Problem with Cancellation Fees

bagginslover

If there is no contract, and at the time of booking, provisionally or otherwise, you werent I former of any cancellation fees, you don't HAVE to pay anything.

However, if you wish to use them again, I would suggest you call them and talk about it. Lay it on the line, tell them there is no contract and so you don't feel they have any legal claim to a fee, but that as you don't want any ill feeling, you'd like to come to a compromise. Perhaps offer a 10% payment, not as a fee, but as a goodwill, apology payment.

geoffken

10% my ar...e!!!
If your holiday company had cancelled your holiday the day before how much compensation would YOU expect.
100% and compensation for distress probably.
How it that different from loss that cattery will sustain.

bagginslover

But that's the other way round, the cattery didn't cancel on them, so it's not the same. I can see exactly where you are coming from, and I do agree they shouldn't have to pay anything (which I did say if you look) but if they want to continue to use that cattery, it might be the way forward. I can see the OP being blacklisted otherwise. It's far from ideal, but so are many catteries and kennels, best to keep in the good books if this is a good one.

Fridaycat

bagginslover wrote: »

But that's the other way round, the cattery didn't cancel on them, so it's not the same. I can see exactly where you are coming from, and I do agree they shouldn't have to pay anything (which I did say if you look) but if they want to continue to use that cattery, it might be the way forward. I can see the OP being blacklisted otherwise. It's far from ideal, but so are many catteries and kennels, best to keep in the good books if this is a good one.

I read geoffken's post as that they SHOULD pay some sort of fee, and more than the 10% you suggested in your previous post? Or perhaps I am looking at it wrong?

Anyway, I agree with your earlier thought - if the OP wants to continue to use the same cattery, they need to discuss with the cattery owner and reach some sort of compromise and expect to pay something acceptable to both parties (if that's possible).

bagginslover

Fridaycat wrote: »

I read geoffken's post as that they SHOULD pay some sort of fee, and more than the 10% you suggested in your previous post? Or perhaps I am looking at it wrong?

Anyway, I agree with your earlier thought - if the OP wants to continue to use the same cattery, they need to discuss with the cattery owner and reach some sort of compromise and expect to pay something acceptable to both parties (if that's possible).

Reading it again, perhaps I did read it wrong, but it's still the wrong way round-if the cattery had cancelled then there shouldn't have been anything to pay of course, but would the cattery then have paid out for the cancellation? No of course not, there is no contract.

Or have I gotten confused again? It doesn't take much, lol!!

geoffken

The point was hopefully the realisation that what is sauce for goose is also for gander.

substitute cat for holiday and the other party would expect to be compensated for loss of service i.e. cat or holiday.
You cannot cancel a day before cat or holiday and not expect the other party to want compensation.
If T Cook cancelled your holiday a day before I do not think you would accept 10% compensation of your money paid.
You would want your money back AND compensation.
All the cattery is asking for is agreed payment for the booking.
Surely that is not unreasonable unless you are happy with T Cook only giving you 10%

mummyjane

My argument here wasn't that I didn't want to pay unless I had to by law! I even told the cattery owner I was happy to pay part of the fees as I completely understand her position. My grievance was that they do not include fees in their terms and conditions. Locally no other cattery charges more than 10% whatever the time of year. I just feel that the cattery has a duty to be upfront about the fees that would be incurred. I was very polite and apologetic on the phone but the woman was very rude to me when I politely mentioned that I was surprised that the fees were so much. She the ended the call abruptly leaving me without the opportunity to discuss it further. I am not particularly happy with the cattery anyway so I am happy to go elsewhere. I will try and contact the owner again and will probably just pay the fees. I will definitely be recommending she make these fees part of her terms and conditions to avoid any similar issues with other customers in the future.

What started as a posting made while I was still in shock after being spoken to like a piece of dirt seems to have ended in a very hairy debate! I am not a bad person and am certainly not unreasonable as some replies would suggest. I have to add I agree that good vets are worth their weight in gold - ours is wonderful, oh and incedently, I have never missed a vets appt .

bagginslover

geoffken wrote: »

The point was hopefully the realisation that what is sauce for goose is also for gander.

substitute cat for holiday and the other party would expect to be compensated for loss of service i.e. cat or holiday.
You cannot cancel a day before cat or holiday and not expect the other party to want compensation.
If T Cook cancelled your holiday a day before I do not think you would accept 10% compensation of your money paid.
You would want your money back AND compensation.
All the cattery is asking for is agreed payment for the booking.
Surely that is not unreasonable unless you are happy with T Cook only giving you 10%

The difference is, when booking a holiday you sign up to their terms and conditions, and within these is set out the cancellation fees, the OP has none of these things. No contract, no paperwork, no T+C's for this booking, so nothing to pay for cancelling. I do agree that she would have been very miffed at finding she didn't have a place when dropping off her cat if the situation were reversed...... but it isn't.