Holiday Deposit

hannakin

Hi all, don't know if anyone can help me. I have registered specifically to ask advice on this matter. At the end of July a group of 16 of us (adults and children) hired a house through Country Cottages. To cut a long story short the owner has withheld our £300 deposit, she originally said she would have to take money out for various things. Although I didn't agree with the things she said I didn't quibble I just asked her to send a cheque for the remaining amount. Basically this has gone on and on and I have no money from her. Then last night she got nasty saying due to the damage we did to her property she is going to sell it and I should be ashamed of myself. This is all lies as I have the emails to prove that at the beginning she was fine and even said "accidents happen" and we would be welcome back. I don't know what to do?????

hannakin

Sorry, I put July, I meant end of April.

mynameistallulah

What damage did you do, and what is she saying you did?

AndysDad

I would contact 'Country cottages' and see if they can reach a satisfactory outcome between both of you.

hannakin

I have already contacted Country Cottages and they said they don't get involved in the deposit side as that is down to the owner. They did call her for me and she then sent an email to say she was sending back some of the deposit but it's never happened. She's saying we broke a score board used for the snooker table (no one knows what she is talking about), she said she had to get the sofa cushions cleaned and get extra cleaners in, also she said someone had not used a chopping board and made a mark on the kitchen work top. We scrubbed the house before we left. We picked up every cigarette butt from the garden and hoovered everywhere downstairs. She didn't even raise the issues until a week after we had left when I contacted her about returning our money. She also wasn't there when we left her property. She just sent me a text asking me to leave the front door unlocked.

mynameistallulah

It sounds like you would be best to send a letter before action, and if she does not respond to issue a small claims action.

hannakin

I have got lots of emails from her where she is saying she will send me some money back. I even had one saying she had sent a cheque but realised it hadn't been cashed so she cancelled it. I want it back in cheque form as she has been so evasive about the amount she is sending back I want the opportunity to refuse it. She is offering to transfer the money into my account but I'm worried that once she's done that I wont be able to decline??? It also states very clearly in the terms and conditions that the deposit needs to be paid in cheque form and will be returned the same way.
Do you think I still need to write a letter?

mynameistallulah

So she is willing to pay you, just not in the form that you want? If you agree the amount first, I don't see what harm a bank transfer will do?

evilhomer321

did you make payment out to her personal name or a company name?

go to money claim online , pay a £25 fee (which gets added onto the claim) and see her in court , chances are she will pay up once she gets the request in the post , or she will have to prove why she isnt returning your payment

Former_MSE_Wendy

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