Holiday deposit.. stolen?

SwiftY

Okay, this is a bit of a weird situation and I have no idea where to get any advice on it and as most people here are extremely helpful I'm hoping that you can advise me on this situation.

My girlfriend of 7 months invited me on holiday with her family in June this year, after a few weeks I had to pay off the deposit of £150 which I paid directly into her mothers bank account with a reference stating the location of the holiday, out of no where in the last week of July I was told I'd need to pay more suddenly and said that I couldn't do it as I was originally told I'd have until the end of the year. Out of no where the relationship was ended, I had asked for proof of the holiday in the first instance and seen some paperwork laid about for it at their house however when It was sent to me online nothing was stated that I would even be going with them.

Anyway, as the money was sent by a bank transfer with a reference & has essentially been stolen from me (whether you can call it theft or not is a matter of opinion) is there anyway for me to regain the money or what route I may take?

purpleshoes_2

SwiftY wrote: »

Okay, this is a bit of a weird situation and I have no idea where to get any advice on it and as most people here are extremely helpful I'm hoping that you can advise me on this situation.

My girlfriend of 7 months invited me on holiday with her family in June this year, after a few weeks I had to pay off the deposit of £150 which I paid directly into her mothers bank account with a reference stating the location of the holiday, out of no where in the last week of July I was told I'd need to pay more suddenly and said that I couldn't do it as I was originally told I'd have until the end of the year. Out of no where the relationship was ended, I had asked for proof of the holiday in the first instance and seen some paperwork laid about for it at their house however when It was sent to me online nothing was stated that I would even be going with them.

Anyway, as the money was sent by a bank transfer with a reference & has essentially been stolen from me (whether you can call it theft or not is a matter of opinion) is there anyway for me to regain the money or what route I may take?

Its not been stolen from you, you sent it to the other account willingly at the time.

SwiftY

purpleshoes wrote: »

Its not been stolen from you, you sent it to the other account willingly at the time.

I had a feeling that would be said, however I have proof that they've asked for the money for the holiday for the deposit and then cut contact when I informed them I couldn't afford the rest at the time. Does this not make any difference?

purpleshoes_2

SwiftY wrote: »

I had a feeling that would be said, however I have proof that they've asked for the money for the holiday for the deposit and then cut contact when I informed them I couldn't afford the rest at the time. Does this not make any difference?

The only thing you can do is talk to your bank and dispute that transaction, however, when you do make that kind of payment they always say once its sent it cant be stopped, amended or retrieved so Im really not sure how far you would get.

SwiftY

purpleshoes wrote: »

The only thing you can do is talk to your bank and dispute that transaction, however, when you do make that kind of payment they always say once its sent it cant be stopped, amended or retrieved so Im really not sure how far you would get.

Unfortunately I've already gone down that route and been told that they can't retrieve it. I find it ridiculous that there's nothing that can be done for something like this as there's clear proof I've had the money stolen in a sense. I guess I've learnt my lesson.

moomoomama27

I don't see how it can be theft when you knowingly made a transaction.

RAS

It may do - obtaining money under false pretences.

Can you ring the holiday provider to check if you were ever booked in?

It may be a case of going for a Letter before Action. Obviously it would cost £70+ to take out a case but if you start filling in a Claim form on-line and send a copy of the screen shot they might buck up?

PasturesNew

£150 is a cheap price to have got rid of this madam before the Xmas present list was produced.

mountainofdebt

PasturesNew wrote: »

£150 is a cheap price to have got rid of this madam before the Xmas present list was produced.

I was thinking the same!

SwiftY

RAS wrote: »

It may do - obtaining money under false pretences.

Can you ring the holiday provider to check if you were ever booked in?

It may be a case of going for a Letter before Action. Obviously it would cost £70+ to take out a case but if you start filling in a Claim form on-line and send a copy of the screen shot they might buck up?

I'm going to be phoning them first thing tomorrow morning, following the result of that I'll send them a letter before following it up with a claim as you said. Even If it does cost £70+ I'm willing to go there just to undo what they've attempted to do.

& also I'm glad I'm rid of her before August, saved on the Birthday & Christmas presents! Bonus.

Alikay

You'd lose your deposit on a holiday anyway, now that you've split up and won't be going, so I don't understand why you think it's theft that your £150 isn't being returned.

It may be worth contacting the tour operator though and making sure that the lead passenger (assume this is your ex's mum?) has cancelled your place officially, as more money will become due the closer you get to the holiday. If the holiday is booked using a "low deposit" scheme (where the full deposit amount is deferred til a later date) you may in fact owe more than the £150 you've paid, so check that one out too.