Real-life MMD: Should we keep quiet about 'free' holiday?

Revengant

I would be very careful with this. What if the person you spoke to got it wrong and they haven't taken the money. What if you arrive at the check-in desk and they say you haven't paid and your seats have been sold on to someone else. Would you be unhappy to lose your holiday?

I think the answer is simple, and you have the money to pay anyway!

Rev.

mummyshaz

It is not stealing, it is just a mistake on the holiday company's part. I would mention it and if they were still sure that it has been paid then I would leave the money in your account until after the holiday. People who are saying how would you feel if it was your money that has been taken. Well that is silly because no one knows if that is the case. Also this person who has posted this is not at fault. If the company decide that it has been paid then that is their bad luck. See it as a gift. After informing them you have done your part. Get a receipt and then it is down to the company.

JayD

Well you have obviously approached the travel company about the balance due as you say that they say they have taken the money due to them.

I think you should press them on this point and explain there is no sign of it leaving your account at all - as you don't want to risk losing your holiday over it.

Also, unless you have access to their accounts, I have no idea how you could possibly trace where else the balance due was taken from.

But rest assured, when the checks are made - or when audits are done - all will come to light eventually and they will come and take the money they are owed from you out of your account.

So if they still insist you owe nothing, my advice is to treat that sum as if it is already spent and leave it sitting in your account until they take it.

Make sure your holiday is safe - don't risk losing it over the temptation of getting away with not paying.

GlamGirlie

I once worked as a personal banker in a big high street bank. On 23rd December, we had a flood of enquiries/complaints re "fraudulent" Sainsburys transactions. Literally, loads and loads of enquiries on the same day.

After some investigation, it turned out the transactions all related to transactions genuinely made on 23rd August.....

Without knowing, Sainsbury's had a fault on their POS processing and the transactions weren't debited the next working day.

It shocked the customers, but as the transactions were in fact genuine, there was nothing we could do.

Just because the amount is still in your bank account doesn't mean it won't come out!

GlamGirlie

kboss2010 wrote: »

Then they had the cheek to tell me that they couldn't take it back as a lump sum and that they would deduct it from my wages until it was paid off. By this point I owed them nearly £1000 which would've meant I didn't get paid for a whole year on my reduced hours! What a fight I had to get them to take the money back in one go.

Slightly hijacking the thread here, but as you had the money already saved in your account, I don't see why it mattered that they wanted to deduct it from your pay? Surely the net result is the same?!

WinniethePooh

Would you be happy with effectively a stolen holiday?! Even if you kept quiet, it would probably catch up with you sooner or later - and at a time when you might be less able to pay. Hope you enjoy your break when it comes!

MrsE_2

I kinda had this happen to me.

Paid the balance for the holiday by debit card, it was about 1k. They didnt take it from the bank & I 7didnt notice, genuinely, really.
We had just moved in here, was having a rsj put in the living room, was living with acros in the living room. Having a new bathroom fitted, a new kitchen fitted & every room decorated. All flooring replaced, some plastering, skirting boards replaced, window taken out french doors put in, door taken out window put in, 2 walls removed, electrician in changing fuse board & installing outside lighting, ceiling spots & beefed up electric cabling for cooker & shower & new gas pipe feed!!!!!!!!!!
We were in chaos! !!!!! & spending like water, so genuinely didnt notice.
Anyway the holiday company had been paid, but the bank didnt debit the card till nearly a year later. Ouch that hurt.

MrsE_2

GlamGirlie wrote: »

I once worked as a personal banker in a big high street bank. On 23rd December, we had a flood of enquiries/complaints re "fraudulent" Sainsburys transactions. Literally, loads and loads of enquiries on the same day.

After some investigation, it turned out the transactions all related to transactions genuinely made on 23rd August.....

Without knowing, Sainsbury's had a fault on their POS processing and the transactions weren't debited the next working day.

It shocked the customers, but as the transactions were in fact genuine, there was nothing we could do.

Just because the amount is still in your bank account doesn't mean it won't come out!

Thats what happened to me, except it was 1k & nearly a year later:eek:

janiebquick

It isn't a question of you 'keeping quiet' about a 'free holiday'. I think you can bet your bottom dollar that the holiday company will take this money at some point, so you had better make sure there is enough money in the account to cover the cost.

Avon2001

thespiderspeed wrote: »

if you have authorised payment via card, the authorisation can last for 6 months. So you could potentially get a very nasty shock.

Speaking as someone who has just escaped a long stint in payment cards I can advise that it's a bit more complicated than that; however if you owe the money, you owe the money. There is, of course, another possibility which is that the holiday company has been paid but your bank has not debited you. I'd check with them.