Friend refusing to pay cancellation fee of Holiday

Sammi_d_2

Hi,

I need your help. About 4 months ago I booked a holiday to Magaluf with 6 girls. At the time I was looking it was £150 When I went to book it went up to £240. I then texted everyone the new price and asked if everyone was happy with it. Once I got all reply I then booked it.

One of my friends has now claimed its too expensive and she hasnt got the money. When I told her it was £150 cancellation fee she is now refusing to pay claiming I booked it for £240 and never told her it went up and that when I told her the price after I booked it she said that was a problem - Which is untrue. I offered to pay the extra £90 for her if it was just that stopping her from going however she said its still spending money etc.

Its means I have been left with £150 to pay. Is there any way I can get this money back? I dont have the texts on my phone anymore but wondered if I could obtain these from my phone company? take her to a small claims court? I have nothing in written agreement to prove she agreed to the holiday as my phone broke and the texts are on that phone.

Some friend ay!!!

Please help.

Thanks

flimsier

I laughed at the idea of you going to the small claims court.

Sorry, no help though. Sounds like a tough situation, and she's being unreasonable.

Sammi_d_2

I honestly have no idea what to do!

kalaika

Rather than saying you've got to pay the £150 yourself, tell the other friends that you've all got to pay £30 each as the one that's dropped out is refusing to pay it.

Hopefully they won't be happy at that and so will collectively put pressure on her to pay it as she should.

PHYTHIAN

Sounds to me as though she either never intended to go in the first place ( spending money a problem) or has suddenly hit some financial problems.

Don't think there's a lot you can do though re Small Claims Court (proof). Can anyone else take her place?

globetraveller

It doesn't matter whether you have the texts or not. As the person who booked the holiday, you are the liable one. Best you can do is hope the others will agree to share the extra money. Sorry!

sunshinetours

Kalaika's idea above is best one or do you have someone else who could step in

For future always get a deposit from friends or family once they have committed to going as it generally stops this kind of thing.

And for what its worth your "friend" is out of order

Sammi_d_2

I know I am kicking myself now. Cannot get anyone to take her place. Am just going to go with spreading the costs but I didnt know whether there as anything R.E courts I could do to claim the money back. Thanks for all your help!!!!

StuieUK34

Sharing with 5 girls ??? aged between 20 to 35 ???
I'm in, i'll cough up £240 no problem !!
When we going ???

melb

to the poster who laughed at the thought of using the Small Claims Court - why is that?

dmg24

melb wrote: »

to the poster who laughed at the thought of using the Small Claims Court - why is that?

I agree with you, it could be an option. The burden of proof at small claims is low, and often comes down to a 'he says, she says' situation, with the DJ deciding who he believes. It is far from certain that the OP would win, but it is certainly something I would pursue (albeit as a last resort).

It also amazes me what the threat of a small claims action will do. I had a friend (past tense!) who was reluctant to pay me money owed. When I advised her to expect a letter from the court she suddenly managed to find the money.