Booked villa in Florida and now can't get refund on deposit.

dzug

No I don't think it would be reasonable. Their costs MAY be just the marketing costs to relet it (and who is to say that £50 is a 'fair' figure for this anyway - what if they spend £250?) - but if they don't relet it they've lost the entire rental as well.

This is a standard clause in just about every holiday company's T&C.

And since when has every conceivable possible charge had to be 'fair'? The banking charge fiasco has a lot to be blamed for in raising unreasonable expectations elsewhere.

dmg24

BANNEDfromTV wrote: »

We also asked above putting off until next year but they said that a further deposit would be required which is one of the reasons I wanted to ask for my initial deposit back.

Also I thought I might have a loophole similar to the bank charges whereby keeping the £150 would be deemed as unfair but keeping say £50 for marketing purposes would be a fair charge (thus at least getting £100 back).

Does anyone think this would be reasonable?

NO! As others have noted, they may get nobody to take the villa now, so will have lost the potential income from that.

£150 is a fair amount to charge, others would charge a great deal more. You agreed to this charge when you made the booking.

dmg24

Looks like dzug and I posted at the same time - at least we agreed!

BANNEDfromTV

To be honest the booking had only been made for 6 weeks which is why I don't feel 6 weeks for £150 is a fair charge to keep.
Either way I'm pursuing it with a friend of mine in the legal industry and will happily let you know the outcome.

He seems to think the charge is excessive but needs to look into it more.
Light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

richardw

You didn't buy insurance so your losses are reduced.
So your actual loss is £150 less the cost of insurance.

squoog

If you have extenuating circumstances could you ask them if they would consider a refund if they can rent the villa to someone else or could you even find someone to rent it in your place.
i have run a holiday cottage in this country for 5 years and I always offer to pay everything back if I can rent the week again. if not then obviously some reimbursement is fair.
Its a shame they don't also advise cancellation insurance which would only be a few pounds extra.

dzug

Well a letter from a lawyer is probably going to persuade a private renter to cough up regardless of the legalities of the situation. Doesn't make it 'right' or 'fair', exactly the opposite in fact.

dmg24

dzug wrote: »

Well a letter from a lawyer is probably going to persuade a private renter to cough up regardless of the legalities of the situation. Doesn't make it 'right' or 'fair', exactly the opposite in fact.

Alternatively, the owner may fight the claimant all the way (I certainly would), eventually leaving the latter out of pocket for a great deal more than £150.

Why do people like the OP post, when they are going to ignore all the good advice given anyway?

BANNEDfromTV

Wow a lot of animosity from everyone on this board given that the facts are quite limited from your point of view. If we could have gone don't you think we would have?

I suppose it's what I've come to expect from this place, nothing but shallow minded and aggressive behaviour to someone (quite new) looking for honest opinions and advice rather than a direct all out attack.

Pathetic really.

plane_boy2000

Yet another example of this claim culture. It makes me sick all the people who think that they can claim everything back.

Why on earth would they ask you for a deposit if it was refundable?????????

I dont think the fact that it may / may not be a fair charge is relavant - it was in the booking terms. It could have been 100% charge if they felt like it in their terms.