paid under protest at guesthouse last June -- still possible to demand money back?

CrazyNerd

That could potentially ruin the business, do you really want that to happen? After all you only have one side to the story.

antrobus

tucan wrote: »

After expressing my dissatisfaction the owners warned me that they have CCTV monitoring and photos of me, my fiancee and her family. They stated that they thought we were unpleasant guests and that if we published any negative reviews about our experience on tripadvisor they would publish our photos on-line and send them accompanied with a warning to all guesthouses in the city to prevent us from finding any accommodation there in the future.

"Images of people are covered by the Data Protection Act" according to the Information Commisoners office, see http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/topic_guides/cctv.aspx. Thus the proper response to such a threat should be; 'go on then, make my day', as the damages payable could be truly mouth watering. If Gordon Taylor can get £700,000 from the NoTW just because they listened to some of his phone messages, goodness knows what you could get for having your picture plastered all over the net.

If nothing else, you can report the guesthouse to the Information Commisoners office simply for making that threat. They will, of course, deny it, but then again given that they've made that kind of threat it may well be that they are not aware of the legal requirments for CCTV. Such as the fact that it's a criminal offence to use CCTV to record images unless you're registered with ICO.

pendulum

tucan wrote: »

They stated that they thought we were unpleasant guests and that if we published any negative reviews about our experience on tripadvisor they would publish our photos on-line and send them accompanied with a warning to all guesthouses in the city to prevent us from finding any accommodation there in the future.

That comment would've triggered me to post the worst reviews I could, all over the internet. There's nothing stopping you still doing this.

I think you've left it too late to do anything else. At the time, I think you should have called 999 and briefly explained they were refusing to let you leave over a disputed debt. Walk out whilst still on the phone, and if they threaten you or stop you leaving physically, it's all on tape.

Culex

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Stay at the Dog and Duck, Brenda will give you a nice horlicks, wipe your botty and tuck you in.

Is that all the room service I can get?

Freddie_Snowbits

Culex wrote: »

Is that all the room service I can get?

The well known branded TeasMaid comes extra.

Culex

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

The well known branded TeasMaid comes extra.

A-goblin' Teasmaid?

McKneff

Name them on here and we'll do it all for you.

To be honest OP, I would review the hotel, be careful to say nothing that isnt true, then just move on.

squeaky

Evening all.

This isn't "The Arms".

I'm going to close this thread while waiting for review by the Forum Team.

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