloud

Hi,

I provisionally reserved via telephone a couple of large cottages owned by a company with several cottages in close proximity, for a surprise 40th birthday party. I was advised by the woman who owned the cottages that I should book fast as there may be no other availability. I had been sent a load of information which she herself admitted to being confusing so described what was avaailable on the phone.

I then verball agreed to reserve the accommodation for up to 18 people (she had pushed me to book for more but I said that i would rather not overbook) I received the confimation on 19th June it having been posted second class on 16th June. In with the now booking was somehting I had missed up until today stating that it was not just a deposit but a complete agreement with liability for the whole accommodation (in two cottages) and payments would be staged over the next two months.

I then contacted on 1 Jul to say that I had subsequently been let down and now only had a maximum of three families so I wouldn't need all of the accommodation, only one of the houses. I suggested that as this would mean taking up one of her potential block booking accommodation houses, that we move to one of her smaller cottages which would just accommodate us and leave her the option to rent the other accommodation to a larger booking. She subsequently stated that I would have to pay a 25% cancellation fee for the accommodation I no longer required and that I could rent a different cottage for the full ammount.

I have subsequently queried this, stating that i thought given the time lines that this was unreasonable and please would she reconsider.

Having heard nothing and returned from leave to discover another 25% taken from my credit card I have queried this again.

She has stated that I should still be liable for the whole cost should she not be able to re let the properties and that i should make up my mind what i want to do as they have been waiting for me, however I made it very clear early on (within three weeks of receiving confirmation) that I no longer needed as much accommodation. The tactic being employed by the property owner is very much a bullying tactic highlighting that it was in the terms and conditions on the original (confusing) email. However I was at no point made aware of these when I reserved the accommodion or gave my credit card details. THey are also not reiterated int he confirmation paperwork instead stating:

" Booking terms - it is noted you have read and agreed to all the booking and letting conditions as are printed on our website."

In my mind I always reserved to get back to her and I was not made aware of any small print however I seem to be being railroaded into booking and paying for something I no longer need. Please would someone let me know my consumer rights in this case.

Thank you

somethingcorporate

What did the T&Cs say?