Caravan owner ignoring request for return of deposit

zaksmum

We had a four day stay in a caravan in June, paying cash to the caretaker on the caravan park as the owner had requested.

We paid £140 and a £50 deposit to be returned after we departed if the van was left tidy. The owner asked for our bank details to refund to, but we didn't feel happy about giving them out to a stranger so she agreed to refund by cheque instead.

The van was actually a bit of a dump and we pointed out to the caretaker that it reeked of cigarette smoke despite the No Smoking signs on the wall. There were cigarette burns on the upholstery which we also pointed out - he said he knew all the faults of the van and not to worry we'd be blamed.

We actually left the van a hell of a lot cleaner than we found it.

Anyway we've been home over 2 weeks now and no sign of the refund cheque.

I've emailed the owner a couple of times but so far she has ignored my emails.

I have her home address and mobile number.

If she continues to ignore me, what can I do about getting my £50 returned?:(

Takeaway_Addict

letter before action and then small claims court

foxwales

Civil court would be pointless for £50.

Don't email, telephone her, if she still fails to pay you back then write scathing reviews anywhere they advertise.

As you paid with cash, you have no protection what so ever I'm afraid.

Morglin

And, if you can put it on Trip Advisor!

Lin

savingmummy

Did you have a receipt?


I would write a letter to her, and if you have a receipt send a copy.

RAS

Write to her - pen and paper job.

Ask for the cheque.

If she does not return it within 2 weeks, send a letter before action.

You may not want to pay the cost of court action but that might shift her.

Does the site have a facebook page?

Kastanie

Before you start writing letters, negative reviews, threatening court action etc - have you actually done the simple thing and rung her? On the mobile number you have?

What's wrong with the direct approach? She might have just forgotten.

If she's not picking up your calls and you think she might be screening them, use someone else's phone. Or find a landline number for the caravan park. Or the number for her home address.

Emails are easily missed, deleted or forgotten.

tea_lover

Two weeks isn't very long, it would take me longer than that to find my cheque book.

Have you called her?

zaksmum

Thanks everyone. Yes I've called her but the phone goes straight to voicemail. I did get a receipt but only on the back of an envelope - I asked the caretaker for the receipt and he said he didn't have one for me, so I wrote it on the back of an envelope I had in my bag and specified that £50 of the total amount was the returnable deposit, and got him to sign it.

I do agree with foxwales that court action is pointless for £50. If she's ordered to pay up, or just doesn't attend, I'd be chasing up even more money then.

I like the idea of negative reviews but I'm not on Facebook myself so no idea if she has a Facebook page. Trip Advisor might be an idea though.

I know it's only £50 but I feel totally ripped off.

Buzby

Trip Advisor, not Facebook! Folk going on holiday are prone to check the former, not the latter!

RAS

zaksmum wrote: »

I do agree with foxwales that court action is pointless for £50. If she's ordered to pay up, or just doesn't attend, I'd be chasing up even more money then.

Agreed but the threat of court action costs a 2nd class stamp.